INDUSTRIAL ARTS
THERAPY
The Industrial Arts program at AHF is a STEM-based, educational therapy program that allows children to apply the freedom of movement as a form of rehabilitation.
Tightening a bolt or successfully threading a needle gives the child a feeling of accomplishment all while exercising fine motor skills important for cognition, working memory and impulse control – all factors affected through childhood cancer. AHF’s Industrial Arts Program features the fabrication of objects in wood or metal using a variety of hand, power or machine tools, as well as small engine repair and automobile building programs.
SERVING MULTIPURPOSE FUNCTIONS
"SHOP" SKILLS
Introduces/educates the child with cancer, their siblings and parents to basic “shop” skills.
TEAM-BUILDING
Improves/ develops family and team-building skills.
COORDINATION
Treats/ improves coordination deficits (that result from chemotherapy, radiation, and/or surgical treatment)
BEHAVIOR
Treats/ improves behavioral, memory and learning deficits that result from the cancer and its effects on each family member.
As part of the Industrial Arts Therapy program, childhood cancer patients, survivors and their siblings take on various projects, from repairing an engine to putting together full car build kits.
Over the course of AHF history, the Foundation has worked with families to build 16 full cars, that are then auctioned off to raise money for the Foundation.