Easy English-Spanish for Therapists

Reviewed by Kim Eggleston, OTR

Common Phrase Translation serves as a valuable tool to help bridge the language and cultural gaps that frequently exist between therapists and their clients/clients' families.

This book contains 800 common phrases used by therapists during evaluation and treatment, translated from English to Spanish, for all three rehabilitation professions. Looking up the needed language from one's field is fast and easy. The book includes theory on cultural competence and linguistic anthropology, plus social greetings in 40 languages. There is a coordinated continuing education self-study course available at www.athomeseminars.com.

I can remember times when my patients and I laughed together at my poor Spanish attempts, but I know my attempts helped us to establish a comfortable working relationship. Having this book will help give me extra confidence in providing the best care to everyone in my diverse population of patients.

I look forward to the addition of an audio CD to assist with proper pronunciation, and to additional books with phrases specific to other settings, such as mental health and pediatrics.

This book can be obtained from Jacqueline Thrash, 1317 N. San Fernando Blvd. # 198, Burbank, CA 91504. (Check or money order for $50 covers book, shipping and tax. Include a note requesting the book.)

Kim Eggleston, OTR, is currently an OT educator at the University of Southern California.

Common Phrase Translation:Spanish for English Speakers For Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech Therapy
By Jacqueline Thrash, OTR/L
Jacqueline Thrash, 2006, 140 pp., $40

'Funtastic' Resource for SPD

Reviewed by Trinell Bull

Carol Kranowitz has done it again! A revised edition of 2003's The Out-of-Sync Child Has Fun is now available and chock-full of practical, fun and easily created activities for children with sensory processing disorders (SPD). She has successfully compiled activities from OTs, PTs, optometrists, SLPs and educators.

All the activities in this book are considered S.A.F.E: sensorimotor, appropriate, fun and easy.

Besides chapters devoted to the senses, there are chapters on oral-motor skills, motor planning, fine-motor skills, bilateral coordination and crossing the midline.

This book is a definite "must have" for all therapists working with autistic children and their families. Parents will also find it an easy-to-read resource to provide sensory-rich activities to help them connect and have fun with their children, with or without SPD diagnoses. A helpful section within some activities titled "A Mother Says..." provides wisdom and tips from mothers of SPD children.

This would be an invaluable resource for therapists, teachers and daycare providers, not only for children with SPD, but for all children. The new appendix in this recent edition presents innovative -activities for the older populations of middle-schoolers, teenagers and adults.

This book is available from The Penguin Group Inc., 375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014 or online at www.penguin.com.

Trinell Bull is a staff occupational therapist for the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit located in Lewisburg, PA, where she serves school-age children.

The Out-of-Sync Child Has Fun Penguin Group, 2006, 328 pages, $15.95