Occupational therapy is about helping people do what matters most in their daily lives.
In this thoughtful episode, Sarah—a homeschooling parent and occupational therapist—shares how her personal journey and professional background intersect. She explains what occupational therapy (OT) really involves and why it’s so relevant for families navigating unique educational paths. You'll hear how OT supports children in their daily routines, and get a clear breakdown of the four main systems offering OT services: early intervention, schools, medical providers, and private pay. With honesty and clarity, Sarah outlines the pros, cons, and access challenges of each route, empowering parents—especially those homeschooling—to make informed decisions about seeking OT support that fits their child’s needs.
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Sarah Collins is a homeschooling expert, occupational therapist, and educational consultant who specializes in supporting neurodivergent learners. Her unique professional background combines clinical expertise with hands-on homeschooling experience. Sarah transitioned to homeschooling in 2017 after working nine years as an occupational therapist while raising her young family. Though initially skeptical of homeschooling, she quickly embraced its ability to provide individualized education, family-centered learning, and academic customization.
When her son experienced reading difficulties, Sarah's occupational therapy background enabled her to incorporate movement-based learning, while collaborating with specialists to address his underlying needs. This personal experience with her neurodivergent son inspired her current mission: combining her occupational therapy expertise with homeschool education to support other families navigating similar challenges.
Sarah holds an MS in Occupational Therapy from Medical College of Virginia (2008) and a BS in Recreation and Leisure Administration from York College of Pennsylvania (2001). Her professional experience includes working as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist at Children's Hospital in Richmond (2002-2006), a Pediatric Occupational Therapist at Kennedy Krieger Institute (2008-2011), a Home Health Occupational Therapist at University of Maryland (2011-2016), and currently as a Homeschool Occupational Therapy Consultant at HomeschoolOT (2019-present).
As an educational leader, Sarah has served as a Classical Conversations Foundations Tutor (2016-2018, 2023) and Essentials Tutor (2018-2022), Charlotte Mason Co-op Co-coordinator and Instructor (2019), home educator for three children with diverse needs (2016-present), and Elective Co-op instructor teaching cooking, physical education, handwriting, and executive functioning (2024-present). She regularly presents at major homeschooling and educational conferences, including CHAP, HEAV, Homeschooling Special Needs Conference, and various medical symposiums.
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