The Integration Station

This week, we're unpacking the Thriving Kids Program announcement, workshopping how you can manage difficult conversations when someone separates the person from the diagnosis, and managing clients with low muscle tone. 

If you liked something we talked about, or you learned something from listening to us, share it with your friends,  family, uni classmates or colleagues. The more people who know about occupational therapy, the better! 

 If you have any questions you'd like answered, please send a question to the integration station via Instagram or our email [email protected] 

Michael and Eleanor unpack Pathological Demand Avoidance and Oppositional Defiance Disorder and, walk you through the differences, how to manage the challenges, and useful resources to help build your toolkit. 

Resources: 
Helping Autistic Teens to Manage Their Anxiety - Dr. Theresa Kidd - https://www.kiddclinic.com.au/dr-theresa-kidds-book
Yellow Lady Bugs -https://www.yellowladybugs.com.au/
Reframing Autism - https://reframingautism.org.au/ 
PDA Society - https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/
ABOUT AUTISM AND PATHOLOGICAL DEMAND AVOIDANCE (PDA) PROFILE (SA Gov) - https://www.education.sa.gov.au/docs/support-and-inclusion/practice-guidance/About-autism-and-pathological-demand-avoidance-PDA-profile.pdf
The Declarative Language Handbook - Linda K Murphy - https://www.declarativelanguage.com/about-declarative-language-handbook

 

If you liked something we talked about, or you learned something from listening to us, share it with your friends,  family, uni classmates or colleagues. The more people who know about occupational therapy, the better! 

 If you have any questions you'd like answered, please send a question to the integration station via Instagram or our email [email protected] 

Michael shares his top strategies for communicating with neurodivergent young people - insights that go beyond the therapy room. 

Whether you're a health professional, educator, student, AHA or just want to foster more inclusive conversations in everyday life, this podcast is for you. 

If you liked something we talked about, or you learned something from listening to us, share it with your friends,  family, uni classmates or colleagues. The more people who know about occupational therapy, the better! 

 If you have any questions you'd like answered, please send a question to the integration station via Instagram or our email [email protected] 

How do you respond to a young person who says, “If I could change one thing about myself, I’d take away my autism?”

This week on The Integration Station, Michael shares an emotional moment with a young client, and how another young person offered his own strategies to help reframe that feeling, plus all your regular segments. 

If you liked something we talked about, or you learned something from listening to us, share it with your friends,  family, uni classmates or colleagues. The more people who know about occupational therapy, the better! 

 If you have any questions you'd like answered, please send a question to the integration station via Instagram or our email [email protected] 

This week, Michael and Eleanor answer your questions about bedtime routines for sensory avoidant profiles and activities for high emotions and provide fun ways to incorporate deep breathing activities for moments of high emotion. 

Plus all of our regular segments and with a laugh along the way. 

If you liked something we talked about, or you learned something from listening to us, share it with your friends,  family, uni classmates or colleagues. The more people who know about occupational therapy, the better! 

 If you have any questions you'd like answered, please send a question to the integration station via Instagram or our email [email protected] 

This week,  Michael and Eleanor delve into the fascinating and complex topic of artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential implications on the future of reading, writing, and occupational therapy. 

We also unpack practical applications of AI in clinical practice, emphasising the need for consent, privacy, and maintaining professional responsibility with AI integration in the clinical space as well as AI's role in supporting diverse learning methods. 

If you liked something we talked about, or you learned something from listening to us, share it with your friends,  family, uni classmates or colleagues. The more people who know about occupational therapy, the better! 

 If you have any questions you'd like answered, please send a question to the integration station via Instagram or our email [email protected] 

This week, Michael and Eleanor explain The PINCH Method.

It's a way to help an ADHD brain stay engaged and motivated by creating interest-based motivation in a task.

Research has shown that when tasks are infused with emotional relevance or immediate payoff, people with ADHD perform significantly better when novelty, urgency, and rewards are motivating factors.

And we also unpack the Cascading Effects of Sensory Development, a model helps change the way we approach sensory issues for young people with autism. 

Plus a few giggles and our regular segments in between 

If you liked something we talked about, or you learned something from listening to us, share it with your friends,  family, uni classmates or colleagues. The more people who know about occupational therapy, the better! 

 If you have any questions you'd like answered, please send a question to the integration station via Instagram or our email [email protected] 

How important is rapport to delivering outcomes for clients? 

Michael and Eleanor provide the evidence as to why it's so important in the clinic, plus we fire off some rapid fire regulation activities for the home and school and walk you through what ATAR you need to get into OT. 

If you liked something we talked about, or you learned something from listening to us, share it with your friends,  family, uni classmates or colleagues. The more people who know about occupational therapy, the better! 

 If you have any questions you'd like answered, please send a question to the integration station via Instagram or our email [email protected] 

This week, we cross to Twin Falls, Idaho and chat with parent coach and sensory integration Occupational Therapist Ivan Hardcastle. 

We cover how to use sensory integration with families and in the school setting, as well as how to coregulate and manage yourself as a parent and a professional. 

00:00 Intro 03:31 Therapy Activity of The Week 
09:26 Regulation Strategy of The Week 
14:09 What drew you to OT? 
18:05 Using sI to support families 
23:23 Applying sensory integration at home 
25:16 What does parent coaching as an OT look like? 
30:05 Managing parents who might not be on board 
32:33 Introducing coregulation at home 
36:04 The rock amongst the waves 
38:42 How has being a parent of neurodiverse children helped you as an OT? 
47:01 How do you take care of yourself? 
52:25 Advice for parents 
 

If you liked something we talked about, or you learned something from listening to us, share it with your friends,  family, uni classmates or colleagues. The more people who know about occupational therapy, the better! 

 If you have any questions you'd like answered, please send a question to the integration station via Instagram or our email [email protected] 

This week, we dust off the backpack, polish up our shoes, and go back to grade 11 as we answer a student who asked if we could help them finish their Stage 2 Child Studies assignment. The questions were so insightful, we thought we'd answer them in full on the podcast. 

Here's what we'll be tackling this week: 

What role does play-based therapy have in helping children on the autism spectrum build social skills and emotional awareness?

How do occupational therapists tailor strategies to meet the unique emotional needs of individual children with autism?

What are some key challenges you face in supporting social development in children within this age group?

In your experience, what are the most common social and emotional challenges faced by children with autism in early childhood?

How does occupational therapy specifically target these challenges in children aged 3 to 8?

How can occupational therapy improve a child’s ability to form relationships with peers and adults? + much more. 

If you liked something we talked about, or you learned something from listening to us, share it with your friends,  family, uni classmates or colleagues. The more people who know about occupational therapy, the better! 

 If you have any questions you'd like answered, please send a question to the integration station via Instagram or our email [email protected]