OTKids Occupational Therapy

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OTKids Occupational Therapy Deb Waring has been practicing in the field of pediatrics for 28 years and experience in both health and education settings.

Occupational Therapy to assist exceptional kids with sensory processing, social skills, focus/attention, self regulation and activities of daily living (ADL- toiletting, sleep, eating…) by school-based, trauma informed OT with over 30 years experience. She has worked as part of assessment and treatment teams with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Developmental Delays, Down's Syndrome, Acquired Brain Injury and Cerebral Palsy at the Alvin Buckwold Child Development Program,
In the education system, she works with kids of all abilities including the above but also learning challenges/disabilities, add/adhd and sensory processing challenges. Her list of additional training is expansive over the years but highlights a few most relevant, She is SIPT certified, has training in Therapeutic Listening and Integrated Listening Systems, certification in Handwriting Without Tears and has trauma informed training. She represents Saskatchewan on the Sensory Processing Network through the National OT organization; CAOT. Integrating Greenspan's floor-time theory's , Ross Greene's template of list of lagging skills, Michelle Garcia Winner's Social Thinking theories, Meg Proctor's Strength Based Approaches and Autism Level Up strategies are all combined in her daily practice. She is a strong believer in preparing kids for transitions by using visuals, visual timers and less language. "Kids do well if they Can!" If they struggle, we're here to figure out why and how to enable them to be successful! Her private practice is part time and involves seeing clients in their own homes or daycares, as well as providing support to school divisions and early intervention agencies through contracts and professional development.

09/01/2026
08/26/2026

More and more I am hearing RBTs calling themselves therapists, or saying they are providing "ABA therapy".

It's inaccurate and misleading parents who are looking for help.

ABA is Applied Behavior Analysis and the service providers are Behavior Analysts or Behavior Technicians. There is no T in ABA.

There is no such thing as Applied Behavior Analysis Therapy (analysis therapy doesn't even sound right). To call it "therapy" is false advertising. Parents think they're doing right for their children by listening to their doctor and pursuing ABA. Then, they are misled by ABA Centers who convince them their child needs hours and hours of intervention.

ABA practitioners are not therapists, and no, your child does not need 20-40 hours a week of an intervention provided by a "technician" with minimal training.

The 20-40 hours benefits the center's bank account, not your child.

I understand the need for support, but ABA, as told to us by people, is not OK. I understand that in pur current system, it may be the only choice, but parents need to be told the truth...and they're not!

The autistic community has made it quite clear that there's nothing "therapeutic" about ABA. They have called ABA harmful, even abuse. Please stop calling it "therapy". Informed consent matters.

Tell the truth to families.

Picture of my dog trying to make me feel better.

This is one of my first recommendation to families if their child is having sleep issues; falling asleep or staying asle...
04/12/2026

This is one of my first recommendation to families if their child is having sleep issues; falling asleep or staying asleep. 😴
I have used this with my own children and myself. They usually have a 30 day money back guarantee as well.

Share LISTEN25 with your clients • 25% off through April 30

https://youtu.be/PEd9e7CETfU?si=J59yFRHO6ZqAXXvnWorld Autism Awareness Day! To all the autistics and families that I hav...
04/02/2026

https://youtu.be/PEd9e7CETfU?si=J59yFRHO6ZqAXXvn
World Autism Awareness Day!
To all the autistics and families that I have the priveledge to journey along with you.
Thank you for allowing me to be part of your story.

What does it mean to celebrate the spectrum? For some, it’s when the story shifts from survival to thriving.For others, it’s removing barriers, finding belon...

04/01/2026

💕

https://sensoryhealth.org/node/2146?fbclid=IwZnRzaAQ0ypBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeDPVPfOLi3_RY66o...
03/28/2026

https://sensoryhealth.org/node/2146?fbclid=IwZnRzaAQ0ypBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeDPVPfOLi3_RY66oLkFBq7yb57iJwxd7cvWftk6_Gax4Tvq7qBENYxMellHU_aem_KKPWLb-7s96mZWvnfKRHbA

If you are a parent of an autistic child, you have probably heard these words early and often: We recommend ABA therapy. It can feel confusing and even disheartening. You do your research, talk to other parents, and start learning about sensory processing and occupational therapy. You begin to wonde...

This is a great explanation of the foundational and philosophical differences between OT supports, and ABA support suppo...
03/07/2026

This is a great explanation of the foundational and philosophical differences between OT supports, and ABA support supports in the area of autism . 

In the landscape of autism support services, few topics generate as much debate as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) versus Occupational Therapy (OT). Both fields share a commitment to helping individuals thrive in their daily lives — but their conceptual foundations, methods, and professional prepa...

Love how she describes this and reframes what has been defined as “inflexible”.
02/02/2026

Love how she describes this and reframes what has been defined as “inflexible”.

Supernatural actor Kim Rhodes reframed the autistic “inflexible thinking” myth.

For a long time, Kim didn’t recognise herself in common autism narratives. Especially the idea that autistic people are rigid or inflexible thinkers.

Her brain didn’t feel rigid. It felt curious, fast, and wide-ranging.

One day a violin, the next a sewing machine. If anything, it felt too flexible. (AuDHD folks know this one 😆)

What finally helped wasn’t trying to force herself into a stereotype - it was redefining what “inflexible thinking” actually means when you’re autistic.

Kim describes her mind as a map. A series of routes made up of thoughts that feel known and safe.

Each one exists for a reason. Each one has been tested.

Outside of those routes, there’s a warning sign: here there be dragons.

When someone introduces a brand new idea and expects instant agreement or adaptation, her logical brain might understand it. But her nervous system doesn’t.

The response isn’t stubbornness - it’s alarm. A primal “this isn’t safe yet” reaction.

Autistic pushback isn’t about refusing to change. It’s about needing time to make something safe first.

Give her time, and she’ll come back. She’ll add new dots to the map. New routes. New flexibility.

But asking for immediate adjustment is asking her nervous system to ignore danger signals it’s spent a lifetime building.

01/16/2026

Well explained, hope this helps people.

01/06/2026

Behavior is biology! Biological responses to our nervous system.

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Saskatoon, SK
S7N4G9

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+13062211051

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