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Reform within the NDIS landscape is both necessary and important if the system is to become easier to navigate, more sustainable, and focused on outcomes that genuinely matter for children and their families. While the vision behind Thriving Kids speaks to many of these aims, there is also a growing sense of unease across the Occupational Therapy community - particularly among small, independent practices like ours. This is not because therapists are resistant to change. R

There’s been a lot of discussion about the proposed Thriving Kids reforms and what they might mean for children with developmental differences, disabilities, and their families. Change can be positive. Reform can improve access and equity. But when systems shift — especially in early childhood and disability — the ripple effects can be significant. This change has been on my mind and is something I can’t stop thinking about — for our clients and families, and also for myself

A review of the article: Morris, I. F., Sykes, J. R., Paulus, E. R., Dameh, A., Razzaque, A., Esch, L. V., Gruenig, J., & Zelazo, P. D. (2025). Beyond self-regulation: Autistic experiences and perceptions of stimming . Neurodiversity, 3, 1–13. https://doi.org/ 10.1177/27546330241311096 When people talk about stimming , it’s often described as something autistic people do to “calm down” or “cope.” While self-regulation is part of the story, new research shows that stimming is

A review of: Crasta, J. E., Martis, J., Kromalic, M., Jarrott, S., Wengerd, L., & Darragh, A. (2024). Characterizing occupational therapy intervention for children on the autism spectrum. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 78, 7805205210. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2024.050734 Occupational therapy (OT) is one of the most commonly accessed supports for autistic children. Yet parents, educators, and even professionals often ask the same question: “What actually happens

Occupational therapy has always understood something fundamental: people do their best learning, connecting, and participating in daily life when they feel safe in their bodies. Polyvagal Theory, developed by neuroscientist Dr. Stephen Porges, gives us a powerful, evidence-based framework to understand why safety matters so deeply—and how we can intentionally support it in our practice. At its core, Polyvagal Theory explains the relationship between the autonomic nervous sy