The OT Schoolhouse Podcast for School-Based OT Practitioners

As OTP’s we know that goal writing can get a bit difficult at times. Understanding each component of a goal will ultimately lead to better goal writing. Taking the time to write goals is a huge part of helping the students and other people involved see what progress has been made.  Today we are speaking with Sarah Beaulieu, MOT, OTR/L. and Emily Deller, MOT, OTR/L. They are speaking in-depth about...

As an OT practitioner in the schools, it doesn’t take long to realize that most of the evaluation referrals coming your way are due to handwriting concerns. As such, you have probably begun to fine-tune your ability to promote increased fine motor, visual motor, and manual dexterity skills. But another way to address handwriting is through adapting the environment and using tools to support studen...

As OTPs in the schools, we all work with children with Sensory Processing Disorder. But our guest today has gone a step further in how she supports the families of neurodiverse children. Laura Petix, MS, OTR/L, dives into her passion for helping parents gain the tools they need to understand information and strategies to help their children. She has even used these tools in her personal life with...

Are you constantly wondering how to be more evidence-based when working in a school setting?    In this episode of the OT Schoolhouse Podcast, we discuss how using client-centered top-down approaches will allow for more evidence-based practices and what top-down approaches look like with children in the schools. We are speaking with the creator of the CO-OP approach, Helene Polatajko, Ph. D., OT R...

Are you a new grad OT practitioner ready to find your first school-based OT job? If so, hit play now! In this episode, I am interviewing Jhenny Rivera about her recent experiences of searching for,  finding, interviewing, and starting in a school-based OT position as a new grad OT. Jhenny graduated from OT school in the summer of 2021, passed the OT boards in the fall, and landed her first school-...

In OT school, most students are tasked with doing a deep dive into the OT Practice Framework, better known as the OTPF. But have you taken a second to reflect on the OTPF since you landed your school-based OT job? It is important to periodically go back and review your practice as it relates to the OTPF, especially when it is updated (like it was in 2020). In today's episode of the OT Schoolh...

For our 100th episode, we are celebrating in a very special way. I don't want to give away too much, so I'll just tell you this. You may already be pretty familiar with our special guest today.  Listen in to see who our mystery guest is and learn more about the OT Schoolhouse.   Click here to register & get the best deal on the 2026 Back to School Conference!  Thanks for tuning in! T...

To celebrate OT Month, the #ABCsofOT are taking over the OT Schoolhouse Podcast for the month of April. More specifically, we are taking on the ABCs of School-Based OT In this fourth episode in a four-part series, we will be expanding on the letters U-Z and how they relate to school-based OT. The ABCs of SBOT are brought to you by the A-Z school-based OT Course from the OT Schoolhouse. Learn more...

To celebrate OT Month, the #ABCsofOT are taking over the OT Schoolhouse Podcast for the month of April. More specifically, we are taking on the ABCs of School-Based OT In this third episode in a four-part series, we will be expanding on the letters N-T and how they relate to school-based OT. The ABCs of SBOT are brought to you by the A-Z school-based OT Course from the OT Schoolhouse. Learn more a...

To celebrate OT Month, the #ABCsofOT are taking over the OT Schoolhouse Podcast for the month of April. More specifically, we are taking on the ABCs of School-Based OT In this second episode of a four-part series, we will be expanding on the letters G-M and how they relate to school-based OT. The ABCs of SBOT are brought to you by the A-Z school-based OT Course from the OT Schoolhouse. Learn more...

Happy OT Month! To celebrate, the #ABCsofOT are taking over the OT Schoolhouse Podcast for the month of April. More specifically, we are taking on the ABCs of School-Based OT In this first episode of a four-part series, we will be expanding on the letters A-F and how they relate to school-based OT. Over the next four weeks, we will cover the entire alphabet and share some terms, concepts, and idea...

In this episode of the OT Schoolhouse Podcast, I am answering the questions submitted by several of our OT Schoolhouse Podcast listeners. From "what is a consult?" to "how do I implement sensory strategies?" I am answering a dozen questions that were submitted by OT practitioners that work in the schools and listen to the OT Schoolhouse Podcast just like you. Listen in to hear...

Today on the OT Schoolhouse Podcast, we are talking about OT Month coming up in April. Why are we doing this in March, you ask? Because OT Month is worth planning for, of course!  In this episode, I am going to share with you 10 ways you can celebrate and promote our fantastic occupation in a serving manner (because that is what we do here at the OT Schoolhouse. We serve first. 🤝) Be sure to head...

In this episode of the OT Schoolhouse Podcast, we are joined by Angela Provenzano, OTD Student, to discuss kinship families and what we should know as school-based OTs who support students who may be a part of a kinship family.  Angela is going to share her experiences as being a member of a kinship family, what the research says about both the children and the guardians in kinship families, and h...

In this episode of the OT schoolhouse podcast, we discuss mindfulness in school-based OT with Dr. Deirdre Azzopardi of TheMindfulSchoolOT.com . Dierdre is an experienced school-based OT who has been incorporating mindful practices into her life personally and professionally. She uses mindfulness to support students, teachers, and administrators in her school district and has seen the benefits. If...

Our role in special education was established in 1775 with the passing of The Education for All Handicapped Children Act. A lot has changed since then and we now have what is called the Every Student Succeeds Act, or ESSA. In this episode of the OT Schoolhouse Podcast, we are welcoming Abe Saffer, MPM. Abe is the Senior Legislative Representative for AOTA and I asked him to come on the show to sha...

During the pandemic, teletherapy found its foothold as the world shut down and continues to now reopen. However, despite schools and businesses reopening, this is just the beginning of the story for occupational therapy and the doors that have opened in the world of teletherapy.  In today’s episode, we are talking with Occupational Therapist, Tasha Holmes, and Speech Pathologist, Kristin Martinez,...

In this episode of the OT School House Podcast, we have a very special guest with decades of experience in helping therapists, teachers, and adults around the world to support students with handwriting difficulties. Dr. Bev is a nationally recognized speaker with 43+ years of experience as an Occupational Therapist. As a school therapist, she serviced more than fifteen school districts, visiting o...

School-based Occupational therapists have been a part of public education since legislation was initially enacted in the 1970’s. Contrary to this, school-based OT practitioners often do not have pathways to educational leadership. OT practitioners are unable to serve as administrators within a school system in 46 states in the United States.  In this special episode of the OTSH Podcast, we will ex...

School-based occupational therapists wear many hats. Sometimes we treat students individually and other times we have to train the teachers in ways they can support students in the classroom.  Today, we are focusing on supporting teachers in fostering safe and regulating environments in the classroom for students with sensory differences.  Joining me today to discuss this topic is Dr. Jamie Chaves...

In this journal club edition of the OT School  House Podcast, we are examining the  2020 Seruya & Garfinkle article about current workload trends in school-based OT.  We will discuss the findings from a survey of 571 OT Practitioners working in the schools just like you and talk about the real-life implications your caseload can have on your practice as an OT practitioner in the schools. Spoil...

In this episode, I am bringing on Meghan Fox, OTR/L, from Wootherapy.com to talk about her transition from providing primarily pull-out OT services, to a more collaborative service approach. Meghan shares with us why she decided to make the move and what those collaborative services look like. Also, she gets very real with us and shares what is (and is not) working during the transition. There wil...

Help! I was just assigned to a high school & I have no idea what to do!! Ever had that thought before? It is not uncommon for me to receive an email with something like that in my inbox.  Now, I am no specialist in providing OT in high schools, but just like you, I can read some articles and listen to others who have done it before to learn from them.  In this episode, I am sharing my experien...

In this episode, Jayson shares the difference between screenings and evaluations. Using AOTA documents, IDEA references, and court cases, we will discuss when it is and is not appropriate to use screenings in a school-based setting. We will also briefly discuss how to ensure that your using a top-down approach when completing evaluations. View the transcript and resources tied to this episode at o...

Have you ever wondered if that handwriting intervention you provide is helpful? Or how about what that intervention in the research article actually looked like? In this episode of the OT School House Podcast, we are going beyond the article with the authors of the 2016 AJOT article titled Effectiveness of a Handwriting Intervention With At-Risk Kindergarteners.  Join me, along with Sheryl Zylstra...