The Real OTs of Early Intervention: Recent Episodes
Danielle Delorenzo, Amirra Johnson, Sarah Putt
This show aims to empower and educate occupational therapy practitioners and students to be confident and competent working in Early Intervention.
Summary:
Today we’re gonna have a little fun and share a few of our favorite stories that we have experienced as occupational therapists working in early intervention. To be honest, sometimes our job can be really tough, but it is the progress and positive things that happen that can really make our day, our week and even our year. Listen in to hear these stories and the impact they still have on us today.
Episode Notes:
Amirra, Danielle, and Sarah discuss:
- Danielle’s favorite story
- Amirra’s favorite story
- Sarah’s favorite story
Contact:
- Website: https://therealots.com
- Email: therealotsofei@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.real.ots.of.ei/
- Amirra: https://www.marvelousmirracles.com
- Danielle: https://danielledelorenzo.com
- Sarah: https://ot4lyfe.com
Show Sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Mindfulness in mOTion
Amirra, Danielle, and Sarah discuss:
- Do you love or hate addressing feeding in early intervention?
- Feeding is more than just the act of food to mouth
- Danielle’s story with feeding as a neurodivergent child and now adult
- Navigating mealtime routines
- Taking our own sensory systems into account
- Child & family led
- The feeding intervention process
Mentioned Resources
- SOS Approach to Feeding
- The Developmental Feeding Checklist
- IFSP episode
- Feeding In Early Intervention: The Basics
Contact:
- Website: https://therealots.com
- Email: therealotsofei@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.real.ots.of.ei/
- Amirra: https://www.marvelousmirracles.com
- Danielle: https://danielledelorenzo.com
- Sarah: https://ot4lyfe.com
Show Sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Marvelous Mirracles OT
Danielle discusses:
- What is Interdependence?
- Understanding the Interdependent nature and connectedness of Doing, Being, Becoming, and Belonging
- How society views interdependence
- Voice clip from Jacklyn Googins on Interdependence
- We as OTs can help shift that narrative and evolve supports to be guided with an interdependence model as the framework
- Voice clip from Greg Boheler on Interdependence
- Rethinking self-regulation goals and shifting towards co-regulation outcomes
- How we can support and integrate interdependence as Early Intervention Professionals and its importance
Special Guests & Mentioned Resources:
Jacklyn Googins and Greg Boheler are the Co-Founders of
- B3 Coffee
- A non-profit that provides community integrated social and vocational opportunities for people of all abilities. Using the way coffee brings people together, we aim to influence change toward a more inclusive and equitable world.
- www.b3coffee.org
- Insta & FB: @ b3coffee
- OTs for Neurodiversity
- A social media movement and advocacy platform dedicated to advancing a neurodiversity paradigm within the profession of occupational therapy.
- Insta: @neurodiversity_ot
- FB: OTs for Neurodiversity
- Contact Us
jacklyn.googins@gmail.com
gboheler7@gmail.com
- Articles mentioned in podcast
- Hitch, D., Pépin, G., & Stagnitti, K. (2014). In the footsteps of Wilcock, part two: The interdependent nature of doing, being, becoming, and belonging. Occupational Therapy in Health Care, 28(3), 247-263.
- Collins, B. (2017). Independence: proposing an initial framework for occupational therapy. Scandinavian journal of occupational therapy, 24(6), 398-409.
Contact:
- Website: https://therealots.com
- Email: therealotsofei@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.real.ots.of.ei/
- Amirra: https://www.marvelousmirracles.com
- Danielle: https://danielledelorenzo.com
- Sarah: https://ot4lyfe.com
OT 4 Lyfe
Mornings With an OT Mom
Marvelous Mirracles OT
Mindfulness In Motion
Amirra discusses:
- The source behind her passion for the NICU
- Her NICU related capstone project and research areas during OT school
- How she gained clinical experiences in the NICU as a student
- The long term implications and impact of a NICU hospitalization
- Why she ultimately decided to pursue the EI setting instead of the NICU
- How having background experience in the NICU has impacted her practice in EI
Mentioned Resources
- 2021 March of Dimes Report Card
- Note: Amirra mentioned that the preterm birth rate among black women is 49%, please see above for newly released report indicating this number has now increased to 51% as of November 2021
- NICU levels
- Exploring Elements of the NICU Environment
- Racial Disparities in the Neonatal ICU
Contact:
- Website: https://therealots.com
- Email: therealotsofei@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.real.ots.of.ei/
- Amirra: https://www.marvelousmirracles.com
- Danielle: https://danielledelorenzo.com
Amirra, Danielle, and Sarah discuss:
- Why is early intervention important?
- Importance versus urgency
- Meeting the family where they are at
- Strengths- based approach
- Communication about why it’s important to work on certain skills
- Showing the parent what early intervention is through play
- Stigma in early intervention and other considerations that parents might be on the fence
Contact:
- Website: https://therealots.com
- Email: therealotsofei@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.real.ots.of.ei/
- Amirra: https://www.marvelousmirracles.com
- Danielle: https://danielledelorenzo.com
- Sarah: https://ot4lyfe.com
Show Sponsor:
- This episode is sponsored by: Mornings With an OT Mom.
Amirra, Danielle, and Sarah discuss:
- How it all started
- The EI community
- EI-curious
- Messages we’ve received
- Podcast stats
- What’s next for the real OTs
Mentioned Resources
- Mindfulness and Movement in the Early Years
- Early Intervention Diagnoses
- Why We Love Early Intervention
Contact:
- Website: https://therealots.com
- Email: therealotsofei@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.real.ots.of.ei/
- Amirra: https://www.marvelousmirracles.com
- Danielle: https://danielledelorenzo.com
- Sarah: https://ot4lyfe.com
Amirra, Danielle, and Sarah discuss:
- The importance of thinking outside the box
- Mindset versus treatment planning
- Shifting the mindset to what is early intervention and why are we here
- Coming up with ideas to be used in therapy
- Learning to grade up and grade down
- It is not about the objects
- Considering the family routines
- Expansion of play
Mentioned Resources
- All We Do is Play and Other EI Myths
- Transitioning to EI episode
Contact:
- Website: https://therealots.com
- Email: therealotsofei@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.real.ots.of.ei/
- Amirra: https://www.marvelousmirracles.com
- Danielle: https://danielledelorenzo.com
- Sarah: https://ot4lyfe.com
Show Sponsor:
- This episode is sponsored by OT 4 Lyfe
Sarah discusses:
- Pregnancy
- Knowledge on development
- Genetic testing
- Resiliency of babies
- Emergency surgery while pregnant
- Labor and Delivery
- Important of support
- Honoring birth stories
- Postpartum
- Healing journey
- Turning off our therapy brain
- The biggest thing I’ve learned
Mentioned Resources
- Pregnancy, Perspective, and an Emergency Procedure
- All We Do is Play and Other EI Myths
- 3 Things to Say to Caregivers
Contact:
- Website: https://therealots.com
- Email: therealotsofei@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.real.ots.of.ei/
- Amirra: https://www.marvelousmirracles.com
- Danielle: https://danielledelorenzo.com
- Sarah:https://ot4lyfe.com
Overview of Mindfulness and Movement
- Danielle’s Dissemination of her capstone project “Mindfulness and Movement in the Early Years”
- The Purpose
- Foundational skills that support academic success and emotional regularity
- Pyramid of Learning Chart https://www.smartpediatrics.com/post/understandingsensoryprocessing
- A child’s main occupation is to play. A student’s main occupation is to learn
How can EI Therapists support this mindset shift from the very beginning
- Teaching Parents Mindfulness techniques during Early Intervention
- Empowering parents to get comfortable with holding/handling their baby
- Helping families understand the benefits of movement
- Teaching Parents Mindfulness techniques during Early Intervention
- Supporting Infant Mental Health and Parental Mental Health
- Promoting Co-regulation
- Supports self-regulation
- Nourishes the parent child dyad
Episode 7: All we do is play and other myths
https://the-real-ots-of-early-intervention.simplecast.com/episodes/all-we-do-is-play-and-other-ei-myths
Mentioned Resources
- Pathways Tummy Time
- Getting Down with Tummy Time
- Why We Love Early Intervention
- Teletherapy 101: EI Edition
Contact:
- Website: https://therealots.com
- Email: therealotsofei@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.real.ots.of.ei/
- Amirra: https://www.marvelousmirracles.com
- Danielle: https://danielledelorenzo.com
- Sarah: https://ot4lyfe.com
Show Sponsor:
- This episode is sponsored by Alvin from OT Outside the Box. You can follow him on Instagram and Facebook @OT.Outside.The.Box and on his website: https://www.otoutsidethebox.com/.
Mentioned Resources
- All We Do Is Play All Day and Other EI Myths
- Why We Love Early Intervention
- Breaking Down the IFSP
Contact:
- Website: https://therealots.com
- Email: therealotsofei@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.real.ots.of.ei/
- Amirra: https://www.marvelousmirracles.com
- Danielle: https://danielledelorenzo.com
- Sarah: https://ot4lyfe.com
Show Sponsor:
- This episode is sponsored by Emily Marie OT. Check out her resources at www.patreon.com/emilymarie_OT . And follow her on Instagram @emilymarie_OT.
Mentioned Resources
- Writing Goals in Early Intervention
- Breaking Down the IFSP
- Reframing Autism
Contact:
- Website: https://therealots.com
- Email: therealotsofei@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.real.ots.of.ei/
- Amirra: https://www.marvelousmirracles.com
- Danielle: https://danielledelorenzo.com
- Sarah: https://ot4lyfe.com
Show Sponsor:
- This episode is sponsored by Michelle D OT. Check out her blog and resources at michelledot.com and follow her on Instagram @michelled_ot.
Mentioned Resources
- The Assessment Process
- Containers and Walkers and Bouncers, Oh My!
- The Real Deal on Documentation in EI
- Breaking Down the IFSP
Contact:
- Website: https://therealots.com
- Email: therealotsofei@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.real.ots.of.ei/
- Amirra: https://www.marvelousmirracles.com
- Danielle: https://danielledelorenzo.com
- Sarah: https://ot4lyfe.com
Show Sponsor:
- This episode is sponsored by Shannen Marie OT. Follow along with Shannen’s #ABCsofOT occupational therapy month challenge on Instagram @shannenmarie_ot .
Amirra, Danielle, and Sarah discuss:
- Our first session experiences
- Having a plan without a plan
- Considerations for your first EI session before seeing the client
- Questionnaire for first phone call
- Environments, maps/ traffic, dress code
- Showing the families how important they are to us
- Rapport building from the beginning
- Cultural Sensitivities
Mentioned Resources
- The Assessment Process episode
Contact:
- Website: https://therealots.com
- Email: therealotsofei@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.real.ots.of.ei/
- Amirra: https://www.marvelousmirracles.com
- Danielle: https://danielledelorenzo.com
- Sarah: https://ot4lyfe.com
Show Sponsor:
- This episode is sponsored by Mindfulness In Motion.
Amirra, Danielle, and Sarah discuss:
- What container syndrome is and what it is not
- How it adds up throughout the day
- It's so much more than don’t put your kid in a container
- Importance of freely moving moments throughout the day
- Reflecting on daily routines
- Types of containers
- Potential harmful effects
- Other considerations for use of containers
Mentioned Resources
- https://napacenter.org/container-baby-syndrome/
Contact:
- Website: https://therealots.com
- Email: therealotsofei@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.real.ots.of.ei/
- Amirra: https://www.marvelousmirracles.com
- Danielle: https://danielledelorenzo.com
- Sarah: https://ot4lyfe.com
Show Sponsor:
- This episode is sponsored by Marvelous Mirracles OT.
Amirra, Danielle, and Sarah discuss:
- Why is tummy time important
- Embedding into daily routines
- When not to do tummy time
- Strategies to promote a happy, positive tummy time experience
- Understanding a baby’s signs & cries
Mentioned Resources
- pathways.org
Contact:
- Website: https://therealots.com
- Email: therealotsofei@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.real.ots.of.ei/
- Amirra: https://www.marvelousmirracles.com
- Danielle: https://danielledelorenzo.com
- Sarah: https://ot4lyfe.com
Show Sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Mornings With an OT Mom.
Amirra, Danielle, and Sarah discuss:
- What daily documentation looks like in early intervention
- How it differs from other practice areas
- The purpose of daily documentation
- The necessary components
- Importance of documentation
- Using parent friendly language
- Including specific measurements
- Advice to improve your EI documentation
Mentioned Resources
- The Early Intervention Teaming Handbook: The Primary Service Provider Approach
Contact:
- Website: https://therealots.com
- Email: therealotsofei@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.real.ots.of.ei/
- Amirra: https://www.marvelousmirracles.com
- Danielle: https://danielledelorenzo.com
- Sarah: https://ot4lyfe.com
Show Sponsor:
- This episode is sponsored by Mindfulness In Motion.
Amirra, Danielle, and Sarah discuss:
- The shift into teletherapy due to the pandemic
- Already comfortable going into the home in early intervention
- Unique lens as an occupational therapy practitioner
- Utilization of the coaching model
- Redefining teletherapy
- Asynchronous and Synchronous teletherapy delivery
- The parent perspective on teletherapy
- Pros and cons of teletherapy in EI
Mentioned Resources
- Working in Early Intervention as a New Grad with Amirra Johnson
Contact:
- Website: https://therealots.com
- Email: therealotsofei@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.real.ots.of.ei/
- Amirra: https://www.marvelousmirracles.com
- Danielle: https://danielledelorenzo.com
- Sarah: https://ot4lyfe.com
Show Sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by OT 4 Lyfe.
Amirra, Danielle, and Sarah discuss:
- Best ways to gain experience with children birth to 3 years of age
- “Hold all the babies”
- Remember the OT Framework
- Working with the parents & the whole family
- You are not expected to know everything
- Working in areas around early intervention like in a NICU, school-based, or outpatient pediatrics
Mentioned Resources
- Early Intervention Diagnoses episode
- Beckman Oral Motor Protocol
- SOS Approach to Feeding
- Infant NDT book
- Retro Baby and Retro Toddler books by Anne Zachry
Contact:
- Website: https://therealots.com
- Email: therealotsofei@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.real.ots.of.ei/
- Amirra: https://www.marvelousmirracles.com
- Danielle: https://danielledelorenzo.com
- Sarah: https://ot4lyfe.com
Show Sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Marvelous Mirracles OT.
Amirra, Danielle, and Sarah discuss:
- What is an IFSP and what do the letters stand for?
- Professionals that contribute to it and what it includes
- Report and meeting components
- When it is initially done and updated
- Occupational therapy’s role in the IFSP process
- Difference between IFSP and IEP and medical model
Contact:
- Website: https://therealots.com
- Email: therealotsofei@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.real.ots.of.ei/
- Amirra: https://www.marvelousmirracles.com
- Danielle: https://danielledelorenzo.com
- Sarah: https://ot4lyfe.com
Show Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Mindfulness In Motion.
Amirra, Danielle, and Sarah discuss:
- What is the Team Based Early Intervention (TBEI)?
- Differences from state to state
- The TBEI process from evaluation to treatment
- The members of the team
- Team Leads
- Co-treating and joint visitors
- What collaboration in the TBEI looks like?
- Coaching and team meetings
- The pros and cons of the TBEI
- Team-based approach as a new grad
- Scheduling hacks
- More services doesn’t mean more progress
Mentioned Resources
- The Assessment Process
- Supports and services in early intervention
- All We Do is Play All Day and Other Early Intervention Myths
Contact:
- Website: https://therealots.com
- Email: therealotsofei@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.real.ots.of.ei/
- Amirra: https://www.marvelousmirracles.com
- Danielle: https://danielledelorenzo.com
- Sarah: https://ot4lyfe.com
Show Sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Marvelous Mirracles OT.
Amirra, Danielle, and Sarah discuss:
- Addressing the stigma of self-injurious behaviors
- Danielle’s professional and personal experience with self-injurious behaviors.
- A list of self-injurious behaviors you might experience working in early intervention
- The importance of your reaction
- Awareness and consistency
- The role of language in self-injurious behaviors
- Supporting the parents and caregivers
- It gets worse before it gets better
- Addressing self-injurious behaviors in the home versus out in public
Contact:
- Website: https://therealots.com
- Email: therealotsofei@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.real.ots.of.ei/
- Amirra: https://www.marvelousmirracles.com
- Danielle: https://danielledelorenzo.com
- Sarah: https://ot4lyfe.com
Show Sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Mornings With an OT Mom.
To sign up for the “Mindful Approach to Self-Injurious Behaviors” class or to request a copy of the recording, contact Danielle here.
Amirra, Danielle, and Sarah discuss the following myths:
- “Babies are fragile”
- “Driving sucks”
- “Development occurs naturally, are we really making a difference in EI?”
- “We only work in the homes”
- “All we do is play”
Contact:
Website: https://therealots.com
Email: therealotsofei@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.real.ots.of.ei/
Amirra: https://www.marvelousmirracles.com
Danielle: https://danielledelorenzo.com
Sarah: https://ot4lyfe.com
Show Sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Mornings With An OT Mom.
Amirra, Danielle, and Sarah discuss:
- Early intervention looks different depending on location
- Each Ages we work with
- Family based care
- Occupational therapy’s unique role
- Types of supports and services
- Where we see clients
Contact the Show:
- Website: https://therealots.com
- Email: therealotsofei@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.real.ots.of.ei/
Contact the Hosts:
- Amirra: https://www.marvelousmirracles.com
- Danielle: https://danielledelorenzo.com
- Sarah: https://ot4lyfe.com
Show Sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by OT 4 Lyfe.
Amirra, Danielle, and Sarah discuss:
- How the three of us came together
- The impetus of idea of the real OTs
- The why and meaning behind the name
Mentioned Resources:
- Early Intervention with an OT Mom with Danielle Delorenzo
- Working In Early Intervention as a New Grad with Amirra Johnson
Contact:
- Website: https://therealots.com
- Email: therealotsofei@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.real.ots.of.ei
- Amirra: https://www.marvelousmirracles.com
- Danielle: https://danielledelorenzo.com
- Sarah: https://ot4lyfe.com
Amirra, Danielle, and Sarah discuss:
- SMART Goals versus goals in early intervention (EI)
- Goals in the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP)
- Family based goals
- Types of EI goals
- Writing goals as an individual provider and in the team-based approach
- When we write goals and when we monitor progress
Mentioned Resources:
- The Assessment Process episode
Contact:
- Website: https://therealots.com
- Email: therealotsofei@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.real.ots.of.ei/
- Amirra: https://www.marvelousmirracles.com
- Danielle: https://danielledelorenzo.com
- Sarah: https://ot4lyfe.com
Show Sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Mindfulness in Motion.
Amirra, Danielle, and Sarah discuss:
- Common assessments used in early intervention
- Development assessments versus OT specific evaluations
- Team-based evaluation approach
- Aspects of assessing that provide really valuable information
- The youngest we have evaluated
- Differences in assessment process depending on age of the child
Contact:
- Website: https://therealots.com
- Email: therealotsofei@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.real.ots.of.ei/
- Amirra: https://www.marvelousmirracles.com
- Danielle: https://danielledelorenzo.com
- Sarah: https://ot4lyfe.com
Show Sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Marvelous Mirracles.
Amirra, Danielle, and Sarah discuss:
- The importance of a diagnosis
- Common diagnoses in early intervention
- Rare diagnoses that you might come across in EI
- Navigating diagnoses that you haven't heard of
- NICU referrals, foster care, and medically complex kiddos
- Focus on function and occupations
- Advice for new grads and students working in EI
Contact the Show:
- Website: https://therealots.com
- Email: therealotsofei@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.real.ots.of.ei/
Contact the Hosts:
- Amirra: https://www.marvelousmirracles.com
- Danielle: https://danielledelorenzo.com
- Sarah: https://ot4lyfe.com
Show Sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Mornings With An OT Mom.
In this episode, Amirra, Danielle, and Sarah discuss why they love working in early intervention.
Contact the Show:
Website: https://therealots.com
Email: therealotsofei@gmail.com
Contact the Hosts:
Amirra: https://www.marvelousmirracles.com
Danielle: https://danielledelorenzo.com
Sarah: https://ot4lyfe.com
Episode Sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by OT 4 Lyfe.
Check out their website here: https://ot4lyfe.com
And listen to their podcast: https://ot4lyfe.com/podcast