Raindance Occupational Therapy

02/18/2026

https://www.canva.com/design/DAG_1nxXDSw/tREIDRRs6oDIfec9RJYsIg/view?utm_content=DAG_1nxXDSw&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h81cf3da38c

Check out this Real Estate Flyer designed by Heather Santesson.

02/15/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/1GnkBFEW56/?mibextid=wwXIfr

“Alright, turn your video off. We’ve gotta go.”
And just like that… meltdown.

Not because the autistic person was being defiant…but because their brain was asked to do too many things at once.

When a request comes suddenly, the autistic brain has to:

▪️Understand what’s being asked
▪️Stop the current activity
▪️Manage the disappointment of ending something preferred
▪️Shift attention
▪️Process what’s happening next
▪️Organize a response

So instead of issuing abrupt commands and bracing for impact, here’s something to try:

Give a warning ⚠️

Instead of, “Turn it off. It’s time to go,” try:
⚠️ “In three minutes, I’m going to ask you to pause your video because it’ll be time to leave.”

Nothing about the demand changes.
But the brain gets time…time to finish a thought, to mentally bookmark the activity, and to prepare for the shift.

Even if the person doesn’t like what’s coming next, the shock factor is reduced.

The same principle applies to bigger conversations.

Warnings give the brain time to separate understanding from reacting, and sometimes, it can help to say that directly:

⚠️ “We need to talk about your schedule. You might not like it. I’m going to explain the whole thing, and then you can ask questions.”

Will warnings magically eliminate frustration? No.
Someone can still be disappointed. They can still feel upset.

A heads up won’t remove the possibility that someone may still be upset by information they don’t like, and that’s okay.

But warnings can at least give the brain a chance to understand before needing to respond. 💕

02/07/2026

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=122106140091226569&set=a.122106140157226569

01/24/2026

Love it!

01/20/2026

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1257833106163577

Just started this "Teens Structured Social Group" for teens looking for more opportunities to make friends! Parents can join the facebook group where face to face activities and meeting places are listed. Costs nothing to join but activities may have a fee. Parents may come and chat with other parents or join the activity or drop off their teen and come back later for pick up. Just please make sure that your teen can participate independently without parents.

Send a message to learn more

01/20/2026

Just started the "Teens Structured Social Group" on Facebook. It has face to face activities listed. We are based in the Sherwood, Tigard area but will be doing activities around the Portland Metro Area.

Send a message to learn more

01/19/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1G6RNptRFc/?mibextid=wwXIfr

01/13/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/1By2QjMNJG/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Meet the first autistic Barbie from Mattel — created with guidance from the autistic community to provide authentic representation in the Barbie Fashionistas line.

Careful, considerate design in the movement of the doll's arms and hands means that Barbie can stim. She also has a stim toy on her finger and noise-cancelling ear defenders to help with sensory overwhelm. Barbie is seen wearing sensory fashion in a loose-fitting dress.

Barbie has a digital tablet to support her communication. Most importantly, she wears a bright smile to reflect on the positivity of being neurodivergent.

No two autistic individuals are the same, but this doll is a superb example of representation.

We'd love to see Barbie wearing the Sunflower lanyard!

I am autistic Sunflower cards 👉 https://bit.ly/49oC6qw



Read more: https://bbc.in/49xunqp

12/25/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1D5DTQq9VE/?mibextid=wwXIfr

12/02/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/1Kd9R4S7cT/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Mr. President, Please Stop Calling People Re****ed

We get it, you're blunt. You speak your mind. But words matter.

Last night, you referred to a public official as "seriously re****ed." That word is outdated. It's hurtful. And it wounds millions of people, people like my son John, who has Down syndrome and who also happens to be a successful entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and a global ambassador for inclusion.

Let me be clear: this is not about political correctness. It's about human decency.

Every time someone in power uses the r-word as an insult, it reinforces the false idea that people with intellectual disabilities are less than. It treats them as if they are not fully human. It undermines decades of work by advocates, families, and individuals with differing abilities who are proving every day that ability matters more than disability.

I am not asking you to be soft; I am asking you to be better. To rise up. To lead by example.

Because if you're truly about strength and greatness, that starts with how you treat others, especially those society has historically marginalized.

We built John's Crazy Socks to spread happiness, to show what people with disabilities can do. More than half of our team has a differing ability. They are not "less than." They are not punchlines. They are hardworking, capable, valuable citizens.

Here's our invitation: Mr. Trump, meet our team. Look them in the eye. Hear their stories. You might see that inclusion isn't a weakness; it's powerful. You might see they are part of the America you say you love.

Mark X. Cronin
Co-Founder, John's Crazy Socks and Abilities Rising
Dad. Advocate. Employer. Voter.

11/19/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1KJKYiu17L/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Even the small things you do can make a big difference to your kiddo.

11/16/2025

So basically an “adulting” party! Sounds . . .fun?!

https://www.facebook.com/share/1BWrkCiAAL/?mibextid=wwXIfr

"Six years ago, after watching my circle of friends surrender one too many evenings to insurance wrangling and doctor portals and DMV confusion, I emailed them a proposal: Come over next Tuesday. Grab a six pack. And bring your bills, your credit-card statements, your school forms, the streaming services you need to unsubscribe from, the airline miles you need to manage, the expenses app you need to figure out.

I’d be throwing the lamest party ever.

At the heart of this party was a truth that has gone under-acknowledged in recent years: We’re all sinking. We’re sinking into a quicksand of tiny, dumb administrative tasks. It is the most tedious quicksand imaginable.

I called my nerdy little party Admin Night. The premise: deal with the stuff we’ve been putting off, help each other when possible ('anyone have luck connecting with Comcast?') and make a fun evening of something onerous.

Right away we marveled at how productive we were. Having friends hammer away beside you, faces lighted by the same bureaucratic glow, somehow makes dreaded tasks manageable. Little projects postponed for years—closing a checking account, updating a will—become approachable when you’ve got a squad."

Here, Chris Colin makes his case for throwing your own Admin Night party.

🔗: https://on.wsj.com/4oZOgwZ