The signs of sensory deprivation intensify when their movements are restrained. Frantic, constant attempts to get up and move, fighting against restraints, rocking, head banging, kicking, and pounding intensify or only appear when restrained, which can be a necessary temporary evil to rule out pain. If the person cannot weight bear, pushing them around in a manual wheelchair still provides a sense of movement and being upright. Panicked calls for help at odd hours for no apparent reason are signs of sensory deprivation; as is the loss of circadian rhythms.

The person knows the difference between being upright and moving versus lying down and resting. Both experiences are needed every day to maintain circadian rhythms.

When the person can walk around with direction like following a footpath or walking to a destination such as the bathroom, letting them walk around is very important to them.

The concept of a line starts capturing the person's attention in ACL 2.6. The concept of a line is used to make sense of where they are in the space which they are occupying. They start taking notice of pathways and walking routes. The location of valued areas like the dining room and their bedroom is recognized. As the linear information starts shifting towards their hands in ACL 2.8, they start to pay attention to objects and their hands resulting in objects being grabbed for about 20 seconds.

In ACL 2.6, they can walk in a directed manner. Paths are recognized and followed by the person. The person starts shifting attention to their hands as movement information in ACL 2.8. Grasping of objects in a reflex like action for 20 seconds now occurs. Caregivers will need to ensure that only safe objects including other people are available for the person to grasp for 20 seconds.

The person can walk with a direction in mind if their mobility is intact. They can see and follow a path. They like to walk to a destination.

In ACL 2 High, the person has a sense of directionality within the environment they are residing in.

The person can form a sense of safety when they are supported properly. Their sense of pleasure in being upright and moving makes providing the assistance worthwhile.

The person does not have a sense of independence, ownership, social roles, geographic location or direction.

A sense of needing to get to a destination enters the scale in ACL 2 High. The verification process will be different from if the person can walk versus if they cannot.

To Verify

Is the person able to follow a path? Is the person walking towards a destination like their bedroom, dining room or the bathroom? If the person cannot walk independently, can they tell you where they want to go? These verify ACL 2 High.

What Makes Sense

• I can walk in a direction.

Expected Task Performance

• The need to walk is incessant. The person needs to move around.
• If the person cannot weight bear or walk around, pushing them around in a wheelchair will help satisfy their need to move.

Assistance Required

• Hand-over-hand assistance or full assistance may be required for self-care tasks.
• Finger food maybe provided for the person to feed themselves.

Within ACL 2 High, the person has enough mental energy to walk in a straight line. They know where they want to go. The person notices pathways and common walkways. They may learn to walk to common destinations like the bathroom or to their bedroom. They need to walk continuously.

In order to provide sensory information, supplies are required. What supplies are used is dependent on your location. Keep in mind the sensation you are wanting to produce while you are carrying out your everyday activities.

To start, experiment with a sequence that begins with a negative cue to arouse their attention and follow with a positive cue that can be appreciated. Teeter tottering back and forth uses their best ability to function. The responses times are usually the same length of time for positive and negative cues and this is a good way to measure them.

Activities which lets the person use their mental capacity to build a positive sense of who they are affirmative. These affirmative activities keep the person happily occupied and reduces problematic behaviors. As their attention span is short, the activities also need to be short.

Within ACL 2.0, the person likes to stand up. Within ACL 2.2, the person likes to stand and take a few steps. Within ACL 2.4, the person likes to walk unsupported.

Sensory activities are calming and relaxing and also keeps the person happily occupied.