The Openshaw SPOT

11/03/2025

10/31/2025

Trunk or Treat in Milbridge from 3-5pm!

10/28/2025

🎃 Trunk-or-Treat + FREE Costumes! 👻
The Openshaw Spot is hosting our annual family-friendly Trunk-or-Treat at 23 Main St. Milbridge on Halloween from 3-5PM. All are welcome—costumes, candy, and lots of smiles! If it rains we plan to be in our entry way!

🧡 Free Costume Closet (Milbridge):
Now through the end of this week, stop by our Milbridge clinic to pick up a free Halloween costume for your kiddo—no questions asked, while supplies last. Sizes from toddler to teen.

Want to help? We’re also accepting gently used costumes and new accessories at the Milbridge front desk.

☎️ Questions? Call/text: (207)-546-2880

Please share so our Downeast families can find what they need!

10/26/2025

📣 FOOD DRIVE – NOVEMBER 2025
Hosted by The Openshaw Spot 🧡

Due to the recent government shutdown, many local families may temporarily lose SNAP benefits this November — meaning fewer resources for essentials like groceries and baby formula.

We’re stepping up to support the families in our care by hosting a Food Drive throughout the month of November! All donations will go directly to our clients and the families we serve at The Openshaw Spot to help ensure no one goes without food or basic essentials during this time.

🛒 Items Needed:
🥫 Canned Goods
🍚 Rice & Pasta
🥣 Cereal
🍼 Baby Formula

📍 Drop-Off Locations:
• 23 Main St., Milbridge, ME
• 53 Fremont St., Machias, ME
• 710 Bucksport Rd., Ellsworth, ME

Your contributions will make a meaningful difference in the lives of local children and families this season. 💛 Together, we can keep our community nourished and supported.

10/21/2025

🎃 Tomorrow is the last day to sign up for our Pumpkin Palooza: A Spooky Celebration of Skills in Machias!

Join us for pumpkin painting, cookies decorating, sensory fun and more! 🍪🧡 👻

Space is limited, so call or message us today at 207-546-2880 to reserve your spot!

10/15/2025

🎃 Free Halloween Costumes

We have a fun selection of free Halloween costumes available in the waiting room of our Milbridge office!

If your kiddo still needs a costume feel free to help yourself--they are here for anyone who could use one! 🎃

10/13/2025

🎉 Congratulations to one of our awesome kiddos on completing Occupational Therapy! 🌟 We are so proud of all the hard work, dedication and progress you have made! Watching you grow and reach your goals has been such a joy - keep shining bright!💪🌟

09/29/2025

We have a few more spots left if you are thinking of signing up!

🎃✨ Pumpkin Palooza: A Spooky Celebration of Skills! 👻🧡

Join us on Wednesday, October 29, 2025 from 4:30–6:00 PM at our Machias location for an evening of festive fun!

We’ll have 4 exciting stations, including:
🎨 Pumpkin painting
🍪 Cookie decorating
👋 Sensory experiences
🤸 Gross motor fun
…and more spooky surprises!

Children are encouraged to wear costumes! 👑🦸‍♂️ There’s no age limit, but depending on your child’s needs, parents may be asked to accompany them to ensure safety and supervision.

⚠️ Space is limited to 30 children — reserve your spot today! Call or message us at 📞 207-546-2880.

We can’t wait to celebrate with you! 🕸️🦇

09/18/2025

🎃✨ Pumpkin Palooza: A Spooky Celebration of Skills! 👻🧡

Join us on Wednesday, October 29, 2025 from 4:30–6:00 PM at our Machias location for an evening of festive fun!

We’ll have 4 exciting stations, including:
🎨 Pumpkin painting
🍪 Cookie decorating
👋 Sensory experiences
🤸 Gross motor fun
…and more spooky surprises!

Children are encouraged to wear costumes! 👑🦸‍♂️ There’s no age limit, but depending on your child’s needs, parents may be asked to accompany them to ensure safety and supervision.

⚠️ Space is limited to 30 children — reserve your spot today! Call or message us at 📞 207-546-2880.

We can’t wait to celebrate with you! 🕸️🦇

09/17/2025

🎃👻 We’re excited to announce that we’ll once again be offering a Free Halloween Costume Shopping Day this year! 🧙‍♀️🧛‍♂️

If you have gently used costumes you’d like to donate for local families to shop from, you can drop them off at any of our locations. Together, we can help every kiddo enjoy a fun and spooky Halloween! 🧡🕸️

09/15/2025

💡 Assume Competence: OT + Speech Together

One of the most important things we do as therapists is believe in our kids before they believe in themselves.

When we assume competence, we stop focusing on what a child can’t do and start creating opportunities for what they can do.

In OT & Speech, that looks like:
🗣 Speech: Modeling AAC use even if the child hasn’t used it yet because, we believe they have something to say. Waiting for them to respond, even if it takes a few extra seconds.
✍ OT: Breaking handwriting or self-care tasks into small, successful steps instead of doing it for them. Giving them adapted tools so they can experience success on their own.
🌀 Together: Supporting regulation first: movement, heavy work, or a sensory break that way communication and participation are easier.

When we assume competence, we’re saying:
✨ “Your words matter.”
✨ “Your effort counts.”
✨ “I believe you are capable.”

Kids pick up on that. They feel trusted. And when they feel trusted, they try harder, learn faster, and start to trust themselves.

💬 Try This Today:
Instead of asking, “Can they do this?” ask:
➡ “How can we set this up so they can do this?”