This document summarizes an activity where an occupational therapist assessed a 7-year-old autistic student's ability to stack building blocks and copy patterns and shapes. The student was able to stack 12 blocks in a wobbly tower and successfully copied the therapist's shapes and patterns with prompting. The activity allowed the student to engage in meaningful play occupation through doing, being, and becoming. Ethical considerations were made to obtain permission to use photos and ensure privacy.

1. Building blocks
DOING, BEING, BECOMING AND
BELONGING

2. Building blocks:
 This is an activity that I observed while on placement
at Hamilton North School. I spent time with the
Occupational Therapist as she assessed some
children.
 The aim was to test the student’s ability to stack
building blocks into a tower as well as emulate the
OT’s model shape/pattern.
 The expectation was for the seven year old autistic
student to be able to copy the shapes and patterns
perfectly as well as stack at least twelve blocks

3. Building a tower:
 Though the tower was
wobbly, the student
understood the instructions
and was able to carry out
this task with prompting.
 This image shows a child
participating and doing this
activity. In doing, he is
engaging in meaningful
occupation. (PLAY)

4. Copying patterns and shapes:
 Giving instructions
to build a tower

5. Copying patterns and shapes:
 Following
instructions

6. Copying patterns and shapes:
 Successfully completed
task of building
a tower exactly
like model

7. Copying patterns and shapes:
 Giving instructions

8. Copying patterns and shapes:
 Selecting appropriate
blocks

9. Copying patterns and shapes:
 Watching for
instructions

10. Copying patterns and shapes:
 Correcting choice
of block colour

11. Copying patterns and shapes:
 Watching for
instructions

12. Copying patterns and shapes:
 Repositioning
block to emulate
model shape/
pattern

13. Copying patterns and shapes:
 Selecting
appropriate
block

14. Copying patterns and shapes:
 Completing
task by
successfully
copying model
shape/pattern

15. Ethical considerations:
 In preparing this PowerPoint, I had help from a
friend who modelled as the student in this scenario. I
made sure that I had her permission to make use of
her hands for class purposes.

16. Ethical considerations:
 In preparing this PowerPoint, I also made an effort
to reference the work that I retrieved, whether it was
from the internet (photos) or readings.

17. Ethical considerations:
 In preparing this PowerPoint, I took the safety and
privacy of the people in the photos into consideration
and either blurred their faces or made sure they were
not recognisable.

18. References:
 AVOSANT. (n.d.). L.A. hand surgeon. Retrieved from http://www.lahandsurgeon.com/
 Both hands and a flashlight. (2008, October 14). Building blocks, sequences, memory, and thoughts on
thinking. [Web log post]. Retrieved from
http://www.google.co.nz/imgres?um=1&hl=en&safe=active&client=firefox
&hs=E7V&rls=org.mozilla:en-
US:official&biw=1301&bih=615&tbm=isch&tbnid=qOqLauKuxWEFTM:&imgrefurl=http://www.both
handsandaflashlight.com/2008/10/14/building-blocks-sequences-memory-and-thoughts-on-
thinking/&docid=F_YZ4lg4PalqhM&imgurl=http://www.bothhandsandaflashlight.com/wp-
content/uploads/2008/10/blocks3.jpg&w=450&h=630&ei=QMlVT6iAHomWiQfC5tHSCA&zoom=1&
iact=hc&vpx=112&vpy=106&dur=3&hovh=266&hovw=190&tx=133&ty=120&sig=1063293153661459
13349&page=2&tbnh=130&tbnw=93&start=19&ndsp=28&ved=1t:429,r:21,s:19
 Google search. (n.d.). Blurred faces. Retrieved from
https://www.google.co.nz/search?q=blurred%20faces&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-
US:official&client=firefox-a&safe=active&um=1&ie=UTF-
8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=9-
VVT8GvHIuhiQeY9sTZCA&biw=1301&bih=615&sei=_OVVT-_oELGOiAfF8azlCA

19. References:
 Google search. (n.d.). Terminology. Retrieved from
https://www.google.co.nz/search?q=terminology&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-
US:official&client=firefox-a&safe=active&um=1&ie=UTF-
8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=VedVT_f3Aee0iQfOttyBCQ&biw=1301&bih=615&
sei=V-dVT-K4HbG5iAeep6X9CA
 Hammell, K. W. (2004) Dimensions of meaning in the occupations of daily life. Canadian Journal of
Occupational Therapy, 71 (5), 296 – 305.
 Istockphoto. (n.d.). Old play blocks. Retrieved from
http://www.google.co.nz/imgres?um=1&hl=en&safe=active&client=firefox-
a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-
US:official&biw=1301&bih=615&tbm=isch&tbnid=CxUD5c_L4yAlGM:&imgrefurl=http://www.istock
photo.com/stock-photo-1229059-old-play-
blocks.php&docid=V9AzELgy64g2eM&imgurl=http://i.istockimg.com/file_thumbview_approve/122
9059/2/stock-photo-1229059-old-play-
blocks.jpg&w=254&h=380&ei=UuNVT5CFJqa9iAf02oHYCA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=110&vpy=208&
dur=1770&hovh=275&hovw=183&tx=82&ty=174&sig=106329315366145913349&page=1&tbnh=129&
tbnw=82&start=0&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:14,s:0

20. References:
 Photography by Mark Stevenson. Photos used with permission.
 Shutterstock. (n.d.). Preschool boy playing with blocks. Retrieved from http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-
682807/stock-photo-preschool-boy-playing-with-blocks.html
 Sophly laughing (sophy “softly” laughing). (2011, December 11). Play it forward. [Web log post]. Retrieved
from http://sophlylaughing.blogspot.co.nz/2011/12/play-it-forward.html
 University of Greenwich. (n.d.). Study skills: referencing. Retrieved from
http://www.google.co.nz/imgres?um=1&hl=en&safe=active&client=firefox-
a&hs=dLs&sa=N&pwst=1&rls=org.mozilla:en-
US:official&biw=1301&bih=615&tbm=isch&tbnid=ANYGYahnA0OskM:&imgrefurl=http://www.gre.ac.uk/st
udyskills/referencing&docid=vdQY6FPHRvGxCM&imgurl=http://www.gre.ac.uk/__data/assets/image/001
0/227836/reference-list.jpg&w=300&h=225&ei=xOBVT_yKB-
eQiAetqIDOCA&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=258&sig=106329315366145913349&page=1&tbnh=121&tbnw=165&st
art=0&ndsp=19&ved=1t:429,r:15,s:0&tx=72&ty=12
 Wilcock, A. A. (1998). Reflections on doing, being, becoming. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 65,
248 – 256.
 Worn through: apparel from an academic perspective. (2011, April 1). Teaching fashion: Getting them to read
[Web log post]. Retrieved from http://www.google.co.nz/imgres?um=1&hl=en&safe=active&client=firefox-
a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla