The OT Schoolhouse Podcast for School-Based OT Practitioners
Jayson Davies, OTR/L, from OTSchoolhouse.com dives into the areas of school-based Occupational Therapy most frequently discussed by therapists. Join Jayson and special guests in exploring new practice strategies and earn professional development for certification renewal.
Episodes
181 episodes
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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Episode 179
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50:40
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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...
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Episode 178
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1:12:58
(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...
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Episode 177
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41:00
Supporting Students with Extensive Support Needs: Understanding the Challenge (Part 1)
Ever wondered how school-based OTs can meaningfully support students with extensive support needs? Supporting students with extensive support needs has long been one of the most challenging and under-resourced areas of sch...
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Episode 176
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40:00
What Teachers and Admin Really Think About School-based OT
In this episode, Jayson discusses the often misunderstood role of school-based occupational therapy practitioners. He emphasizes the need for OT practitioners to advocate for their diverse skills beyond handwriting instruction, highlighting the...
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Episode 175
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22:00
Advocating for School-Based OTP Leadership
In this episode, Jayson has a compelling conversation with guests Jaime Spencer, Kim Wiggins, and Serena Zeidler as they discuss their research into the barriers and opportunities for OTPs aspiring to leadership positions within the educational...
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Episode 173
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1:06:23
From OT Debt to Financial Freedom
In this episode, Doug Vestal, author, and financial guru, uncovers the path to financial freedom for occupational therapists. He will dive into the heart of money management and share how he and his wife tackled $150,000 of student loan debt...
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59:18
The Dept. of Ed. Executive Order - A Special Episode with Abe Saffer, a Senior Legislative Representative at AOTA
Yesterday, after President Trump signed the Executive Order related to the Dept. of Education, I sat down with Abe Saffer (AOTA Senior Legislative Representative) to discuss the immediate and potential long-term implications for OT practitioner...
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18:21
Screenings With a VMI Tool That Scores Itself
In this episode Jayson teams up with guests Karen and Heather to get into the transformative world of Psymark—a digital tool designed to revolutionize school-based occupational therapy assessments. Karen’s journey from school psycholog...
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Episode 171
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1:10:06
Supporting The Teachers in Adapting the Classroom Enviroment
Discover the transformative power of nature in the classroom with this episode of the OT Schoolhouse Podcast! Join host Jayson Davies as he chats with Alex Thompson, an experienced occupational therapist and former teacher, who has devoted h...
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Episode 170
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1:07:54
Daily Notes: What to Write & How to Save Time
Do you ever feel like daily notes are just another task on your never-ending to-do list? In this episode, we’re diving into the world of note writing in school-based OT with Jason Gonzalez, OTR/L, co-founder of Double Time Docs. We’ll unpack...
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Episode 169
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45:45
How Many OT Treatment Hours are Possible in a Week?
How can two school-based OTs have identical caseload numbers but vastly different workloads? This episode promises a fresh perspective on evaluating the true demands of our roles, focusing not just on the numbers but the actual time com...
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Episode 168
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7:34
Win Over Teachers & Kids with Proven, Fun Strategies to Improve Writing!
What do you think makes handwriting fun and effective for kids? In this episode, we dig into strategies that don’t just teach handwriting but make it enjoyable for students. Dr. Beverly Moskowitz, the Size Matters Handwrit...
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Episode 167
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1:03:38
#166 Bridging the Classroom with Nature the OT Way
Discover the TimberNook program, where nature becomes the ultimate classroom for sensory integration, emotional growth, and creativity. TimberNook empowers children to explore, problem-solve, and thrive through outdoor play.&nbs...
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Episode 166
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51:54
Paving the Path to Change High Caseloads in 2025
Are your caseloads pushing you to the brink?In this episode, Jayson digs into the pressing and widespread issue of high caseloads faced by school-based occupational therapists. With eye-opening statistics Jayson uncovers how th...
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Episode 165
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17:52
Reflex Integration Challenges and Solutions in School-based OT
Have you ever wondered how integrating reflex patterns could enhance your approach to therapy?Join us as we discuss the world of reflex integration with Kokeb McDonald. She shares her journey and discusses the importance of und...
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Episode 164
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1:05:27
Making Sensory Integration Work in School Environments
What if there was a way to make sensory integration more accessible, effective, and inclusive for every student you support?In this episode with Dr. Colleen Cameron Whiting, OTD, OTR/L, she shares her research on integrating se...
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Episode 163
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1:03:17
A Practical Guide to Building a Budget-Friendly OT Toolbox
Join Jayson and Amanda Gibbs as they discuss building a school-based OT toolbox. Together, they dive into tools and resources—like the interactive Osmo, 'Tools to Grow,' goodwill, and more—that make therapy sessions both effective and budget-fr...
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Episode 162
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1:04:19
Unlocking the Power of the Vestibular System for Classroom Success
Have you ever wondered how vestibular challenges might be impacting your students’ ability to succeed in the classroom? In this episode, Dr. Annie Baltazar Mori and Dr. Jennifer Petersen join us to unpack the powerful conn...
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Episode 161
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1:07:45
Planning for College Success for Students with Disabilities
Are you feeling uncertain about how to prepare your students with disabilities for the transition to college?As OTPs we want to equip students for life beyond the classroom, including their next steps after high school. In this episode, ...
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Episode 160
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1:00:44
Turning Knowledge Into Action as a School-Based OTP
Have you ever wondered how the knowledge you gain from a podcast can be effectively applied in real-world practice?In this episode, Taylor Poirier, shares her insightful journey of how she has implemented what she’s learned from about 15...
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Episode 159
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50:20
The Future of School-based OT Documentation
What if there was a tool that could not only help you organize your thoughts and observations into a comprehensive report but also save you hours of work each week?Join us as Angela and Mani, the creators of
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Episode 158
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53:47
Shaping Education Policy Through Advocacy as a School-Based OT
In this episode, the roles are switched as host Jayson Davies takes the guest seat, being interviewed by Abe Saffer, a federal lobbyist for the American Occupational Therapy Association. Together, they discuss the power of advocacy ...
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Episode 157
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1:01:29