145+ ADHD Classroom Accommodations: A Grade-by-Grade Guide
Your child’s brain works differently – not wrongly. When teachers understand this fundamental truth about ADHD, everything changes. If you’re…
Neurodiversity
Exploring neurodiversity as a natural part of human variation, shifting from a deficit-based model to a strengths-based understanding of autism, ADHD, and other neurodivergent experiences.
16 articles
Understanding Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) in Children – An In-Depth Overview
What’s inside this article: An in-depth look at what Pathological Demand Avoidance is, its characteristics, common demand avoidance techniques, and…
How You’re Accidentally Teaching Your Child to Ignore Their Body Signals
What’s inside this article: How well-meaning adults accidentally teach kids to ignore their body signals, why this matters for emotional…
Why Teachers Are Ditching Behavior Charts and Token Economies and What to Do Instead
What’s inside this article: Why behavior charts, clip charts, and token economies backfire, and what actually works instead. Practical, connection-based…
18 Effective De-Escalation Strategies For Defusing Meltdowns
What’s inside this article: An overview of the escalation cycle, how the nervous system responds during stress and what that means for your child’s behavior, and evidence-based, supportive de-escalation strategies to help you compassionately support your child during meltdowns and outbursts. Understanding Meltdowns As a parent, it’s important to know some safe, helpful de-escalation strategies…
Sharing Love This Valentine’s Day: All Neurotypes Welcome!
Sharing Love This Valentine’s Day: All Neurotypes Welcome! As a pediatric OT, my Valentine’s Day preparation is in full swing!…
How Dungeons & Dragons (and other TTRPG) Can Help Us Grow: An OT’s Perspective
Tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons offer far more than entertainment—they’re powerful tools for skill development that can benefit neurodivergent kids and adults alike. From building social communication and problem-solving abilities to practicing self-advocacy and emotional regulation, TTRPGs create safe, structured environments where players can grow essential life skills while having fun. This article…
Teaching Kids to Advocate for Their Sensory Needs: 3 Simple Strategies
Toddlers are generally really excellent self-advocates for their own sensory needs. Of course, that’s to the detriment of several other things. Toddlers have a complete disregard for social norms, a lack of basic dignity, and an inability to understand that their actions are impacting others. The end result is that their advocacy for their own…
Rethinking Empathy in Autism
A common and persistent myth about autism is that autistic individuals lack empathy. This idea influences how society, educators, and…
9 Tips for Helping Others Understand Your Child’s Sensory Needs
Supporting a neurodivergent child means not only understanding their sensory needs but also effectively communicating those needs to others. Whether you’re talking to teachers, family members, or other caregivers, providing a clear explanation of their needs while highlighting their strengths and what supports are beneficial helps ensure your child gets the support they need. In…
Person-First or Identity-First Language?
Language matters, especially when it comes to how we describe identity. You may have heard debates about whether it is…
The Problem with Functioning Labels in Autism
Autism is often described using terms like “high-functioning” or “low-functioning” or classified into levels 1, 2, and 3. While these…