When Kate Moore, a current student and aspiring occupational therapist, received an email and learned she was nominated, she was stunned. Kate was nominated and later selected for the Most Promising Pediatric Clinician Award, or MPPCA for short. “I was so surprised to be nominated for such a prestigious award,” Moore said. “I put a lot of effort into my …
Occupational Therapy and Applied Behavior Analysis: When should these disciplines work together?
There is evidence that using the multidisciplinary approach to therapy yields the best results for our clients. So when an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapist notices that a child would benefit from occupational therapy (OT), they will make a referral so that both disciplines can collaborate on strategies to best support the shared client. What is ABA? It is an …
How Occupational Therapy Can Support Speech Therapy Services
Oftentimes when a child is receiving speech therapy services, an occupational therapy evaluation is recommended. As a caregiver or potential referring therapist, you may think, “But our main goal is speech, how will OT help?” Occupational therapy can help to facilitate foundational skills that will assist in speech and language success. In addition to collaborating with the speech therapist to …
Fun Vestibular Activities Using Items You Have at Home
What is the vestibular system, and what does it mean for my child? The vestibular system helps us interpret movement–if we are moving or standing still, how fast we are moving if we are moving with or against gravity, and what direction we are moving in. It is housed within our inner ear and receives information based on the direction …
Fun Proprioceptive Activities Using Items You Have at Home
What is proprioception, and what does it mean for my child? Proprioception refers to our body awareness in space, such as how we move through our environments or even the position of our bodies in one place. Lifting, pushing, and pulling weight are all methods of receiving proprioceptive input. These activities tend to be “centering” or “grounding” for all of …
A-Z Guide for Sensory-Friendly Travel and Vacationing
Whether it’s across the ocean or right around the corner, planning and executing a perfect family vacation can take a lot of time and research. Here’s a condensed A-Z list of considerations and recommendations to hopefully ease some of the preparation for your next trip: Airlines There is no one all-hailed airline that is consistently recommended as the best airline …
Top 10 Vacations for Families of Children with Sensory Challenges
As a parent of a child with sensory or social communication difficulties, it can be overwhelming to search for appropriate and welcoming destinations for a family vacation catered to those with mild to severe sensory processing challenges, including those with ASD and SPD. According to a study conducted by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), a …
You’re Not Alone-Travel Blogs from Parents & Individuals with ASD
When you plan a vacation, there are many factors that go into preparation and execution… Especially when you have to consider all the sensory experiences, transitions, and thousands of other vacationers around you. It seems daunting, but you are not alone. Below are links to personal accounts from parents, caregivers, and even first-hand accounts of individuals with autism spectrum disorder …
How to make your own weighted lap pad!
Weighted lap pads, and other weighted items are often used by occupational therapists. They are a helpful tool that promote regulation and body awareness by providing proprioceptive input to the body. Some children may feel more comfortable and relaxed when using a weighted item because they have more information about their body which helps them feel regulated. The following blog …
What to Expect from an Occupational Therapy Evaluation
What is an Occupational Therapy Evaluation? A thorough evaluation is critical to assessing your child’s need for occupational therapy services as well as identifying specific goals to be addressed throughout therapy. This post outlines Chicago Occupational Therapy’s typical approach to an initial evaluation, however this process may look different based on your child’s specific needs and setting. We believe in …
