D.O.T.S. Blog

Understanding “School Can’t” and Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) Shifting from a ‘school refusal’ to a ‘school can’t’ lens Often there are experiences around school participation and engagement that can be worrying, exhausting, and confusing. With an increase in disengagement and reduced attendance at school, followed by avoidance, distress, and feeling emotions intensely, these can be an indication that there are environmental factors in the learning environment signifyi

Why Sensory-Motor Skills are Important for Learning and Self-Care Occupational Therapists often use the Developmental Pyramid to explain skill development. This visual model shows us that in order to complete higher order tasks such as learning, behaviour, and emotional regulation, we rely on having strong building blocks of sensory processing and motor development.  Building from the bottom up!  If we look at the Developmental Pyramid we can see the bottom ‘foundations’ are

Practical strategies to support regulation in the classroom As we head back in to the start of the school year, it's the perfect time to refresh and reset our strategies to support our kids proactively in the classroom. Self-regulation is a foundational skill for learning, social participation, and emotional wellbeing, and building a safe environment with regulation at the forefront is one of the best ways we can support our kids to thrive at school. In the school environment

How our OTs support children and families through the back-to-school transition Heading back to school can be a challenging time for everyone, especially during big transitions like starting Prep, moving to a new school, or stepping into high school. Our OTs are here to support children and families through these changes, helping to reduce stress and make the transition back to school feel smoother, calmer, and more manageable.  We’ve outlined some of the key ways our OTs can