← Team Dylan
Team Dylan

Program Instructions

How to run Dylan's five programs, step by step. Keep him safe and comfortable, and record what you see.

Prepared by Alan, Team Lead

🛡️General Guidelines

  1. Don't jeopardize Dylan's safety when running these programs.
  2. If Dylan is feeling uncomfortable or showing signs of SIB, pause the program or activity.
  3. Record what you observe. Don't feel pressure to fill out entire trials. Fill out what Dylan was able to accomplish.

👀1. Visual Tracking / Orientation

Observe whether DyVi's eye appears to follow a moving object, and whether his eyes or head orient toward its new position.

Materials (preferred foods)

🍮 Red Jello cup🍪 Oreos🍫 Brownies🍌 Bananas

Steps

  1. Make sure Dylan is comfortable and calm.
  2. Present the preferred item where Dylan can see it (preferably at the kitchen table).
  3. Slowly move the item across the table a short distance.
  4. Observe whether his left eye appears to follow the item while it is moving.
  5. Stop the item and observe whether his eyes or head orient and face toward its final position.
  6. Record your observations in the daily report.

🚶2. Functional Curb Navigation & Step Adjustment

Observe how Dylan approaches curbs, adjusts his steps, and navigates safely with appropriate support.

Materials

🏘️ Neighborhood🛒 Smart & Final parking lot🌳 Familiar park
⚠️Use familiar safety cues ("Careful, curb", "Watch out, curb") and hover carefully near Dylan when he steps off and on curbs.

What to record

  1. Whether he notices the curb, pauses, hesitates, or adjusts his steps.
  2. Whether he takes unusually large steps when stepping on or off curbs.
  3. The level of support needed to complete the movement safely.

🗣️3. Speech Program

Run familiar speech trials with Dylan.

Materials

🎒 Speech Bag📱 Pictello (iPad) short story🍪 Reinforcers: Oreos, brownie, M&Ms

Trials — 3 times each

Oooo3 trials
Aahh3 trials
Bah3 trials
Lah3 trials
Aahh-Eeee3 trials
Mmmm3 trials

For each sound, record his initial engagement and the prompt level.

💛Don't feel pressure to run every trial listed in the daily report log. Record what Dylan was able to do.

🧘4. Pairing — Preferred Activities

Keep building positive relationships between team members and Dylan through preferred, enjoyable activities.

Preferred activities

🧘 Yoga📖 Reading🍪 Cookie jar⚪ Balls in a bottle🤲 Hand/arm massage🛁 Spa
❗Do not give Dylan a choice of activities for this program. The purpose is for team members to start the activity themselves.
⭐Alan's recommendation: do preferred activities when Dylan is already calm and in a good mood. Do not start if Dylan is upset, uncomfortable, or engaging in SIB. It's okay to stop midway if Dylan gets uncomfortable; record what you observe.

How to record — a short note in the daily report

1. What did you do with Dylan?
2. How was Dylan during the activity? (He was calm · upset · slow to complete the activity · tried to escape/elope · great and engaged)

🌙5. Pairing — Coping Techniques

When Dylan wakes up in the middle of the night, try different coping techniques first, before going downstairs.

Coping methods

🤝 Hand squeezes📿 Beads🌈 Pop tubes📖 Preferred book🎻 Low-volume classical music💆 Arm/leg massage

How to record — in the daily report log

  1. Check off which coping technique was used.
  2. For each method, record if he was calm, agitated, or nonresponsive (NR).
  3. Record the duration of the activity.