Recently, I had the opportunity to collaborate with the California Floortime Coalition in an effort to collate “Options for Behavioral Health Treatment for Autism.” The effort was in response to the Comprehensive Autism Care Demonstration Annual Report. This report is in response to Senate Report 114-49, pages 157-158, accompanying S.1376, the National Defense Authorization Act...
Self Regulation is the cornerstone to early childhood development. As a matter of fact, self regulation is the number one predictor to academic success in children ages 3 to 5 years old. The ability to self regulate is not something that you’re born with. You mean, my kid doesn’t come with a self regulation button?...
Developmental, Individual-differences, and Relationship Based (DIR) model DIR is the Developmental, Individual-differences, and Relationship Based (DIR) model. This evidenced based model is used to help autistic people and others with developmental challenges. Developed by Dr. Stanley Greenspan, DIR considers the critical role of social emotional development starting at birth and continuing through a lifetime. The model...
As a pediatric Occupational Therapist in Mountain View, CA and the Bay area, I have been working with autistic children with sensory sensitivices and their parents for over 25 years. I love Halloween! It is “just right” for for my nervous system. A little scary, a little loud, a bunch of yummy treats and a...
Head inversion: The Sensory Tool known for Centuries First of all, I really never thought about inverting your head as being a therapeutic tool, until I started doing yoga. I realized that when I did downward dog pose; I felt extremely calm. Later, I completed a 400 hour yoga teacher certification. Looking further into inversions,...
What is deep pressure touch (DPT)? Deep pressure is the deep, touch pressure that results from stimulation of our touch receptors deep under our skin. When you touch the skin, the receptors send the information to the brain and or areas of the brain that process touch of a related or given body part. Deep...
As a pediatric Occupational Therapist in Mountain View, CA and the Bay area, I have been working with autistic children and their parents for over 25 years. I love Halloween! It is “just right” for for my nervous system. A little scary, a little loud, a bunch of yummy treats and a fun night. BUT...
Babies are amazing creatures. I know . I have 2. They grow up fast! As with everywhere else in the United states, moms in Mountain View, CA are smart. We know that babies need to meet certain developmental milestones as described by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). But it’s so confusing! We go to...
I love toys! I’m not sure if when I was a kid I just didn’t have enough or if I just have an inner child that needs extra attention. But I love toys. My sadness occurs when I go to big box stores such as Target or Walmart. I literally don’t understand how the toy...
