On December 3, 2021, in honor of International Day for Persons with Disabilities, I had the privilege of addressing an engaged online audience of over 100, predominantly therapists. I had the opportunity to discuss what it means to be a therapist, and I playfully highlighted the acronym THERAPIST to outline key aspects of this role: - T: Triangle of emotions - Understanding anxiety as a baseline. - H: Including HOME and incorporating knowledge from there. - E: EXPLAINING goals to parents and incorporating their expectations. - R: Recognizing the need for REGULATION before attempting to relate or reason. - A: Understanding ANXIETY in the context of sensory information. - P: Grasping the PRYAMID of learning. - I: INTERDEPENDENCE as a key goal of Individualized Education Programs (IEP). - S: Focusing on skills and STRENGTHS. - T: Being the TRUSTED adult. I mentioned that a recording of this discussion would be available soon. This opportunity allowed me to engage with therapists and share insights into the therapist's role in a meaningful and memorable way. I also expressed my gratitude to Sharafudheen Kadambot and Shameela Sharafudheen for making this opportunity possible.
