Pine Tree OT

05/28/2026

I need everyone to challenge themselves to understand that neurodivergent people always have existed in so many spaces. When talking about sports, there are so many neurodivergent folks.

You may ask, so if they already exist what more do we need to do then? We need to make sure coaches, programs, and communities understand how to fully support all children so that we can facilitate POSITIVE experiences. Yes, many neurodivergent children can become so hyperfocused on something that maybe even bullying, uninformed coaches, and getting put into extremely uncomfortable situations can be overlooked because of their love of the sport… BUT that shouldn’t be their experience.

Sports, ✨especially✨ youth sports are about fun, skill building, social interaction, building relationships, resilience, and so much more.

Youth sports are not equivalent to elite and pro player funnels. Let’s stop this narrative and start supporting ALL children in sports.

A huge shout out to neurodivergent athletes like


Just having a conversation provides representation, and it matters.

05/21/2026

Let’s get something straight.

Try It Sports Day is not a consolation prize.
It’s not a watered-down version of sports for kids who “can’t handle” the real thing. It’s a seat at the table that neurodivergent kids have always deserved.

If the assumption that neurodivergent kids can’t be athletes crossed your mind even for a second? That’s ableism. We need to check ourselves.

Here’s the truth: the barrier was never the child. It was the adults around them who didn’t know how to show up for them. That’s what this event is actually about.

Not fixing the kids. Educating the community.

Training coaches and volunteers on what real inclusion looks like in practice so that every kid gets the same experience.

Neurodivergent kids are not less capable. Not less competitive. Not less deserving. They are underserved. And we’re changing that.

Try It Sports Day. This July. Hermon High School. 🌲⚽

05/20/2026

Feeding therapy works best when it’s a team effort — and that team is bigger than most people realize.

Parents, OTs, SLPs, Pediatricians, Nutritionists — we all bring something different to the table (pun absolutely intended 🥄).

When I see a child for feeding, I’m not just looking at what they eat. I’m looking at the whole child:

🟢 How they fed as an infant
🟢 Speech and language development
🟢 Anatomy — palate, muscle tone, tongue ties, lip ties, tension
🟢 Postural control and core stability
🟢 Fine motor skills for self-feeding
🟢 Sensory processing profile

And that’s just my piece. Because feeding doesn’t happen in isolation, I’m always asking about nutrition intake, sleep, digestion, and more, so I can bring the right people in.

When I work with a family, I almost always recommend:

🔶 Checking in with their pediatrician about nutrient deficiencies (iron especially).Low iron can make a child feel awful and it’s hugely underrecognized in picky eaters.
🔶 Talking to their doctor about bowel patterns and reflux. Both can be silent drivers of feeding difficulty.
🔶 A speech therapy evaluation if they’re not already in ST. Yes, there’s overlap but that’s actually the point. Two perspectives are better than one.
🔶 A nutritionist consult when the picture calls for it.

P.S. Those wild straws? That’s not chaos, that’s therapy. 😄 We’re working on lip closure and making water exciting enough to actually drink. Sometimes the most important clinical tool is a really ridiculous straw.🌲

05/20/2026

‼️Inclusion is not the same as being included.

A child can be on the team and still not be part of the experience. Real inclusion means the environment was built to work for all kids—the coach knows what to do, the structure supports neurodivergent kids, the parent can sit in the stands like all the other parents, and the child can play like all the other kids.

Everyone gets to have the same experience.

That’s acceptance, not just proximity.

Try It Sports Day is built on that.

Trained coaches.
Designed environment.
Resources ready.

So that every kid and every family actually belongs.

That’s what we’re building.

05/19/2026

Movement is regulation. Gross motor foundations support fine motor. Postural stability. Hand-eye coordination. Research shows kids engaged in regular physical activity have better focus, better grades, and better cognitive function overall. Sports can be transformative for their own development. And if sports happens to align with a special interest? That’s a structured, healthy way to meet their own needs. Families want this. Rec sports need this. That’s exactly why I created Try It Sports Day! A sensory-informed, inclusive event this July at Hermon High School where every kid gets to try.

Please share with anyone who may be interested in participating, and/or anyone who may be willing to volunteer or donate!

You can contact me by sending me a message here or emailing me at pinetreeot@gmail.com

05/18/2026

I spent a whole series naming the gaps. Now I’m building bridges.

⚽️Try It Sports Day is neurodivergent kids getting to belong in community, getting to try sports, getting to be part of something bigger than therapy and school.

⚾️In small towns, the support doesn’t exist yet, so we’re creating it. OTs can lead this. We can train coaches. We can show communities what inclusive actually means.

🏃🏾‍♀️This is what happens when we stop just talking and start doing.

05/12/2026

🌲 We’re Hiring at Pine Tree OT 🌲

We’re a neurodiversity-affirming pediatric OT practice in Maine and we’re looking for a contracted OT who wants something different.
Not a productivity mill. Not a corporate clinic. A values-aligned practice where every child is seen, understood, and supported for exactly who they are.

What we’re offering:
✅ Independent contractor / 1099 position
✅ $45–$60/hour depending on experience
✅ Outpatient pediatric caseload with potential to expand into school-based work based on your interests
✅ Flexible schedule and real autonomy
✅ A clinical home that actually aligns with how you want to practice

You’re who we’re looking for if you:
🌿 Have experience or genuine interest in neurodivergent populations
🌿 Practice from a strengths-based, regulation-focused lens
🌿 Want flexibility without the isolation of going it alone
🌿 Care more about doing good work than hitting numbers

If this sounds like you, send us a message or email pinetreeot@gmail.com with a little about yourself and how you practice as well as your resume.

🌲Pine Tree OT

05/11/2026

I have something exciting in the works and I wanted to share it with my community first. 💛

This summer I’m organizing Try It Sports Day — a sensory-aware sports exploration event for neurodivergent children and their families here in Hermon.

Kids will get to explore soccer, t-ball, and track at Hermon High School in a low-pressure, fully supported environment. No scores. No competition. No pressure to perform. Just kids getting to experience the joy of moving their bodies and trying something new.

I’m an OT. I work with these families every day. And I hear the same thing over and over, parents who want their kids to try sports but are scared they won’t be understood, supported, or welcomed. Youth sports have become so cutthroat that even kids without additional needs are feeling left out. That’s not okay. Sports should be for every kid.

I’m teaming up with Hermon Rec to make this happen, and every child who participates will go home with their own event shirt and a medal, because these kids deserve that game day moment just as much as anyone.

Im hoping to keep this event free and/or as low cost as possible and accessible for every family who wants to come.

With that being said, I’m looking for local businesses and community members who want to sponsor or donate. No contribution is too small, and in-kind donations (water, snacks, supplies) are just as welcome as financial ones.

If you’re interested in sponsoring, donating, or just want to learn more — send me a message or email me at pinetreeot@gmail.com

Let’s build something really special for these families. They deserve it. 💛

All bodies, all sports.

05/11/2026

Thank you to all my families who have been patient with me as I had an unexpected week off. I am so excited to see all of you again!

I always love coming up with new little invitations to play so I can see them light up when they enter the room. 😊

It’s good to be back💚🌲

04/23/2026