If your young child has a disability or delay, you may have been referred to Occupational Therapy. But what does occupational therapy mean for a child? In this episode, we’ll talk about all of the ways OT can make a difference for your child. Kim Haynes and Anne Hindrichs of the McMains Child Developmental Center explains how OT can help a child with their most important work - play.

• McMains Child Developmental Center (Baton Rouge, LA)
• What Is Occupational Therapy?
• Sensory Smarts: Find an Occupational Therapist
• Kitchen Conversations: Therapies and accommodations to support young children with disabilities in school (webinar replay)
• One Quick Question: I thought OT was about workplace skills. Why does my child need OT if they don't work? (2-minute video)
• One Quick Question: "Will my young child with special needs need to do therapy forever?" (2-minute video)
• What are some activities for children who have difficulty accepting different foods or textures? (2-minute video)
• How to mix OT into summer fun (2-minute video)
• Am I doing enough? (2-minute video)
• Fellow parents: Let’s talk about mental health

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Sensory processing issues make it difficult for our brains to process and filter information that comes through our senses. When our kids are overwhelmed or understimulated, it shows up in their behavior. In this podcast, we will talk about how to understand and meet our kids’ sensory needs.

Resources mentioned in this episode

• Dr. Jean Ayres, Occupational Therapist who developed the concept of sensory integration
• Raising a Sensory Smart Child: The Definitive Handbook for Helping Your Child with Sensory Processing Issues
• What are some activities for children who have difficulty accepting different foods or textures? (video)
• Exceptional Lives Massachusetts resource directory
• Exceptional Lives Louisiana resource directory
• Sensory Smarts: Find an Occupational Therapist
• What is a sensory diet?
• The Beginner’s Guide to a Sensory Diet
• Kitchen Conversation: Occupational Therapy at Home (video)
• What do you mean, “self-regulation is the new IQ”? (video)
• Keeping calm: mastering the art of self-regulation in 3 simple steps

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On January 20th, my daughter saw herself in the mirror when we watched the presidential inauguration. Black women took the stage, and one used American Sign Language to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Her jaw dropped. In this podcast, we talk role models. If we don’t share our child’s disability, we have that much more work to do to make sure they have role models. This is powerful stuff.

Resources mentioned in this episode

• Watch Andrea Hall, City of South Fulton fire captain, deliver the Pledge of Allegiance at Inauguration
• Introducing Amanda Gorman, the youth poet laureate who spoke at Biden’s inauguration 
• Hamilton references in Amanda Gorman’s inaugural poem 
• Brown Girls Book Club Comes Together To Celebrate And Watch Historic Inauguration
• Keeping calm: mastering the art of self-regulation in 3 simple steps 
• Fellow parents, let’s talk about mental health 
• Stephen Hawking, scientist known for his work with black holes (biography) 
• Inaugural Poet Amanda Gorman Reveals Hamilton Lyric That Helped Her Overcome Speech Impediment
• Kari Miller, Paralympic gold medalist, sitting volleyball (biography)
• One-handed hair styling from Born Just Right
• Autism Rocks and Rolls (podcast)
• Smile Mass: Accessible Play and Travel
• 50 MUST-READ YA BOOKS ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS (PLUS A FEW MORE)
• 20 MUST-READ YA BOOKS WITH DISABLED CHARACTERS
• Read Harder 2021: A Children’s Book That Centers a Disabled Character But Not Their Disability
• Kids’ Movies with Characters Who Have Physical Disabilities (Common Sense Media)
• #DisabilityPride on Tiktok
• #DisabilityPride on Twitter

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It’s easy to say the wrong thing, even when we mean well. Here is what not to say to a child with a disability - and some great things to say instead. This podcast will take on both.

Resources mentioned in this episode

• How can I help my child with problem-solving? 

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Your child was recently diagnosed with a disability. Maybe this is the first time, or maybe it’s yet another diagnosis in a long string of them. You might feel confused. Or relieved. Or scared. Or overwhelmed. All of the above? That sounds about right. In this podcast episode, we’ll dive right into all of it.

Resources mentioned in this episode

• Accepting your child’s diagnosis
• What is polymicrogyria?
• Top 10 ways my son’s diagnosis has affected our lives
• Emotions and stigma with a new diagnosis
• Checking the boxes: diagnosis and belonging
• Sincerely, Your Autistic Child (Penguin Random House)
• My child has a disability and I don’t. How do I make sure she has role models?
• The 3 systems that can help your child
• What kind of notes and records do you need to keep for your child?
• Schuyler’s Monster: A Father’s Journey with His Wordless Daughter (MacMillan Publishers)
• What to do when you think your child may be different

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Parents of kids with disabilities are often the squeaky wheel, the recipients of sideways looks in the store. The looks I get in the store are only looks of those that just don’t know; they can’t understand how much richer my life is because of this child. I embrace being the frazzled parent because I know I’m showing up for him.

Resources mentioned in this episode

• What do you do if you think your child might be different?
• Introduction to Early Intervention
• Why are we so obsessed with milestones?
• How do I help my teen with a disability prepare for adult life?
• “How do I help my son engage in sports activities?”
• More than one expert in the room: parents as experts
• How to keep it together: a guide

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Exceptional Lives envisions a world where families raising children with disabilities (or special needs) become effective advocates for their children. We support families, train providers and educators, and offer guidance grounded in our own personal experiences. Listen to this short podcast to learn more about how we can support you.

Resources mentioned in this episode

• What is identity-first language?
• ¿Qué es el lenguaje “primero la identidad”?
• Exceptional Lives values
• Person First and Identity First Language (From Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion)
• Identity-First Language (From Autistic Self-Advocacy Network)
• LeMondre Pough, CEO of Billion Strong
• What does it mean to listen to #ActuallyAutistic voices?
• Exceptional Lives mission and vision

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