A Total Approach

04/15/2026

April is Occupational Therapy Month! 💙

We’re celebrating the incredible work of our OT team, who help children build the skills they need for everyday life—playing, learning, growing, and connecting. From fine motor development to sensory processing and independence in daily routines, occupational therapy makes a meaningful difference for the children and families we serve every day.
We are so grateful for the creativity, compassion, and dedication our therapists bring to their work. 💫

04/15/2026

03/30/2026

A Total Approach is looking for excited, passionate therapists to work with us!

If you have DIR/Floortime® experience, it will be a plus, though ATA also provides much training so not a “must”!
If you have a heart for children and wanting to work at a facility that truly creates change, then this will be the place for you.

-See www.atotalapproach.com to peruse our programs
-See www.maudeleroux.com to see the quality training you will receive while working at ATA!
-E-mail your resume to angela@atotalapproach.com and schedule an interview.

We look forward to hearing from you!

03/26/2026

Tactile Defensiveness is more than simply “not liking certain textures.”

It is a sensory integrative dysfunction in which everyday tactile sensations are interpreted by the nervous system as threatening or overwhelming. As a result, the individual may show strong emotional reactions, avoidance, distress, or increased activity when touched or when encountering certain textures.

For some children, light touch can feel irritating or even alarming. Clothing seams, messy play, hair brushing, or unexpected touch may trigger discomfort or behavioural responses that seem disproportionate to the situation.

When tactile processing is inefficient, the nervous system may shift into a protective mode, leading to responses such as:
• Avoiding messy materials like paint, glue, or sand
• Resisting grooming activities such as haircuts or tooth brushing
• Discomfort with certain clothing textures or tags
• Distress when touched unexpectedly
• Increased activity, emotional reactions, or withdrawal in tactile situations

Over time, supportive sensory experiences can help the nervous system process touch more effectively and allow the individual to engage more confidently in everyday life.

When touch feels threatening, participation becomes harder.
When touch feels safe, exploration becomes possible. 🧠✋

03/24/2026

03/20/2026

🌱 Now Launching: A Total Approach DIRFloortime® Program 🌱
We’re excited to introduce our new DIRFloortime® Program, a relationship‑based, developmental approach that supports children by meeting them exactly where they are - and celebrating who they are. DIRFloortime® honors each child’s unique sensory, emotional, and learning profile while nurturing joyful, meaningful connections that build communication, regulation, and thinking.
💕Two ways to participate:
• Comprehensive In‑Person Program for families seeking an immersive, hands‑on experience
• Distance‑Based Review & Coaching Program for families who need flexible, remote support
Families enrolled receive guidance from trained DIRFloortime® professionals, holistic developmental assessment, weekly coaching, monthly video feedback, family consultations, trauma‑informed DIR principles, and access to parent supports, including a monthly virtual parent support group.
🧡First virtual parent support group: April 23, 10:00–12:00 (US Eastern Time)
💛 Connection fuels development, and when children feel understood, supported, and safe, they thrive.
💙Learn more and apply by visiting our website:

A Total Approach DIRFloortime® Program Sign Up What is DIRFloortime®? DIRFloortime® is a relationship-based, developmental approach that helps children grow by meeting them where they are and celebrating who they are. It honors each child’s unique sensory, emotional, and learning profile while ...

03/18/2026

03/18/2026

03/18/2026

This new study explored the link between motor skills and receptive communication in young autistic children. Researchers assessed 21 children aged 3–6 and found strong, significant connections between both gross and fine motor skills and the ability to understand language, with gross motor skills showing the strongest relationship.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.humov.2026.103466

Follow us to keep up to date on the latest research in Sensory Integration and Neurodiversity.

To learn more about supporting individuals with sensory differences across the lifespan see the link below:
https://www.sensoryintegrationeducation.com/bundles/Sensory-Inclusion-Facilitator-Certificate-B

03/18/2026

A new study of 25 healthy young adults found that 36 hours without sleep significantly impaired balance, especially when visual input was removed, while also reducing alertness and increasing visual fatigue. Using behavioral tests alongside EEG and fMRI, researchers showed that sleep deprivation altered brain activity in key sensorimotor regions, including areas responsible for visual processing, attention, and motor coordination. These changes suggest that lack of sleep disrupts the brain’s ability to integrate sensory information and produce accurate motor responses, leading to poorer postural stability. The findings highlight how acute sleep loss weakens the neural networks that support balance and coordinated movement, offering new insight into why sleep deprivation increases the risk of physical errors and accidents.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2025.121667

Follow us to keep up to date on the latest research in Sensory Integration and Neurodiversity.

To learn more about supporting individuals with sensory differences across the lifespan see the link below:
https://www.sensoryintegrationeducation.com/bundles/Sensory-Inclusion-Facilitator-Certificate-B