Summer

Blogging is definitely new to me, so I have to practice this, the more you blog , the easier is gets - so I hear. We are on our way to California - driving across country in an RV with three children and a 3G card. Thank heavens for 3G! It is amazing how much thinking you can do whilst driving. I have written a column for Around Town Publishing on sensory integration which will be published in July - look out for it. As I wrote, I was trying to condense the amount of information I am trying to convey into 400 words. We have so much information out there now that it is definitely challenging imparting such important information, but that's OK because I have another 5 columns to go! I am very grateful for the opportunity to speak out on important issues related to Autism, Sensory Integration and Learning Disabilities. I truly believe that the more we learn, the more we can help families figure out how to put all the pieces of the puzzle together.
Yesterday whilst packing, I was watching Oprah with one eye. I had to put all my packing on hold when I watched a little boy who was not supposed to live, walk out on stage and explain to Oprah how many pairs of legs he had. After him came the little girl with Mermaid syndrome and after her, the young boy who watched his mother drown as Hurricane Katrina violently shook up his life. As the river of tears streamed down my face ( and Oprah's and Celine Dion's'), I reassured once again why I became an occupational therapist and opened my own practise - to make as many changes as I could and help as many families as I can live healthy, successful lives! The more I watched, the more ideas came to me - having non-profit organizations to fund therapies, working with families from rural areas, low income and overseas countries that don't have this technology. Then there is the intensive programming that we can do for those families who can afford premium therapy - helping them access resources that can improve their families lives and help others too.

So many ideas, but it takes a village and I am grateful to all the therapists at Children's Therapy Works who put their heart and soul into every child they work with.

I look forward to great things in the future!
Shelley