Sensory Processing is the way the brain processes sensory stimuli from our environment. Sensory stimuli include vision, hearing, touch, taste, smell, body awareness and balance. Sometimes kids will have difficulties with processing certain sensory information, and this can cause dysregulation and behavioral issues in the classroom. Today on The OT Corner with Mrs. K, my guest Lauri Doxsey and I discuss sensory processing disorders and behavior issues in the classroom. As occupational therapists, we help the educational team figure out what the root of the problem may be, and plan interventions and techniques the student and the team can use to mitigate the issues. Lauri shares programs and resources that she uses in the classroom to help her students. Links to these programs listed here:

Ninja Life Hacks: https://www.ninjalifehacks.tv/?gclid=CjwKCAiAjPyfBhBMEiwAB2CCIvcRn2AZo103C0GZxagFvLkNasJxw5ctQNGfO_OnWeEkS9GXvMXlIBoC-1EQAvD_BwE

A Little Spot of Feelings Curriculum:  

https://www.dianealber.com/collections/spot-series?utm_source=google&utm_medium=paid&utm_campaign=12517230897&utm_content=120705078958&utm_term=diane%20alber%20little%20spot&gadid=508680186616&gclid=CjwKCAiAr4GgBhBFEiwAgwORrecCr6vUVVfswuOFfdow9gIS7iR4_Hw_52GLuiyk1jNL1qLgVzTWEBoCPsYQAvD_BwE

Zones of Regulation:  https://zonesofregulation.com/index.html

Social Thinking:  The Social Thinking Methodology

Lauri Doxsey is a school-based occupational therapist servicing suburban preschool and kindergarten students. She obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy in 1995. She continued her education with a Master’s in Education in 2010 and a Specialty Certification in School Systems from AOTA in 2018.  Lauri uses a collaborative team approach to address the needs of her students to maximize their independence in fine motor, self-care, sensory processing and self-regulation skills in the school environment.  She has presented at multiple conferences including AOTA, OOTA, OCALI, Ohio AEYC; additional presentations have been given to area preschools in the community in which she works. Lauri is published in OT Practice and is the coauthor of an article in AOTA regarding Every Moment Counts’ programs, The Comfortable Cafeteria, and Refreshing Recess.  Lauri is a wife and mother of two adult children; In her spare time she enjoys spending time with friends and family, reading, and hiking with her two dogs.

Today, Founder and President of Learnlee Tutors, Nichole Lee, M.Ed, joins me to discuss the growing need of educational and emotional support for our children and their families. Nichole discusses how her Austin, Texas based business grew out of the pandemic, and how it impacts her community. For three years now, her idea of offering tutoring services to kids in her area has evolved into a thriving, teacher operated and owned education company. As a teacher and a business owner, Nicole has over 15 years of professional experience impacting children of all ages and backgrounds in communities across Missouri, Colorado and Texas. Nichole has been a leader in her field, has been involved in language immersion and outdoor education programs. She works with children who are gifted and talented, and children with special needs. 

Education:

Master's Degree in Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment 

Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with minors in Psychology & Spanish

University of Missouri- Columbia 

Current Texas certified teaching licenses include:

2015-2016 Cognitive Coaching Certification earned in Denver, CO

Check out her website and social media!

Links:

Website: https://learnlee.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Learnlee123

Instagram: @learnlee123

TikTok: @learnleetutors

As a parent of child that is identified with needs in their educational setting, process of evaluation, qualifying the student and creating the Individual Education Plan can be an overwhelming experience. So I decided to create an episode that outlines that process. My special guest today is the Principal and Director of Special Education at the Windham Exempted Village School District in Windham, Ohio. Melissa and I discuss this process, and how it differs from the evaluation and IEP process in the elementary grades.

Melissa was born and raised in a suburb just outside of Baltimore, Maryland. Her post secondary education began at Towson University, just north of Baltimore, Maryland, where she earned a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Dance Performance and Education. Her love of education led her away from private sector in 1997 to begin a career in the public school system, substitute teaching, eventually transitioning into a long term substitute position in special education. That experience fostered an interest to pursue higher education with a concentration in special education coupled a Masters in Leadership and Teaching from Notre Dame College of Maryland. She continued to employ her special education knowledge as an Intervention Specialist in Northeast Ohio from 2007 until 2012, with experiences at the elementary, middle and the high school level. In 2012, she began her venture as an administrator  in the public school system. In the summer of 2018, her  career brought her to Windham, Ohio, serving the district as the principal at the elementary school and as the director of special education for the district.

Over the past few weeks, I have started using TikTok to share "typical" development progressions for prewriting and grasp. I had so many people ask me questions, that I decided to create a short episode that expands on some of these images. I always want to preface that these ages are averages, and that all children of all different abilities develop at different rates. As always, if you are concerned about the development of your child, please start with their pediatrician. But you can find some great images online that give you a visual on some of the progression of grasp in children starting in infancy. 

Mrs. K has been an occupational therapist for over 20 years, and moved into working with kiddos in the schools seven years ago. She loves what she does, and is passionate about helping kids access their educational environments. If you would have any questions, please feel free to contact her at [email protected]. You can also join The OT Corner with Mrs. K on Instagram and Facebook. Oh and now TikTok. 

https://www.theotcorner.com/

Thanks for listening.

Please welcome my coworker and friend today as we discuss how our preschool students benefit from our collaborative services. We work very closely together developing the foundational skills needed to access the school environment starting at the preschool level. Kate is a wonderful collaborator, and not only that, we have a lot of fun working together.

Dr. Kate Arth is a Physical Therapist practicing school-based therapy in Ohio. She is the Physical and Occupational Therapy team coordinator within her district and she serves children with multiple and developmental disabilities from 3 years old through 22 years. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication Studies from Bowling Green State University. She received her Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree from Walsh University where she received the Clinical Excellence and Peer Recognition awards. Her research is in the area of collaborative practice and interprofessional education and she is the lead author of Physical Therapist Student Outcomes of Interprofessional Education in Professional (Entry-Level) Physical Therapist Education Programs: A Systematic Review. She is the proud mom of Alex, 8 and enjoys being active outdoors, reading, traveling, and coaching youth soccer in her community.

Today on The OT Corner with Mrs. K we are talking about the mental health in young children. Jessie Pollak joins me today to discuss how private therapy with a Licensed Counselor can benefit children at a young age and what types of therapy are out there for the 3-5 year old age group. Jessie is a Licensed Professional Counselor, who focuses on psychotherapy with children, adolescents, and their families, with an emphasis on depression, general anxiety, social anxiety, suicidality, ADHD, and behavioral issues. She received her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from John Carroll University, and her undergraduate degree in Psychology, with a minor in Theatre, from the Ohio State University.  She uses an eclectic approach, incorporating Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and expressive therapies, including drama and art. 

The Individuals with Disabilities Improvement Act (IDEIA) is a federal law that guarantees eligible children with disabilities, ages 3-21 years old (or when they graduate from high school)  the right to a free appropriate public education (FAPE). Under this law, public schools deliver services to children with disabilities that are  designed by specialists to break down barriers that would otherwise prevent access to the child's education. These interventions are to be provided to the child in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). School Psychologist,  Jennifer Matas joins me today to discuss how this law came to be, and how this law evolved since the 1970s. We also discuss the possible reasons for the increase in referrals for children to receive related services and intervention at the preschool level pre COVID and post COVID.

Jennifer Matas graduated Phi Beta Kappa, with Honors, from Denison University with a bachelor of science degree in psychology. She worked for a short while as a marketing director for an advertising agency before returning to school at Kent State where she received her M.Ed (Early Childhood School Psychology) and Ed.S. (Educational Specialist, Early Childhood School Psychology). She has worked in Ohio for the Summit Educational Service Center since her intern year in 1984. Over the years, she has been assigned to public and private schools throughout a three-county area. She retired from public school education in 2015 and now works at a small private school, where she has been a part-time school psychologist for the last 27 years. Jen has extensive experience in psycho-educational assessments and their interpretation, consultation with parents, staff and students, and small group, large group and individual counseling. She currently helps develop intervention plans for students and supports teachers in their execution of those plans.

Jen lives in Kent, Ohio with her rescue dog, Oliver. She enjoys community theater, watercolor, exercise and cooking. She is the very proud mother of two adult daughters.

LINKS: https://insource.org/get-help/resources/federal-laws-and-legislation/#:~:text=The%20Individuals%20with%20Disabilities%20Education%20Improvement%20Act%20(IDEA)%20is%20a,to%20meet%20their%20individual%20needs.

DISCLAIMER: I am an occupational therapist, but not your child's occupational therapist. This episode is not meant to provide any therapeutic or medical advice. If you are concerned about your child's development you should always contact your child's pediatrician. Thank you and enjoy the show!

Before a child begins to learn how to form letters, they should learn prewriting shapes. The act of writing and drawing is a very complex process. You have to have an image in your head, and you need to translate that into writing or drawing on a piece of paper. So many skills are needed for handwriting and drawing, and in a future episode I will go into those details, and what enables a person to be able to write. But, today, I focus on prewriting and why it is such an important step into writing, and why it is important at the preschool level.

Jennifer Kubinski, OTR/L is the creator of The OT Corner with Mrs. K podcast and website. She has been an occupational therapist for over 20 years, and has treated people across the lifespan, but has settled into being a school based occupational therapist. If you have any questions or would like to be on the show, you can email her at [email protected].

Prewriting Progression LINK:

https://www.theotcorner.com/blank-1

Leslie Burke, Development Director of the Down Syndrome Association of Northeast Ohio, (DSANEO), formerly the Up Side of Downs, joins The OT Corner with Mrs. K today. Listen in as Leslie and Mrs. K discuss the origin and evolution of the group, and programs available to preschool kiddos Birth-6 years old born with Down Syndrome.

LIFE CHANGING EVENTS: Leslie and her husband Bob were unaware of how much their life would change as they welcomed their daughter Genevieve to the world in 2006, who was born with Down Syndrome. After Genevieve was born, Leslie was recruited to volunteer for DSANEO, and her position as a volunteer eventually led to a career change. In 2010, Leslie left her globe-trotting retail career as a buyer for Improvements Catalog, and became the Special Events Coordinator of DSANEO.  From 2010-2016 she managed sponsorships and event details for two annual Fundraisers, the Sunburst Gala and the Buddy Walk.  In 2016, she took on a new challenge: writing grants. As the Development Director of DSANEO, Leslie enjoys telling the story of DSANEO to different foundations and why it is important to provide funds to nonprofits.

The mission of the Down Syndrome Association of Northeast Ohio (formerly the Up Side of Downs) is to provide support, education and advocacy for people with Down syndrome, their families and communities.  We are the primary resource for families and communities regarding Down Syndrome.  Our community includes parents, family members, teachers, therapists and medical professionals that serve individuals with Down Syndrome.

LINKS:

The Down Syndrome Association of Northeast Ohio Website: https://www.dsaneo.org/

DSANEO Team: https://www.dsaneo.org/about/meet-the-team/

DSANEO EDUCATION PROGRAM: Educators – Down Syndrome Association of Northeast Ohio

DSANEO Early Childhood (0-4): https://www.dsaneo.org/families/new-parents/

GRANTS: https://www.dsaneo.org/programs/usod-family-grants-application/

FAMILY SUPPORT: https://www.dsaneo.org/families/family-support/

EARLY LEARNERS INFO: https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui=2&ik=786e4ef7e9&attid=0.8&permmsgid=msg-f:1753778276254382750&th=1856ac0ce2f07a9e&view=att&disp=safe

WIGGLE , GIGGLE and LEARN INFO: https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui=2&ik=786e4ef7e9&attid=0.6&permmsgid=msg-f:1753778276254382750&th=1856ac0ce2f07a9e&view=att&disp=inline

LIVELY LEARNERS INFO: https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui=2&ik=786e4ef7e9&attid=0.7&permmsgid=msg-f:1753778276254382750&th=1856ac0ce2f07a9e&view=att&disp=inline

As a parent or educator of a child with special needs, navigating the educational system to ensure that a child can access their education in the least restrictive environment can be daunting. The current Individual Educational Plan (IEP) delineates roles and responsibilities to specific related service providers and educators. Each discipline and educator assesses different areas and are responsible for writing a specific goal, developing a treatment or education plan, and collecting specific data for that goal.

Robert Serianni joins The OT Corner with Mrs. K to discuss an overview of the Collaborative Service Delivery Model and how it would look in the preschool setting. Bob brings a wealth of knowledge on this subject. Bob is the Department Chair and Program Director of the Speech Language Pathology Program at Salus University in Philadelphia, PA where Speech Language Pathology students are learning and implementing this model.

The OT Corner with Mrs. K. has an excellent line up of guests in the first season of the podcast focusing on education and childhood development at the preschool level. Subsequent seasons will continue the journey looking into childhood development through the elementary, middle school and high school grades..

Don’t forget to subscribe to the show. Thank you for listening.

Links: 

Salus University Speech Language Pathology Program: 

https://www.salus.edu/Colleges/Health-Sciences-Education-Rehabilitation/Department-of-Speech-Language-Pathology.aspx

Robert Serianni, MS, CCC-SLP, FNAP: 

https://www.salus.edu/About/Faculty-Directory/Faculty-Pages/Serianni,-Robert-(1).aspx