When I type in a quick google search for “local special needs resources”, I get loads of hits for little ones. However, when I search for resources for teens and adults, the results are scarce. It seems like people forget that kids with autism become adults with autism, and as a community we should be…
Stack Up!: A Toy Review
This great and versatile game is called Stack Up! by Peaceable Kingdom. The game comes with a game board, 12 blocks, 12 challenge cards, 2 stack sticks, a Stack Smasher and stand, and a spinner. The gameplay is pretty straightforward: you spin a color and stack a block. The object of the game is to…
Quality vs. Quantity: When Less is More
There are multiple reasons an occupational therapist chooses the frequency and duration of therapy. In my experience, the common consensus among parents is that if their child has more sessions, they’ll see progress sooner. I’m here to tell you that that’s not always the case. More sessions doesn’t always mean faster progress, and vice versa….
The Journey to Handwriting
When most teachers and parents think of OT, they immediately think “handwriting”. If they see a child who is having difficulty writing legibly, or keeping up in class, or sometimes not even able to write at all. They come to the OT and expect there to be one specific quick fix to solve the problem….
The Importance of Generalization
Let’s say one day you decide you want to become physically healthier. So you get a personal trainer, but every time you get home you eat nothing but junk food. Would you expect to see or feel any results? It’s the same with occupational therapy. Most kids get a few hours a week, or even…
Toy Review: Catch and Count Fishing Game
The first toy I decided to review called the Catch and Count Fishing Game by Melissa and Doug. It’s great because it can be used in so many different ways that target all kinds of skills, which is something I absolutely LOVE as an OT practitioner. The game comes with a set of 10 magnetic…
Arousal Levels: Seeking and Avoiding Behaviors (and Strategies!)
Now that you know the eight senses, I’m going to give you a quick vocab lesson about arousal levels. Arousal can be defined as the fluctuating level of alertness of the nervous system, and is extremely affected by sensory input. If your arousal level is too high or too low, then it could throw off…
The Pros and Cons of Reward Charts
Throughout my career both as a Behavior Interventionist, and as an OT Assistant, I’ve seen a wide variety of uses for reward charts. I’ve used them mostly in schools, but often in homes as well, and for so many different reasons, I’ve lost count. Everything from completing homework assignments or doing chores around the house,…
10 Simple Ways to Get Proprioceptive Input at Home.
Your proprioceptive system.
The code name for this in the OT world is “heavy work“, and a common phrase we use is “heavy work always works”. Receiving input to your joints and muscles has been shown to have an overwhelmingly high
I went on a 5-day mindfulness retreat. Here’s what happened.
A few years ago, I went on a 5-day mindfulness retreat at a Buddhist monastery.
It was very spur of the moment. I was going through an emotionally rough time, and it just happened to fall on spring break. So I went, not knowing what to expect at all, just hopeful that I would get something out of this experience. I brought