Task analysis, jigs, and the OT maker advantage!

When creating our machine shop in a public high school, we incorporated activity analysis to create custom jigs and workstations, allowing students with physical, cognitive, and emotional impairments to engage fully in shop activities alongside general education peers.

We work with donated countertop waste material to create engraved pieces of functional art with students in special education as well as those enrolled in a restorative practice program that incorporates OT and manufacturing as an alternative to traditional discipline or suspension.

The jigs we create provide the benefits of repeatability and accuracy, allowing students to focus less on the manufacturing and more on the social-emotional benefits of engaging in meaningful occupations!