The OT Schoolhouse Podcast for School-Based OT Practitioners
Episodes
203 episodes
School Lunch Struggles and Sensory Processing in School-Based OT
When a student refuses to eat at school, it affects everything—academic performance, regulation, social interactions, and the afternoon meltdown that follows.In this episode, @Jayson Davies sits down with Alisha Grogan, MOT, OTR/L, found...
School-Aged Mental Health in a Post-COVID World
This course explores the evolving landscape of school-aged mental health in a post-COVID world and the expanding role of occupational therapy in supporting students’ emotional, behavioral, and functional participation.Dr. Monica Keen exa...
From NBCOT Struggles to School-Based OT
Transitioning from OT student to practicing clinician isn’t always a straight path—and in this episode, Chandler Sarkozi shares her real, unfiltered journey into school-based practice. From taking the NBCOT multiple times to navigating job opti...
Advocacy Wins Every School-Based OT Should Know
In this episode, Jayson discusses the often-overlooked but critical role that state and national occupational therapy associations play in protecting and advancing the profession. He highlights major advocacy wins from the past year, including ...
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Bridging Sensory Integration and Academic Standards in School-Based OT
In this episode of the OT Schoolhouse Podcast, host Jayson Davies is joined by Aimee Piller and Dr. Sultan Alfawaz to explore a powerful shift in school-based occupational therapy practice. Together, they break down how aligning OT services wit...
AI and Clinical Reasoning in School-Based Occupational Therapy
Artificial intelligence is quickly entering healthcare and education, and occupational therapists are asking an important question: How can we use AI responsibly without losing the clinical reasoning that defines our profession? In this ...
Understanding the Why in School-Based OT From a Parent's Perspective
Join us in this episode where Nicole Dahl shares her powerful journey as a parent navigating occupational therapy services for her son on the autism spectrum. She opens up about the challenges of understanding the "why" behind therapy activitie...
Supporting Teachers First and How Coaching Creates Lasting Impact for Students
Supporting teachers can be one of the most powerful ways to create lasting change for students—but it requires a shift in how we view our role as school-based OTs. In this episode, Dr. Ellen Cullen shares her groundbreaking doctoral capstone wo...
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How the C-SEA Can Help You Transform Classroom Environments
Walking into a classroom filled with visual clutter, constant noise, and lingering smells from an air fryer might leave you wondering how any student can focus—let alone those with sensory processing challenges. In this episode, Dr. Heather Kuh...
Applying your Sensory Knowledge to MTSS Tiers 1 & 2
Dr. Aimee Piller joins the OT Schoolhouse Podcast to explore how school-based occupational therapists can apply their sensory expertise within a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS). She shares practical strategies for moving beyon...
Turning Grant Funding Into Mental Health Advocacy in Schools
In this Episode of the OT Schoolhouse Podcast, Jayson Davies welcomes Dr. Jaime Hunter and Dr. Kaisa Syväoja from The College of St. Scholastica to discuss how OT practitioners can utilize grants to advocate for mental health services in school...
From Behavior to Regulation: How the Good Sense Rocketship Framework Transforms OT Practice
Get ready to blast off into a powerful new way of understanding sensory processing in schools. In this episode, Danielle Pluth and Ruth Isaac—Canadian occupational therapists and creators of the Good Sense OT Rocket Ship—share the innova...
How switching to a workload model can transform your school-based OT practice
Dive into groundbreaking research on the transition from caseload to workload models in school-based OT with Stanbridge University MOT students Jalen, Michelle, Jared, and Ari. Their nationwide survey revealed striking results: practitioners us...
Everyday Ethics in School-Based OT"
Everyday Ethics in School-Based OT: Navigating Challenges with Clarity & Confidence equips school-based occupational therapists with the tools to confidently address real-world ethical dilemmas that arise in educational settings. Through ca...
Realistic Strategies to Build Work Skills for High School and Transition-Aged Students
Matthew Husband, OTD, OTR/L shares his innovative "Get to Work" program, an after-school initiative providing realistic work experiences for high school students who could succeed in employment with the right supports. The program follows a mon...
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The Hidden Advantage: Why OTs Hold the Key to School Success Through Self-Regulation
OTs hold the key to school-wide success by grounding self-regulation in sensory-motor regulation—not just in emotions. In this episode, Sherry Shellenberger and Jennie Largent show how the Alert Program provides a foundational layer many SEL...
Bridging the Gap in Occupational Therapy's Role in the Homeschooling Journey
In this exciting episode, we're thrilled to welcome back Sarah Collins, a pioneer in the world of homeschooling and occupational therapy. It’s been over five years since Sarah first joined us, right at the onset of the pandemic, and so much has...
Your BOT-3 Questions Answered!
Discover the exciting updates and enhancements of the BOT-3 assessment tool with Dr. Elizabeth Munsell, Research Director at Pearson.Learn how this latest version offers updated norms, supplemental scores, and innovative features designe...
Brewing Community with A Neurodiversity-Affirming Model for Transition-Age Youth
Join Jayson Davies as he sits down with occupational therapists and co-founders of B3 Coffee, Jacqueline and Greg Boheler, to explore their unique, neurodiversity-affirming non-profit. They share how they've built a multi-faceted organizatio...
Crafting Your Role as an OTP in the School Community
In this episode, Jayson sits down with Amy Fehr, MSOT, OTR/L, an experienced school-based OT and current clinical advisor at BlazerWorks, to tackle the pressing challenges and exciting opportunities that all therapists—whether contracted, ne...
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How to kick off the School Year with Confidence
Are you a school-based occupational therapist looking to streamline your practice, build stronger collaborations, and navigate the complexities of documentation, assessments, and district requirements? In this episode, Kru...
From Puzzle to Practice with Rubik’s Cubes in School Based OT
What do Rubik’s Cubes, art, and therapy have in common? In this inspiring episode, Jayson chats with Kyle Cubes, a Rubik’s Cube artist and autistic adult who has transformed a personal coping strategy into a therapeutic tool for others. Kyle...
Say Yes to Recess: Why Movement Breaks are Critical for Student Success
Are you ready to champion one of the most essential—and overlooked—parts of the school day? In this episode, Jayson Davies dives into the impactful world of recess with special guests Morgan and Catherine, founders "Say Yes to Recess."Li...
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Challenging Ableism Through Neurodiversity-Affirming School Practice
What does it really mean to provide neurodiversity-affirming care in schools? In this episode, Dr. Bryden Carlson-Giving—a neurodivergent OT and creator of the Empower Model—shares powerful insights and practical strategies to move bey...
(Part 2) Supporting Students with Extensive Support Needs: A Path Toward Inclusive OT Practice
In Part 2 of this important conversation, Dr. Savitha Sundar returns to explore what inclusive OT practice can look like beyond the buzzwords. In this episode, Savitha helps us shift from reflection to action, discussing how to align our evalua...
