Pine Tree OT
Share
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.
05/20/2026
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.🌲
‼️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.
05/12/2026
🌲 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 [email protected] with a little about yourself and how you practice as well as your resume.
🌲Pine Tree OT
Click here to claim your Sponsored Listing.
Category
Telephone
Website
Address
18 Ellingwood Drive
Newport, ME
04953
Opening Hours
| Monday | 6:30am - 5:30pm |
| Tuesday | 6:30am - 5:30pm |
| Wednesday | 6:30am - 5:30pm |
| Thursday | 6:30am - 5:30pm |
| Friday | 6:30am - 5:30pm |
