Tot Basketball or Torture?

I had quite the learning curve when it came to sensory issues and my child. I’d hear from all directions that if you have autism, you need occupational therapy (OT). I’ll have to admit, I didn’t focus on it right away. I thought an Occupational Therapist was someone who helps you get a job. It wasn’t until I took Alex to his first Tot Basketball game through the Lodi Recreation Department that I saw the light.

To my defense, I had good intentions. I mean, don’t all little guys do sports? Isn’t this a way to integrate him into the normal world? Wasn’t this going to help us feel like normal parents?

Well, the poor kid was miserable. The pounding echo of the balls bouncing, the whistles blowing and the parents cheering was enough to send me home with a pounding headache, so I could only imagine what Alex was experiencing. His hands were stuck so tightly to his ears you’d need a crow bar to pry them off.

I have to commend the coaches and others who were involved with helping at the game. All were very kind and were trying as hard as they could to include Alex in the game and make him more comfortable. Being a nervous wreck, I appreciated the warmth more than they know.

Needless to say, we quit. The sensory obstacles were too great. I apologized profusely to my very understanding little one and promised I wouldn’t subject him to anything like that again (intentionally that is).

For information on how you can receive OT services, contact your Program Specialist to request an evaluation of your child.