Enjoy a few Mindful Minutes as we drop into the present moment and lend awareness to our human experience through a meditation practice that tunes into the strength, stillness, and wisdom of a mountain.

In classrooms across the country, educators are recognizing something that occupational therapists have long understood – that every student's brain and body develop uniquely, creating incredible variability in how we learn, move, and engage with the world around us. Our guest today is Cindy Letso, an occupational therapist at Appalachia IU8 with 24 years of experience supporting students with diverse learning needs. She will guide us in understanding how fine motor skills, handwriting abilities, sensory processing, and physical development fundamentally shape a student's educational experience. Whether you're a teacher wondering why some students struggle with pencil grip, a parent curious about sensory sensitivities, or an administrator looking to make your school more inclusive – today's conversation will provide practical insights into creating learning environments where all students can thrive. Quick Link Resources: What you Need to Know about Interoception - The OT Toolbox https://www.theottoolbox.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-interoception/ Making Sense of Interoception | Harvard Medicine Magazine https://magazine.hms.harvard.edu/articles/making-sense-interoception SPD - What is Sensory Processing Disorder https://sensoryhealth.org/basic/understanding-sensory-integration-process Snap Type - AT app to support Writing https://snaptypeapp.com/ ModMath - AT for math https://www.modmath.com/

We are fortunate to interact with 35 public school districts across 3500 square miles. This series serves to highlight all the amazing ways public education is making a positive impact on our community.

Welcome to Variable Podcast, where we celebrate Learner Variability. April used to be known as Autism Awareness Month, but today, it’s all about Autism Acceptance. Why? Because awareness is just the first step—true inclusion happens when we move beyond knowing and start accepting, respecting, and celebrating each other’s differences. Every brain works differently, and that’s a good thing! This is called learner variability—the idea that no two people think, learn, or experience the world in exactly the same way. Autism is just one example of the amazing ways our minds can work, and when we understand and embrace these differences, we create a stronger, more inclusive community. Resources from today’s episode: Kid-friendly video about autism: What’s up with Nick? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtRYKjucDHk&t=3s

Enjoy a few Mindful Minutes as we drop into the present moment and lend awareness to our human experience through a meditation practice that includes noticing the breath, bodily sensations, thoughts, and emotions within us.

Enjoy a few Mindful Minutes as we drop into the present moment and lend awareness to our human experience by offering ourselves and others some intentions of peace, happiness, and ease of well-being.

Enjoy a few Mindful Minutes as we drop into the present moment and lend awareness to our human experience through a body scan meditation on the area of the face.

Enjoy a few Mindful Minutes as we drop into the present moment and lend awareness to our human experience through a meditation practice that includes gentle movement.