05 Jul 2024 | Gudrun Jansen, Barbara Augustin
Supervision day at the August-Hermann-Werner School Markgröningen
When dabbing the mouth, the pupil perceives her own movement and touch by guiding her hand.
The jaw support grip facilitates mouth closure and safe swallowing of saliva.
In March 2024, Barbara Augustin, an experienced occupational therapist and F.O.T.T.® Instructor, visited the August-Hermann-Werner School, a special education and counselling centre with focus on physical motor development (SBBZ KmEnt), for a supervision day focusing on F.O.T.T.®.
The aim was to accompany various students in everyday school life, to support the respective caregivers from the class team in dealing with the student’s individual needs, to reflect together and to promote their skills. This was intended to improve the quality of work and ease professional challenges by finding solution approaches.
The focus was on everyday activities around the topics of swallowing, oral food intake (eating and drinking) and oral hygiene.
When dabbing the mouth, the pupil perceives her own movement and touch by guiding her hand.
The jaw support grip facilitates mouth closure and safe swallowing of saliva.
This day proved to be extremely enriching for everyone involved. A supervision day is a valuable training, also to gain an insight into the F.O.T.T.® concept.
In addition, a thorough follow-up of the day deepened the experiences made. Worthwhile in any case!
As a more advanced and intensive learning opportunity, an F.O.T.T.® introductory seminar or a F.O.T.T.® Ground Course can be recommended.
Below you will find a short summary from the perspectives of the participants as well as Barbara Augustin, the supervisor.
Summary of the participants
The supervision day clearly focused on the students.
As a team, we actively reflected on the student’s goals and support options. Together we discuss specific questions and gained direct experience in the interaction between students, Barbara Augustin and the respective reference person from the class team.
Ideally, these experiences will then be incorporated into our everyday school life and the students' family environment.
Summary of the F.O.T.T.® Instructor
The supervision day not only provided insights into the processes of the facility and the approach of the employees, but also offered practical support in dealing with problems of swallowing saliva, food intake and oral hygiene.
During the support of the staff in their interactions with the students, especially before/during/after oral food intake, the focus was on systematic reflection that took into account the individual abilities, development potentials and specific needs of the children.
It was particularly encouraging to observe how the employees absorbed and implemented the suggestions and achieved success, which was reflected, for example, in an optimal position, safe swallowing, greater food quantity and increased independence when eating and drinking.
