Innovative Solutions

Everyday Discovery staff face a key challenge – how can we best reach this client to encourage his or her participation in an activity? Finding a solution requires lots of humour and creativity, technology and the human touch. Here are some of our innovative solutions:
 

Music Therapy

Music Therapy is defined as the skillful use of music as a therapeutic tool to restore, maintain, and improve mental, physical, and emotional health. The non-verbal, creative, and affective nature of music facilitates contact, learning, self-expression, communication and growth.

Music really is a universal language so it's small wonder that is has such a powerful impact on Discovery clients. Music facilitates expression and learning and we see it instill respect and pride and encourage pure abandon. It is indeed a little bit like magic.
 

Awards Ceremony

During the Awards Ceremony each client takes a turn telling everyone what has made them proud during the past week.  The Award is issued in the client's name and includes a description of his or her accomplishments.  Everyone is recognized with much applause.

Wii

Chances are if you’ve played a Wii game at home it was for fun and bragging rights. Discovery clients play for the same reasons but there are added benefits of improved hand/eye coordination, sequencing skills, patience, and encouragement from cheering friends.
 

Wii BOWLING

No matter what the skill level or disability of a client, they can learn to play this user-friendly game through patient coaching, encouragement and modification of the Wii remote.

Wii MUSIC

Anyone can join a Wii Music Band, playing their favourite instrument. Clients also have access to a virtual drum kit through the use of the Wii Balance Board.
 

Wii FIT

Provides excellent balance and coordination exercise for clients.
 

Wii HOCKEY

Allows all clients to take part in Canada’s game.

 

Music Library

Most of us download music into our iPods and don’t really fuss with organizing our songs into playlists but in Discovery we’ve got playlists down to a fine art.  Each client has his or her own playlist. This is important because it’s hard for some clients to express which are their favourite songs – this way we can keep all their favourites together.

This is also the most cost effective way for us to gather music for clients as we download one song at a time instead of having to buy and entire CD to hear just one song.

Conversation Starters

Conversation starters are commonly used as an alternative communication method with people with disabilities to overcome speech and communication obstacles.  Starters can be as simple as a napkin from a restaurant, a rock from a sandy beach or a movie admission ticket.  The main purpose is to awaken an interest, provoke questions and get the conversation going.