Daniel Amador

LEI 4724
Activity: Dress Up
Source: Speech disorders - children: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.
(n.d.). Retrieved April 21, 2015, from
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001430.htm
Equipment: Miscellaneous character costumes, old hand-me-down clothes
Activity description:
1. This activity works well with 7-10 patients from the ages of 6-14. Works
well with patients diagnosed with autism but certainly not limited to
this population.
2. Patients are grouped into two groups both with random pieces of
costumes and clothing. Patients are asked to mix and match clothing to
describe a funny memory they recall. Based on the random clothes
given they try to put together pieces of clothing that best describes
this funny memory. Once every patient is dressed they explain their
funny memory and how their costume reflects that. Since some
patients may have problems with mobility the facilitator and facilitator
assistant can aid in putting the clothes on. It should also be noted that
the costumes will be worn over the clothes they are already wearing.
3. The facilitator and facilitator assistant will begin by introducing
themselves to the group. In a bag will be a bunch of miscellaneous
character costumes and old clothing. Patients will be asked to think of
a funny memory they recall and to put together a costume that reflects
that memory. Since patients with autism often have trouble with motor
skills and can have some difficulty putting some of these clothes on.
Therefor facilitators help patients put on shirts and costumes. Once
every patient has a new costume patients will be asked to go around
explaining the correlation between the costume and the funny story.

Leadership Development:
1. This activity works well with patients diagnosed with autism
because it helps with their everyday activities. Putting on clothes
and dressing is a part of everyday life, putting on oversized clothing
with or without assistance is good practice for putting on regular
clothes and becoming independent in that aspect of life. It also
helps with fine motor skills. For instance, buttoning shirts and shorts
help to refine fine motor movements. Reminiscence and creative
expression also helps patients with autism express emotion.
2. This activity can also be used with geriatric patients who have
dementia as it allows for social interaction between patients in the
aspect of sharing the personal funny story. It also can relieve
depression by remembering a funny memory that once happened to
them, aiding in expressing emotions and reminiscing and
remembering joyful times.
3. This activity can be adapted by providing video instructions to

geriatric patients who may have impaired hearing. Patients could

act out the funny memory if speech is impaired by disorders such as
disfluency.