The OT Schoolhouse Podcast for School-Based OT Practitioners

Latest Episodes:

From Puzzle to Practice with Rubik’s Cubes in School Based OT Jul 14, 2025

Show notes

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 shares his journey of late diagnosis, how he found emotional regulation through cube art, and how he’s now empowering therapists and clients alike to find joy, structure, and growth through this creative medium. Whether you’ve never touched a cube or are already solving them in seconds, this conversation will change the way you think about therapy tools.

Listen now to learn the following objectives:

Learners will identify how Rubik’s Cube-based activities can support the development of fine motor, visual-spatial, and executive functioning skills in students.
Learners will describe how to scaffold Rubik’s Cube tasks to meet diverse learner needs and align with individualized OT goals.
Learners will explore ways in which Rubik’s Cube art can support emotional regulation and student engagement in therapeutic and educational settings.

Thanks for tuning in!
Thanks for tuning into the OT Schoolhouse Podcast brought to you by the OT Schoolhouse Collaborative Community for school-based OTPs. In OTS Collab, we use community-powered professional development to learn together and implement strategies together.
Don't forget to subscribe to the show and check out the show notes for every episode at OTSchoolhouse.com
See you in the next episode!

Say Yes to Recess: Why Movement Breaks are Critical for Student Success Jun 30, 2025

Show notes

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."

Listen in as they share how two passionate parents from Tennessee ignited a movement that’s reshaping school policies and even legislation around the country.

This episode is packed with insights for school-based occupational therapy practitioners: you'll hear research-backed benefits of physical activity, learn strategies for advocating recess in your district, and discover why more unstructured play can positively transform classroom behavior and whole-child development.

If you want practical advocacy tips and new inspiration to help your students thrive, you won’t want to miss this one!

Listen now to learn the following objectives:

Learners will understand the benefits of recess and the critical role it plays in supporting children's physical, emotional, and social development.
Learners will understand about systemic barriers to recess, including legislative and administrative challenges, and strategies for advocating for increased unstructured playtime in schools.
Learners will explore research-backed approaches, such as the LINC project, that highlight the positive impacts of physical activity on academic performance, classroom behavior, and overall well-being.

Challenging Ableism Through Neurodiversity-Affirming School Practice Jun 16, 2025

Show notes

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 beyond deficit-focused practices and truly center student voice, identity, and autonomy.

You’ll learn how to write strengths-based goals, conduct inclusive evaluations, and support authentic participation—while navigating the real-world challenges of school-based OT. Whether you're a seasoned OT or new to the field, this conversation will leave you inspired and equipped to better support neurodivergent learners.

Listen now to learn the following objectives:

Learners will understand the foundations of neurodiversity affirming practice
Learners will identify practical strategies to make OT services more empowering for neurodivergent students
Learners will explore the empower model in School-Based OT

(Part 2) Supporting Students with Extensive Support Needs: A Path Toward Inclusive OT Practice Jun 02, 2025

Show notes

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 evaluations, goals, and service models with the values of true inclusion.

We also talk about building meaningful collaborations with general education staff, embedding participation-focused goals into IEPs, and celebrating small wins in systems that are slow to change. If you’ve ever asked how to make your OT services more inclusive and collaborative, this episode is a must-listen.

Listen now to learn the following objectives:

Distinguish between traditional “push-in” models and inclusive OT practices that center student participation in general education environments.
Learn how to write IEP goals and conduct evaluations that promote inclusive outcomes for students with extensive support needs.
Explore strategies for building trust and collaboration with general education teachers to support system-wide inclusion.

View the full show notes and Transcript at OTSchoolhouse.com/episode177

Supporting Students with Extensive Support Needs: Understanding the Challenge (Part 1) May 19, 2025

Show notes

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 school-based OT. In this first of a two-part episode, Dr. Savitha Sundar joins Jayson to unpack the history, systemic influences, and practitioner struggles that shape how services are delivered in special education classrooms today. From redefining outdated language to exploring how friendships and peer modeling can shift trajectories, this episode is a powerful reflection on the ethical and practical realities of inclusive education.

This episode sets the foundation for building more inclusive school communities—and why occupational therapists play a key role in leading that change.

🎧 Stay tuned for Part 2, where we’ll move into actionable strategies and systemic shifts.

Listen now to learn the following objectives:

-Learners will reflect on the historical and systemic factors that have contributed to the segregation of students with extensive support needs in school settings.

-Learners will identify challenges OTPs face when serving students in self-contained classrooms and how these challenges impact practice.

-Learners will understand the evolving terminology and research around inclusive education and how it relates to the role of school-based OTPs.

What Teachers and Admin Really Think About School-based OT May 05, 2025

Show notes

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 importance of collaboration with teachers and administrators.

The conversation explores teacher and administrator perspectives on OT services, the value of collaboration, and the challenges faced by OT practitioners in schools. Jayson encourages listeners to find ways to support teachers and improve the perception of OT in educational settings.

Takeaways

School-based OT practitioners are often seen only as handwriting instructors.
Teachers value collaboration with OT practitioners to support students.
Many teachers want to see more OT involvement in classrooms.
Administrators may not fully understand the workload model of OT services.
OT practitioners need to advocate for their diverse roles in schools.
Collaboration can lead to better outcomes for students.
Teachers appreciate OT support in their classrooms.
OT practitioners should provide practical strategies to teachers.
Understanding teacher perspectives can improve OT services.
Advocacy is essential for changing perceptions of OT in education.

Unlocking Holistic Tiered Support with MTSS Apr 21, 2025

Show notes

Advocating for School-Based OTP Leadership Apr 07, 2025

Show notes

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 system.

Discover the historical and legislative challenges OTPs face, the vast impact on school communities, and the innovative ways states are beginning to address these issues. With engaging insights and passionate advocacy, this episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in transforming the role of OTs in schools and ensuring their potential is fully realized for the benefit of students and educators.

Listen now to learn the following objectives:

Learners will be able to explain how historical perceptions of OTs influence their current exclusion from leadership roles in education.
Learners will identify legislative and credentialing differences that affect OT administrative eligibility across the U.S.
Learners will identify the barriers that prevent OTs from being recognized as instructional staff in various states.

View the full show notes for this episode here!

From OT Debt to Financial Freedom Mar 24, 2025

Show notes

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 in three years and offer invaluable strategies to help you do the same.

From budgeting tips to investing insights, Doug equips OTs with the tools to boost their financial health and leverage financial stability to become more effective practitioners. Whether you’re an OT seeking to start your own practice or simply aiming to get out of debt and plan for the future, this episode is your roadmap to financial empowerment.

Listen now to learn the following objectives:

Learners will identify the importance of financial literacy
Learners will identify strategies to help pay down debt
Learners will identify budgeting strategies and how to allocate funds effectively

The Dept. of Ed. Executive Order - A Special Episode with Abe Saffer, a Senior Legislative Representative at AOTA Mar 21, 2025

Show notes

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 practitioners and those we serve.
In this episode, we discuss the recent executive order signed by President Trump regarding the Department of Education. We also explore the implications of significant staff layoffs, the potential impact on school-based occupational therapy practitioners, and the shift of power to state education departments. The conversation also highlights AOTA's response to these changes and the financial implications of the executive order.

This episode was edited quickly to get it to you as soon as possible. We apologize for the rough audio in some sections, but we hope the content is helpful.

References:

The executive order
Navigating Change: Expert Perspectives on Recent Federal Education Actions on School-Based Practice (At AOTA Inspire) - Thursday, April 3 | 10:00 am–11:00 am
Executive order eliminating the Department of Education (AOTA Article from Abe)
Protecting Section 504 (AOTA Advocacy Article)

- Recorded on 3/20/2025 at 3 pm PT

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