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...
Billy is a 7 year old boy who loves outer space. He knows a lot about outer space. Billy is very active but he gets irritable very easily. He doesn’t like loud sounds, but he makes them all of the time. Billy likes things to be “his way” and he often gets argumentative about getting...
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...
Proprioception is the body sense that allows you to know about what your body is doing at any one moment. It helps you to know where your body is in space, how to move your body, and the amount of force to use when moving your body. Where are the proprioceptors located? Proprioceptors are found...
A sensory lifestyle is a concept that we all have sensory needs. The idea is important for all people. It is doubly important for a child with a Sensory Processing Disorder. So what can you do to create good “Sensory Health?” Here are my top 10 tips to keep in mind when implementing a sensory...
The vestibular system is a powerful system! The vestibular system is found in your inner ear. You have two, one on either side of your head. The cool thing about the vestibular system is it is activated by movement of the head through space. This can be movement back and forth, up and down, or...
