The power of play: zombies, paint bombs and support work

In my previous column, I discussed the importance of being present whilst working with your clients, but also why it is important to not only be present, but mindful, curious, attentive and playful.

Observation and play are not only useful for reading body language. They are also useful for having a blast. And that's what I did when I taught a man to drive his wheelchair by using an app called Zombie Run. Zombie Run is an app that turns your exercise into a thrilling adventure. It plays audio stories of zombies chasing you while you run, walk, or cycle. You must speed up or slow down to escape them, collect supplies and complete missions.

But I thought, why not use it for wheelchair driving? So, I downloaded the app on my phone, connected it to a Bluetooth speaker, and took my client to the park. We set up the app to play a story of a zombie apocalypse in our city. We had to drive away from the zombies, find survivors and save the world. It was hilarious and exhilarating. We were dodging trees, shouting commands, laughing hysterically, and having the time of our lives.

And you know what? It also improved his wheelchair driving skills. He learned how to control his speed and direction. He learned how to navigate different terrains and obstacles. He learned how to be more aware of his surroundings and react quickly. And he learned how to enjoy his wheelchair as a vehicle of freedom and fun.

Another example is when I used a ceiling hoist with an empty PEG feed bottle filled with paint hanging from the roof with string, we then connected more string so that my client could use both his left and right hands to puppeteer the bottle hanging from the hoist to create his own artwork. It was slow but a very fun process, to make some very interesting abstract works of art kind of in the style of Jackson Pollock. He was able to use his left arm to swing the bottle which would slowly drip out paint in the colour of his choice and use his right arm to change directions. It was a very messy process, and after the first session we were both covered in paint, with a fantastic piece of art and giant smiles on our faces.