The OT Schoolhouse Podcast for School-Based OT Practitioners

Curious to explore the world of Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) and Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)? Join us on this episode where Kate Nealon, PhD, CCC-SLP, BC-CLS and Zahava L. Friedman, PhD, OT, BCBA delve into the fascinating interplay and coexistence of CAS and SPD. Gain insights into the significance of interdisciplinary collaboration between OTPs and SLPs in supporting children.  Tune i...

Celebrate the 2023 school-based OT practitioners of the year! Join us in this episode, where we recognize the contributions of three exceptional individuals who have gone above and beyond to support students, teachers, staff, and the profession. These three OTPs are receiving awards from the OT Schoolhouse for impacting the 2020 to 2023 school years as OTPs.   Tune in to hear their inspiring stori...

Why do you love school-based OT?  In this episode, Jayson Davies, MA, OTR/L, explores the world of school-based occupational therapy by highlighting the many advantages of being a school-based OTP. Jayson shares his experiences and insights, highlighting the power of collaboration, the importance of a student’s natural context, and advocating not only for the students but also for ourselves as OTP...

Ready to transform your classroom into an engaging and supportive learning environment? Join us on this episode, where we explore the topic of setting up the classroom for success with Kelly Wilk-Downs. Discover important tips and strategies to optimize the learning environment, from creating individual workspaces to mastering sound and lighting. Kelly also introduces the TEACCH method, a tool tha...

On this episode of OT Schoolhouse Podcast, host Jayson Davies, MA, OTR/L, welcomes guest Jenna Rufo, Ed. D., to discuss post-pandemic special education.  Jenna shares her philosophy on education and inclusion, offering strategies on how to get administrators on board with an inclusive approach. As an educator with over 20 years of experience, Rufo also emphasizes the importance of parent interacti...

Have you heard of the Kawa model?  On this episode of the OT Schoolhouse Podcast, We'll discuss the advantages of understanding this model for occupational therapy practitioners. Dr. Iwama talks about the interrelatedness of the different factors contributing to a person's well-being and performance through the metaphor of a river.  We'll learn about how cultural differences impact...

How much do you really know about dyslexia? Join us as we explore this often-misunderstood learning disorder. Jayson and Penny dive into the importance of evaluation, therapy, and the crucial support needed for teachers and students facing dyslexia. Tune in to learn more! Listen now to learn the following objectives: Learners will identify the ties between dyslexia and mental health Learners will...

In this podcast episode, Maggie Aschenbrener discusses how she applies her passions for water, children, and occupational therapy by utilizing aquatic therapy in a school-based setting. In addition, she shares valuable insights on the benefits of aquatic therapy, the types of individuals who can benefit from it, and how occupational therapy practitioners can incorporate it into their practice. Thi...

Ready to talk All Things Sensory? In this episode of the OT Schoolhouse podcast, Jayson interviews Rachel Harrington, COTA/L AC, and Jessica Hill, COTA/L, about incorporating movement and sensory activities in the classroom and at home.  We discuss sensory diets, fidgets, primitive reflexes, and other strategies for supporting children with sensory needs. Jessica and Rachel also share practical ti...

Welcome to a special episode of the OT Schoolhouse Podcast, where we celebrate OT Month and the anniversary of the OT Schoolhouse Podcast! We're excited to bring you an episode packed with valuable insights, as Jayson answers questions submitted by our listeners.  Tune in as we cover a variety of topics related to OT, such as creative contests for school-aged students, strategies to help pare...

Do you ever wonder how much our early reflexes impact our physical, cognitive, and emotional development? What about the importance of reflex integration and rhythmic movements in shaping these abilities?  In this episode, Sonia Story sheds light on these intriguing connections and explains why reflex integration is critical for a child's growth and development.  Get ready to rethink the role...

Are you an OT who wants to level up your knowledge on how to work collaboratively with SLPs to support students in school? Well, you're in for a treat!  Today's episode features a special guest, Rose, a school-based speech therapist and Founder of ABA SPEECH. She will share her wisdom on the important role that SLPs play in schools and how OTPs can collaborate with SLPs to provide the be...

Do you know how your engine is running right now? Is it high, low, or just right?  In this episode of the OT Schoolhouse Podcast, Sherry and Molly discuss the OG self-regulation program that helps all ages understand their alertness. Using analogies that The Alert Program®  utilizes helps people understand their alertness in an easily comprehensible way. View the full show note at OTSchoolhouse.co...

Today, we're talking about one of the most popular and versatile tools in the world of school-based occupational therapy: LEGO. That's right, we're diving into the benefits of using LEGO in therapy sessions. LEGO provides a fun and engaging way to help children reach their therapy goals by improving fine motor skills and promoting creativity and problem-solving. Listen in to hear ni...

Being OTPs in a Teacher’s world is not always easy. In this episode, I am sharing a supportive tool I have used to support my students and build rapport with the teachers I work with daily. I have provided small and large group collaborative in-services for teachers since my third year in school-based OT, so I am excited to share with you some research that supports this strategy for all of the re...

Have you ever thought of having your students be the handwriting teachers? By having students apply what they learned during an OT session, they can go back into the classroom to share the letter stories and formations with everyone… including the teacher! This is a great functional way to help them solidify what they learned. Today, Cheryl Bregman is here to discuss some common handwriting norms...

What do you think of when you hear the phrase trauma responsive?  This concept goes beyond trauma-informed care. Tune in to hear Dr. Gibbs speak about her book, Trauma Treatment in Action, and how as OTPs, we need to be more responsive to the needs of a client regarding their mental health, just as if we were working with someone who had a stroke or other physical ailment.  Listen now to learn the...

Did you know that Einstein and Thomas Edison may have had dysgraphia?  In our chat with Cheri Dotterer today, she discusses the truth about dysgraphia. A lot of us have had specific beliefs about what dysgraphia consists of, but the true definition may surprise you. She also explores the different types of dysgraphia and bilateral integration, which include interlaced, symmetrical, and asymmetrica...

Have you ever thought about what it might look like working with transition-aged students? Even if you are currently working with them now, you may still question how to best use your skills to work with these older school-aged students effectively.  Today, we are speaking with Justin Lundstedt, OTR/L, where he will discuss many areas of TAS and executive functioning. Tune in to learn how you can...

Were you flabbergasted when the CDC changed the guidelines for developmental milestones In February?  You weren’t alone. But it is important to look deeper at why these changes were made. The CDC was tasked with updating the milestones and making them less confusing for those who rely on them most -  parents. The milestones are still (mostly) the same, and they are backed by research, as we discus...

As OTPs we were taught that our profession was founded on providing a safe space for those who had a mental illness, and we were there to help them engage in occupations that were meaningful to them, yet we tend to forget the importance of this.  Today, we speak with Moni Keen to address her capstone research that addressed being an interprofessional team member and mental health in school-aged ch...

School-based OT practitioners are not handwriting teachers! However, handwriting is often the most common reason for referral. In our chat with Debra Collette, OTD, OTR/L, we are discussing a recent article where she surveyed teachers, administrators, and therapists on the missing pieces of handwriting in schools. Ten years ago, common core began to take over school standards, but the standards ne...

Did you know that transitional services can be implemented even before a student gets to high school?  In this episode, we talk about how community-based instruction (CBI) can be implemented in the elementary school setting and how these children benefit greatly from starting early. Debbie Schwind discusses how she developed a campus-based CBI program for the students with just a coffee cart and h...

Have you ever thought about the shifts that have happened throughout the history of Occupational Therapy in the schools? Occupational therapy has been a part of the school systems since the ‘70s when legislation was enacted at the national level. In this episode of the OT Schoolhouse Podcast, we will discuss several shifts in this field within the past 40 years. Our guest today is Julie Bissell, O...

Our guest today proves how it is possible to make the best of a situation when unforeseen circumstances happen. The Covid Pandemic derailed Alvin from starting his private practice. Still, it allowed him to build up his social media and do something he enjoys, video editing. He has created videos to share with others about occupational therapy and his “P.L.A.Y on the Go Approach.” He shares conten...