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 her daughter Liliana.

Tune in to learn the following objectives:

• Listeners will learn about multiple resources for children with SPD
• Listeners will learn what social stories are, and how they benefit many children with anxiety and SPD
• Listeners will learn about the “Just right Challenge” for common sensory triggers

Click here to view the full show notes including the resources mentioned and impactful quotes from this episode.

Kick off the 2025-26 school year at the Back to School Conference!

Learn why so many OTPs dub the Back to School Conference their FAVORITE OT conference. Join 600+ school-based OT practitioners in accessing knowledge, resources, and support to start the school year strong. 

CLICK HERE to save $50 and secure your spot with code PODCAST25

Thanks for tuning in!

Thanks for tuning into the OT Schoolhouse Podcast brought to you by the OT Schoolhouse Collaborative Community for school-based OTPs. In OTS Collab, we use community-powered professional development to learn together and implement strategies together.

Don't forget to subscribe to the show and check out the show notes for every episode at OTSchoolhouse.com

See you in the next episode!

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 Reg. (Ont.), OT(C), FCAOT, FCAHS, OC, and the creator of “A Guide for Implementation: Using the Principles of CO-OP to Frame a Top-Down Approach with School-Aged Children,” Lara Collins Barros, OTD, OTR/L.

What you’ll Learn

• Listeners will learn the principles and guidelines of the CO-OP approach
• Listeners will learn how the CO-OP was developed
• Listeners will learn the difference between the behavioral approach and the cognitive approach 
• Listeners will learn more about top-down approaches
• Listeners will learn about guided discovery and what a supportive adult is

Resources

CO-OP approach website

TEDx - The Problem with Cookie-Cutter Therapy 

University of Toronto course

(CO-OP) Principles for Participation A Guide for Implementation: Using the Principles of CO-OP to Frame a Top-Down Approach with School-Aged Children

Developmental Coordination Disorder - CanChild.ca

View and listen to all episodes of the OT Schoolhouse website at otschoolhouse.com/podcast  

Kick off the 2025-26 school year at the Back to School Conference!

Learn why so many OTPs dub the Back to School Conference their FAVORITE OT conference. Join 600+ school-based OT practitioners in accessing knowledge, resources, and support to start the school year strong. 

CLICK HERE to save $50 and secure your spot with code PODCAST25

Thanks for tuning in!

Thanks for tuning into the OT Schoolhouse Podcast brought to you by the OT Schoolhouse Collaborative Community for school-based OTPs. In OTS Collab, we use community-powered professional development to learn together and implement strategies together.

Don't forget to subscribe to the show and check out the show notes for every episode at OTSchoolhouse.com

See you in the next episode!

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-based OT job in January of 2022. That is why I have asked her to come on the OT Schoolhouse Podcast to share how she achieved her goal and what she learned in the process.  We talk not only about the hiring process but also about what the first few months were like as a new grad school-based OT.

I hope you enjoy this episode. 

Kick off the 2025-26 school year at the Back to School Conference!

Learn why so many OTPs dub the Back to School Conference their FAVORITE OT conference. Join 600+ school-based OT practitioners in accessing knowledge, resources, and support to start the school year strong. 

CLICK HERE to save $50 and secure your spot with code PODCAST25

Thanks for tuning in!

Thanks for tuning into the OT Schoolhouse Podcast brought to you by the OT Schoolhouse Collaborative Community for school-based OTPs. In OTS Collab, we use community-powered professional development to learn together and implement strategies together.

Don't forget to subscribe to the show and check out the show notes for every episode at OTSchoolhouse.com

See you in the next episode!

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 Schoolhouse Podcast, we are taking a look at the OTPF and how school-based OT fits within the OT Framework with two of AOTA's Commission on Practice members who helped to write the most recent iteration of the OT Practice Framework. 

Joining us today, we have Susan M. Cahill Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA, and Julie Miller MOT, OTR/L, SWC. Susan and Julie are both lifelong OTPs who love our field and have volunteered with AOTA in a number of ways. Have a listen to learn more about Susan and Julie and hear how the OTPF-4 came to be and how school-based OT fits into the equation. 

Kick off the 2025-26 school year at the Back to School Conference!

Learn why so many OTPs dub the Back to School Conference their FAVORITE OT conference. Join 600+ school-based OT practitioners in accessing knowledge, resources, and support to start the school year strong. 

CLICK HERE to save $50 and secure your spot with code PODCAST25

Thanks for tuning in!

Thanks for tuning into the OT Schoolhouse Podcast brought to you by the OT Schoolhouse Collaborative Community for school-based OTPs. In OTS Collab, we use community-powered professional development to learn together and implement strategies together.

Don't forget to subscribe to the show and check out the show notes for every episode at OTSchoolhouse.com

See you in the next episode!

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.  

Kick off the 2025-26 school year at the Back to School Conference!

Learn why so many OTPs dub the Back to School Conference their FAVORITE OT conference. Join 600+ school-based OT practitioners in accessing knowledge, resources, and support to start the school year strong. 

CLICK HERE to save $50 and secure your spot with code PODCAST25

Thanks for tuning in!

Thanks for tuning into the OT Schoolhouse Podcast brought to you by the OT Schoolhouse Collaborative Community for school-based OTPs. In OTS Collab, we use community-powered professional development to learn together and implement strategies together.

Don't forget to subscribe to the show and check out the show notes for every episode at OTSchoolhouse.com

See you in the next episode!

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 about the course to help you be a more confident school-based OT at OTSchoolhouse.com/a2z   

Registration is also now open for the OT Schoolhouse Back to School Conference coming up in August. Learn more and register at OTSchoolhouse.com/conference

Kick off the 2025-26 school year at the Back to School Conference!

Learn why so many OTPs dub the Back to School Conference their FAVORITE OT conference. Join 600+ school-based OT practitioners in accessing knowledge, resources, and support to start the school year strong. 

CLICK HERE to save $50 and secure your spot with code PODCAST25

Thanks for tuning in!

Thanks for tuning into the OT Schoolhouse Podcast brought to you by the OT Schoolhouse Collaborative Community for school-based OTPs. In OTS Collab, we use community-powered professional development to learn together and implement strategies together.

Don't forget to subscribe to the show and check out the show notes for every episode at OTSchoolhouse.com

See you in the next episode!

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 about the course to help you be a more confident school-based OT at OTSchoolhouse.com/a2z   

Registration is also now open for the OT Schoolhouse Back to School Conference coming up in August. Learn more and register at OTSchoolhouse.com/conference

Kick off the 2025-26 school year at the Back to School Conference!

Learn why so many OTPs dub the Back to School Conference their FAVORITE OT conference. Join 600+ school-based OT practitioners in accessing knowledge, resources, and support to start the school year strong. 

CLICK HERE to save $50 and secure your spot with code PODCAST25

Thanks for tuning in!

Thanks for tuning into the OT Schoolhouse Podcast brought to you by the OT Schoolhouse Collaborative Community for school-based OTPs. In OTS Collab, we use community-powered professional development to learn together and implement strategies together.

Don't forget to subscribe to the show and check out the show notes for every episode at OTSchoolhouse.com

See you in the next episode!

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 about the course to help you be a more confident school-based OT at OTSchoolhouse.com/a2z   

Registration is also now open for the OT Schoolhouse Back to School Conference coming up in August. Learn more and register at OTSchoolhouse.com/conference

Kick off the 2025-26 school year at the Back to School Conference!

Learn why so many OTPs dub the Back to School Conference their FAVORITE OT conference. Join 600+ school-based OT practitioners in accessing knowledge, resources, and support to start the school year strong. 

CLICK HERE to save $50 and secure your spot with code PODCAST25

Thanks for tuning in!

Thanks for tuning into the OT Schoolhouse Podcast brought to you by the OT Schoolhouse Collaborative Community for school-based OTPs. In OTS Collab, we use community-powered professional development to learn together and implement strategies together.

Don't forget to subscribe to the show and check out the show notes for every episode at OTSchoolhouse.com

See you in the next episode!

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 ideas related to school-based Occupational Therapy.

The ABCs of SBOT are brought to you by the A-Z school-based OT Course from the OT Schoolhouse. Learn more about the course to help you be a more confident school-based OT at OTSchoolhouse.com/a2z   

Registration is also now open for the OT Schoolhouse Back to School Conference coming up in August. Learn more and register at OTSchoolhouse.com/conference

Kick off the 2025-26 school year at the Back to School Conference!

Learn why so many OTPs dub the Back to School Conference their FAVORITE OT conference. Join 600+ school-based OT practitioners in accessing knowledge, resources, and support to start the school year strong. 

CLICK HERE to save $50 and secure your spot with code PODCAST25

Thanks for tuning in!

Thanks for tuning into the OT Schoolhouse Podcast brought to you by the OT Schoolhouse Collaborative Community for school-based OTPs. In OTS Collab, we use community-powered professional development to learn together and implement strategies together.

Don't forget to subscribe to the show and check out the show notes for every episode at OTSchoolhouse.com

See you in the next episode!

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 how I respond to these listener-submitted questions.

A special thank you to all of those who submitted a question and made this episode possible!

View the resources mentioned at OTSchoolhouse.com/episode95

Kick off the 2025-26 school year at the Back to School Conference!

Learn why so many OTPs dub the Back to School Conference their FAVORITE OT conference. Join 600+ school-based OT practitioners in accessing knowledge, resources, and support to start the school year strong. 

CLICK HERE to save $50 and secure your spot with code PODCAST25

Thanks for tuning in!

Thanks for tuning into the OT Schoolhouse Podcast brought to you by the OT Schoolhouse Collaborative Community for school-based OTPs. In OTS Collab, we use community-powered professional development to learn together and implement strategies together.

Don't forget to subscribe to the show and check out the show notes for every episode at OTSchoolhouse.com

See you in the next episode!