1. The TTAP Methodwith mentally challenged adults Kirsi Kangas-Kallio Eskoon palvelukeskus 02.11.2009 Finland

2. Description of population

I invited colleagues with their clients from other wards to our ward, so that we can do this together.

All participants are institutionalized, and often we run out of interesting programs for this special population.

We hadabout 24 clients with about 10instructors present to conduct a TTAP Method 9 step program.

It was quite a big and somewhat noisy group but everything went extremelly well as you will see.

3. STEP 1-Conversation

Theme was couch-travelling.

I had pictures of two different destinations so participants could make a choice of what to do.

Because choosing is difficult we only had two choices, between Spain and Greece.

Greece was chosen because of the dancers, scenary, water, warm weather.

It is important to offer choices to this special needs group, since so much in their day is NOT by choice.

4. pictures that were shown 5. STEP 2-Music

Music that I played is original Greek music. The Story of Greece, Hemisphere. (Track 4. called Aponi Zoi).

I handed out pictures of Greek dancers at the same time.

6. pictures 7. STEP 3-Drawing

Then we discussed about the music and started to paint the feelings that the music brought up.

While waiting everyone to finish I had books with pictures of Greece to show to those who had their pictures ready.

8. pictures 9. the artwork 10. the artwork 11. STEP 4 -Sculpture

We skipped step four-sculpture and went straigth to step 5 - dancing.

You dont have to use all 9 steps of the TTAP Method for sucessful programming!

12. STEP 5-Movement

I played a CD: 20 most popular syrtakis by Athenians.

At first I showed syrtaki (or Zorbas) steps and we all tried that.

Then we danced freely.

And at the end of the dancesession we formed a sircle and danced together.

13. pictures 14. pictures 15. STEP 6-Words and Writing

From movement to words we made three groups. Every group came up with ten words about the experience and then they made a strory or a poem of those words.

And then every group shared their stories with others.

16. pictures 17. Stories that were created by groups:

1 group: We lie on the warm sandy beach, sun is shining and the sweat is pouring and a cold drink is on our hand. Happy music and dancing is going on nearby.

2 group: We dance in a rythm clapping and drawing pictures together. We are happy and waiting for the food feeling fine.

3 group: We have a party. Food, and drinks are served and the best is dancing and the music. Everyone is in avery good mood.

18. STEP 7-Food Program

From words to food.

I read a strory about Greek food from a cookbook and we discussed it.

I had Greek aperativ Ouzo with me and everyone had a tiny zip of it.

I had arranged with our kitchen that we had Moussaka and Fetasalad for lounch.

19. pictures 20. STEP 8-Theme Event

From thougth to a party.

This was a great party for us, it is not everyday we get together.

We also had great fun and people enjoyed themselves.

21. STEP 9- Phototherapy

I had pictures of Greece copied from the books beforehand.

At the end of the event everyone got to choose one picture to take home with them and I promised to send them photos from the party when I get them done.

I am going have an exhibition of the artwork and the pictures later this month for everyone to see.

22. pictures 23. SUMMARY

I think everyone had a positive experience.

This was something we had not done before, but the TTAP Method was very sucessfullin that it structured programming to connect from one program to the next and we will continue to use this approach. Staff as well as residents enjoyed the entire process and I beleive it brought us ALL closer!

24. Cognitive goals achieved:

I think everyone got a lot of new information and experience about Greece.

We got to know Greek music, scenery and food and drink.

It gave people new ideas of what to do and what happens somewhere outside Finland.

25. Social goals achieved:

It was a new experience to have so many people visiting us and getting to know each other.

Doing everything together was great.

We had a big group, but everything went real well, there was more verbal and social interaction then any other program.

26. Emotional goals achieved:

I think the event made people happy and feeling good and positive about themselves.

It gave them new spirit to do things.

People have come to thank me afterwards which had never happened before. I do believe that using a theme enriches the programs development for this special population.

27. Physical goals achieved:

Listening and dancing foreign music was great and different, it encouraged physical movement.

Participantsgot really excited about how to move like greek dancers, but in their own personal way.

Dancing in a circle was also fun, and had meaning.

We could feel the heath of the movement and heightened involvements.

28. Spiritual goals achieved:

I think it was a spiritual experience as well.

People who are not able to travel got a chance to stay in the moment in Greece, and actually FEEL that moment.

Many of us workers really got deep into Greek mentality by recalling trips to Greece. And it brought the workers together in the sharing of our own personal memories.