Little Hearts Occupational Therapy

11/07/2025

This is not about sunburn.

It's about trying to desensitise our kids to distressing sensory input.

We don't desensitise.
We educate.
We accommodate.

Yes?

Em 🌈

05/07/2025

'Tangential communication'.
'Difficulty staying on topic'.
'Erratic communication'.
'Disjointed'.
'Poorly planned'.

I've heard all these and more when it comes to the AuDHD communication style.

Nope.
Done with that.

Linear communication is but one way of doing it. It's all well and good.
But it's not the way I do it.

Many neurodivergent people do it differently.

We jump between topics.
We link ideas in a non-linear way.
We connect ideas so quickly in our minds that we don't necessarily explain every step of the thought process.
We might forget bits and then circle back.

And that's ok.
I call it kaleidoscopic communication style. Changing, colourful, blending, overlapping. Beautiful.

We're allowed to communicate authentically.
Our way is expressive.
It's creative.
It's a lot fun.
And it tends to be appreciated by other neurodivergent folk.

So.

If you are uncomfortable with the way we communicate, perhaps you might write yourself a goal to develop your understanding and acceptance of neurodivergent communication styles.

Yes?

Em 🌈

Pic shows a therapist validating a neurodivergent communication style.
Can we all do that please?

28/06/2025

If I’m supposed to be listening and my body is still- I’m not listening.
I’m asleep.

If you have a kid who can’t seem to stay in a seat, stop asking them to stay in a seat. They likely don’t learn that way.

You’re better off making space for different learning styles, and encouraging each kid to explore what works for them.

Yes?

Em 🌈

13/06/2025

📢 NDIA Announcement: 2025 Annual Pricing Decision

The NDIA has released its 2025 Annual Pricing Decision, confirming therapy supports prices will remain frozen for a seventh year.

OTA is deeply disappointed by this decision, particularly given the financial pressures faced by OTs delivering services under the NDIS. Our data shows that 8% of providers have withdrawn since last year’s pricing decision, affecting more than 7,000 participants.

We’re calling for an immediate pricing uplift and taking strong steps to advocate for a sustainable future for OTs and the NDIS.

🔗 Read OTA’s full response: https://bit.ly/4e0z1yT

12/05/2025

If a child feels the deepest depths of sadness they've ever felt, and expresses it by becoming silent, laying their head down on their desk, and silent tears rolling down their face -- adults will probably offer them comfort. Maybe tissues, maybe hugs, maybe a quiet listening ear.

If a child feels the deepest depths of sadness they've ever felt, and expresses it by clenching their fists, screaming at the sky, and running out of the room -- adults will probably offer them anger, "consequences", perhaps a behavior chart not to do it again. Perhaps intentional ignoring them in their sadness, so that they learn not to do it again. Perhaps a new, designated adult to follow them around and make sure they stay in rooms.

Both children were desperately sad. One of them was heard. The difference was the adults.

[Image description:
A quote that reads, “All kids have times when they struggle to handle expectations. How they express that they’re struggling has an outsized impact on how adults respond.” —Dr. Ross Greene
End description.]

12/05/2025

Shout out to the teachers who have moved away from neuronormative expectations at school 🙌

Em 🌈

26/04/2025

16/04/2025

If you are a professional serving autistic students, clients, families, it is our ethical obligation to keep getting louder about the damage of compliance approaches. One pushback from pro-compliance-advocates is that “it's working” or “the behavior is improving”. Well, that’s what appears on the surface, but what is really happening? Suppression. Masking. Unmet needs. Trauma. Pain. And eventual Autistic Burnout.
Under a compliance approach,
you may be reinforcing the early signs of a nervous system in collapse.
Masking might look like progress—until it becomes Autistic Burnout.

Image Description: Brown and white tile with words that read “Under a compliance approach, you may be reinforcing the early signs of a nervous system in collapse. Masking might look like progress- until it becomes AUTISTIC BURNOUT.

09/04/2025

I hate the phrase 'make a good choice', because it's often said to overwhelmed neurodivergent kids.

Like, 'do better with the zero resources you have right now.'

Instead of giving them yet another expectation, we need to reduce the other stuff that's draining their capacity. Then they can more readily access *all* their skills.

Yeah?

Em 🌈

07/04/2025

‘Keep an eye on’.

Watch.
Enjoy.
Marvel at.
Appreciate.
Celebrate.

When I see Autistic kids hanging out (online counts), info dumping, stimming, and sharing their deep interests- unmasked, authentic joy.
It makes me forget about the bad stuff for a while.

So yeah.
I’ll keep an eye on their social skills.
I’m happy to.

Em 🌈

14/03/2025

06/07/2024

Get the support you need for your autistic child in our new course, Supporting Autistic Children: Nurturing Neurodiversity.

Different from a webinar, this course is designed to help you better understand autism and your child’s unique sensory profile, to learn more compassionate approaches to neurodiversity, and to practise and implement new strategies to help your child on their journey.

Registrations close Monday 8th July (launch day!).

Find out more about the 5 week course here: https://happyfamiliesfamilyeducation.ac-page.com/supporting-autistic-children-the-course