Feeding is a sensory experience. It involves tactile input as the hands touch food and grasp utensils. It involves visual input, since the way a food appears can shape our willingness to try it—think

The research, education and awareness of neurodivergence, mental health, and sensory and emotional regulation challenges in individuals continue to be at the forefront of our profession. Most of the e

The therapy community has answered the call to action for Telehealth. We have essentially built brand-new businesses overnight to meet the ongoing needs of the people we serve. Therapist have risen

Since its inception and as specifically described by Hulsegge and Verheul, “snoezelen” has always promoted the passive, user-directed approach with facilitators being ‘enablers.’  This enabling app

Play is an essential part of development. It’s where kids test boundaries and push themselves to grow. Pediatric occupational therapists are trained to foster play. A skilled therapist can set u

Sensory processing is used to describe how the nervous system receives information from the body’s senses and then turns that information into a response. When discussing Sensory Processing Disord

Rejuvenating Verland’s Multi-Sensory Environment , or Sensory Room, as dubbed by the Verland therapists, was a project I eagerly dove into about a year ago. The journey started with researchin

Multisensory environments (MSEs) provide individuals with opportunities to control and engage with sensory input based on their personal preferences and needs. These environments incorporate specializ

Surgery is a scary moment for all of us, but it’s even more frightening for a child. And if that child has special needs or is on the spectrum, it can be absolutely traumatic. These patients may no

Contributors: Carole Dinan, OTD, OTR/L, Assistant Professor, Heidi Robertson, OTD, OTR/L, Associate Professor, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and alumni: Megan Gatsogiannis, MS

When we think about child development, we often don’t put a lot of emphasis on motor planning. However, this is a key component to development. Motor planning is a person’s ability to conceive, p