Visual Action Therapy

Overview: Program consists of three phases:

proximal limb VAT,

flag, paint stick, gavel, saw and iron

distal limb VAT,

screwdriver, teaspoon, telephone, artists fine paintbrush, and tea bag

oral VAT.
whistle, artificial flower, lollipop, drinking straw,

Contextual props that may be required:

For proximal limb gestures: empty gallon paint can (for stirring with paint stick)

For distal limb gestures: block of wood containing a large screw (for turning with
screwdriver), coffee mug (for stirring with teaspoon and dipping tea bag), and
paint-by-number outline of picture (for painting with small paintbrush)

For oral gestures: soft drink bottle (for drinking through straw) and floral essence
or perfume (to add scent to artificial flower)

Real objects,

line drawings of these objects,

and pictures of a simple figure using the objects.

Each program consists of hierarchically ordered steps and levels that move the
patient along a performance continuum from the basic task of matching pictures
and objects to the communicative task of representing hidden items with self-
initiated gestures.

Communicative Drawing Program (CDP)

Functional Goal: For patients with aphasia who are unable to convey desired
messages through speech or writing to communicate instead through drawing.

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Functional Outcomes: The ultimate goal of the CDP is for patients to be able to use
drawing as a functional means of conveying messages, ideas, thoughts and feelings.