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:

1. Learners will understand the benefits of recess and the critical role it plays in supporting children's physical, emotional, and social development.
   
   
   
2. Learners will understand about systemic barriers to recess, including legislative and administrative challenges, and strategies for advocating for increased unstructured playtime in schools.
   
   
   
3. 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.

Kick off the 2025-26 school year at the Back to School Conference!

Learn why so many OTPs dub the Back to School Conference their FAVORITE OT conference. Join 600+ school-based OT practitioners in accessing knowledge, resources, and support to start the school year strong.

CLICK HERE to save $50 and secure your spot with code PODCAST25

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!

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

Kick off the 2025-26 school year at the Back to School Conference!

Learn why so many OTPs dub the Back to School Conference their FAVORITE OT conference. Join 600+ school-based OT practitioners in accessing knowledge, resources, and support to start the school year strong.

CLICK HERE to save $50 and secure your spot with code PODCAST25

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!

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

Kick off the 2025-26 school year at the Back to School Conference!

Learn why so many OTPs dub the Back to School Conference their FAVORITE OT conference. Join 600+ school-based OT practitioners in accessing knowledge, resources, and support to start the school year strong.

CLICK HERE to save $50 and secure your spot with code PODCAST25

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!