Addressing Sensory Behaviors Through the Lens of an Occupational Therapist and a Behavior Analyst

• By: Kristina Gasiewski, MOTR/L, MEd, BCBA Caleigh Dion, OT, MSOT, OTR Melmark
• January 10th, 2024
• behavior analysis, collaboration, evidence-based intervention, function-based assessment, individualized intervention, occupational therapy, sensory behaviors, sensory dysfunctions, sensory integration theory, Winter 2024 Issue
• 2705    1

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a prevalent developmental and neurological disability that affects one in 36 children (CDC, 2023a). Individuals with ASD may have significant impairments in social communication and interaction, restricted or repetitive behaviors or interests, sensory features, and...

Supporting Students’ Self-Regulation Needs: An Occupational Therapy Perspective

• By: Renee H Sebok, MS, OT Mary Frese OT RYT Mary Reilly, OTD, OTR/L Kim Apel, OT Howard Savin, PhD Kristen Daneker, MS, BCBA, LBS-PA First Children Services
• January 10th, 2024
• accommodations, individual therapy, mindfulness, neurodevelopmental conditions, occupational therapy, occupational therapy practitioners, pull-out sessions, push-in sessions, self-regulation, sensory gym, sensory processing issues, sensory room, sensory strategies, Winter 2024 Issue, yoga, zones of regulation
• 2284    2

Self-Regulation is an individual’s ability to process and manage behavioral and emotional reactions to what is happening in their immediate environment. Throughout the day, a child’s nervous system is constantly attempting to process the sensory components of opportunities presented to them....

Sensory-Friendly Tools and Resources for Autism Caregivers

• By: Elizabeth Fox, MSOT, OTR/L Samantha Weinstein, MSOT, OTR/L AHRC New York City’s James P. Murphy Staten Island Preparatory & Middle/High School
• January 10th, 2024
• children, hypersensitive, hyposensitive, occupational therapy, regulation strategies, sensory issues, sensory spectrum, Winter 2024 Issue
• 2933    2

As registered and licensed occupational therapists (OTR/L) in pediatric school-based settings, many of the students we support are diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). Therefore, we have extensive experience with various developmental, motor, social, and sensory conditions, and the...

Reaching Ukraine: Occupational Therapy-Centered Training to Support Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Kyiv

• By: Ashley Slemp Held, OTD, OTR/L Milligan University Alysha Skuthan, PhD, OTR/L, ASDCS Shenandoah University
• May 17th, 2023
• children, education, fine motor skills, interprofessionals, occupational therapy, oral motor skills, sensory motor skills, telehealth, training, Ukraine, underserved community
• 1875    0

In the Eastern European country of Ukraine where there are more than 44 million residents (Archer, Harper, & Cameron, 2020), there are just 3 ergotherapists (Ukrainian translation for occupational therapists) in practice (Imas & Lazarieva, 2017). Though Ukrainian health officials recognize...

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Its Comorbidities as a Co-Occurring Health Issue in Autistic People

• By: Tara J. Marshall, BA, SLPA Aimee Piller, PhD, OTR/L Piller Child Development
• July 19th, 2022
• co-occurring conditions, comorbidities, diagnosis, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, occupational therapy, pain, Summer 2022 Issue, testing, treatment
• 14679    2

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) occurs in as many as 8% of autistic individuals with even a higher percentage that may have hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) (Cederlof et al., 2016, Kindgren et al., 2021). This estimate is low since EDS is more commonly diagnosed in females (Castori, 2012), who...

Autism Education: What More Do School Districts and Parents Need to Do?

• By: Lee Englander WJCS Autism Center
• January 1st, 2021
• communication, diagnosis, education, educational eligibility, IEP, mainstreaming, occupational therapy, parents, peer modeling, school, winter 2021 issue
• 3094    0

If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a country to provide lifelong supports for someone with autism. Parents, school districts, and local, state and federal governments need to collaborate to ensure that individuals on the autism spectrum are provided with programs designed to meet...

Assessing Young Children with ASD: A Multidisciplinary Approach

• By: Charles N. Cartwright, MD Michelle Gorenstein, PsyD Moira Lewis MS, CCC-SLP Kristin David, OTR/L Erica Pitman, LMSW YAI Autism Center
• October 1st, 2009
• assessment, communication, fall 2009 issue, language, occupational therapy, young children
• 6709    0

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, 1 in 54 children are diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) every year. But how can parents be sure that they have received the proper assessment? And what are the key steps in ensuring that these children receive the necessary level of...