Wii Benefits Across the Life Span

Students worked together to create a video touting the benefits of Wii-Hab. In this snappy video, viewers get an idea of how Wii is used to encourage improved muscle strength and flexibility in adults.

Children also benefit from using the Wii in therapy. The blog entry posted on October 5, 2009 shares with readers a story about Wii use in a classroom as an addition to traditional therapy. News station KEPR CBS 19 in Pasco, Washington posts a video of Wii being used in a school setting by therapists to improve coordination and balance.

Read Lon Thornburg’s great blog to learn more about creative uses of Wii with children who have developmental disabilities.

Workshops Expand Therapists' Ability to Incorporate Nintendo Wii

Allegany College of Maryland hosted a "Wii-Marathon" for therapists October 2 and October 3. Therapists arrived from many states including West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York to learn more about the therapeutic uses of Wii technology, an affordable, portable and easy to obtain therapeutic tool.
Penn State Abington, located in a suburb of Philadelphia, will host the next workshop. On October 21, 2009 occupational and physical therapists, along with Nurses and Nursing Home Administrators can be a part of this educational, interactive experience . Space is limited, so contact Penn State Abington Continuing Education to grab one of the few remaining spots.

Grant Award Brings Wii Into The Classroom

Since Nintendo brought Wii to the market in 2006, many avid players who also happen to work with individuals with compromised function recognized this tool’s potential for addressing deficits. A special needs teacher in Ohio saw many great ways that Wii activities could improve student outcomes in his classroom.

The teacher, Kevin McDaniels, applied for funds to purchase the needed equipment for his classroom through Mid Ohio Energy Cooperative, INC’s Community Fund because Kevin recognized that using Wii complimented student time spent in occupational and physical therapy. Using Wii activities in the classroom seems to help students improve hand writing and balance by challenging both their fine and gross motor skills.

Although Nintendo has lowered the price of the Wii Console recently, the dollar amount needed to bring the benefits of Wii into classrooms and rehabilitation clinics may be in excess of usual pre-set budgets. Grants and donations have historically filled budgetary gaps in programs focusing on helping address needs in many communities. Most communities have organizations ranging from service groups to corporations willing to help programs reach out and serve those community members with specific needs.

Interested occupational and physical therapists as well as teachers can learn more about skills for grant writing and finding potential donor organizations by attending a grant writing workshop available often through area high school or college adult learning programs, found through internet searches or through companies, such as Grant Writing USA