Women-Led Innovation at Therapro

April 5, 2026Company News & Announcements, Inside Theraproproduct spotlight, therapist resourcesTherapro

Therapro’s certification as a woman-owned business reflects not only leadership at the organizational level but a deep, ongoing commitment to elevating the voices, ideas, and innovations of women across the therapy and special education fields.

From the beginning, Therapro has served as a platform for women clinicians, educators, and researchers to bring their expertise into classrooms, clinics, and homes. Today, that legacy continues through a diverse portfolio of products, programs, and assessments—many of which were created by women who saw a need and developed practical, effective solutions.

Empowering Clinicians Through Therapro Publications

In Therapro’s early years, founder Dr. Karen Weihrauch recognized that many therapists had already developed highly effective programs—but lacked a pathway to share them widely. By mentoring and supporting these professionals, Therapro helped transform proven ideas into accessible, professionally developed resources.

These contributions continue to shape practice today:

I Can Work! Vocational Skills Curriculum by Angela Mahoney
A structured, classroom-ready program that builds vocational and life skills to support student independence and transition planning.

Drive Thru Menus by Tere Bowen-Irish
A creative set of therapeutic activity cards designed to improve attention, regulation, and engagement—now available in both physical and digital formats.

Sensory Connection Program Series by Karen Moore
A widely respected series focused on self-regulation strategies for adolescents and adults, grounded in sensory integration principles.

Fine Motor Olympics Program by Marcia Bridgeman
A classroom-friendly approach to fine motor intervention that integrates therapy into everyday school routines.

Social Language Rules & Tools: A Preschool Curriculum of activities to improve social–ability

Social Language Rules and Tools Curriculum by Deborah Fortin
A comprehensive curriculum supporting social communication skills across play, conversation, and classroom participation.

Women Advancing Assessment and Evidence-Based Practice

Therapro has also played a key role in bringing clinician-developed assessments to market—tools that support data-driven decision-making and meaningful intervention planning.

Preschool Visual Motor Integration Assessment (PVMIA) by Gertrude Deitchman & Cordelia Puttkammer: A specialized assessment designed to evaluate visual-perceptual and motor integration skills in preschool-aged children.
Clinical Observations of Motor and Postural Skills (COMPS-2) by Brenda Wilson, Bonnie Kaplan, Nancy Pollock & Mary Law: A standardized tool for identifying subtle motor and postural challenges in children ages 5–15.
Here’s How I Write by Sarina Goldstand, Debbie Gavir, Sharon A. Cermak & Julie Bissell: A unique, student-centered handwriting assessment that promotes self-awareness and goal setting.
Sensory Integration Inventory – Revised by Judith Reisman & Bonnie Hanschu: A foundational screening tool for occupational therapists working with individuals with developmental disabilities.

Clinical Observations of Motor and Postural Skills

Sensory Integration Inventory Revised — Clinical Observations of Motor and Postural Skills

Making Therapy Engaging Through Women-Created Games

Therapro’s product line also includes innovative, play-based tools developed by women who understand the importance of engagement in learning and therapy:

Letter Treasure Hunt Game by Jenny Clark: A pirate-themed handwriting adventure that motivates practice through play.
NOVENOPS by Rita Samuelson: A grammar-based card game that transforms sentence-building into an interactive, enjoyable experience.
Trunks-The Game of Motor Memory by Diane Long: A dynamic game that blends movement and cognition to strengthen memory, executive function, and motor planning.

Trunks®: The Game of Motor-Memory — Trunks

NOVENOP is an acronym created from the words NOun, VErb, NOun, and Phrase and is a board game for children of ages 6 and up — Trunks

Supporting Innovation Beyond Our Walls

Therapro’s commitment extends beyond in-house publications. The company actively partners with and distributes products from other women-led businesses—amplifying innovation across the therapy industry.

Chewy Tubes by Mary Schiavoni: Widely used oral motor tools that support sensory needs and safe chewing.
Just Right! A Sensory Modulation Curriculum (K–5) and Just Right! Jr. A Sensory Modulation Curriculum for Emerging Learners by Kim Wiggins: Structured curricula that help students understand and regulate their sensory needs in school settings.
Better Board Slant Board by Susan Hardy: A practical, lightweight tool that promotes optimal positioning for handwriting and visual attention.
Functional Hand by Linda Merry & Celine Skertich: An innovative adaptive device that enables individuals with significant hand challenges to participate in writing, art, and daily activities.

The Functionalhand — The functionalhand®

Just Right! A Sensory Modulation Curriculum for K–5 — The functionalhand®

A Legacy of Leadership and Impact

Therapro’s woman-owned certification reflects decades of leadership, mentorship, and collaboration. More importantly, it highlights the collective impact of women across the therapy field—clinicians, educators, and innovators who continue to shape best practices and improve outcomes for individuals of all abilities.

By supporting and distributing these products, Therapro not only delivers effective tools but also helps ensure that the expertise behind them reaches the professionals and families who need it most.

Explore the difference.
Discover Therapro’s collection of therapist-developed resources and see how women-led innovation continues to drive meaningful progress in therapy, education, and beyond.

Sensory Modulation in Action

March 22, 2026SensoryTherapro

In our latest webinar, Teaching Sensory Modulation in Grades K–5: Using Just Right!, presenter Kim Wiggins, OTR/L, delivered practical, evidence-based sensory modulation strategies that therapists, educators, and caregivers can immediately apply across school and home environments.

Grounded in occupational therapy and social-emotional learning (SEL), this session reinforced a key takeaway: sensory modulation is not just a concept—it’s a teachable skill that directly impacts student success.

Why Sensory Modulation Matters

Sensory modulation refers to a child’s ability to respond appropriately to sensory input while maintaining an optimal level of alertness. When students can regulate their sensory systems effectively, they are better able to:

Stay engaged in learning
Navigate transitions
Participate socially
Manage emotional responses

These outcomes are critical for both academic performance and overall classroom participation.

Key Sensory Modulation Strategies from the Webinar

1. Teach the Language of Regulation Early

Students benefit from explicitly learning how their bodies feel and what those sensations mean. Introducing sensory language early helps children identify and communicate their needs more effectively.

2. Reframe Behavior Through a Sensory Lens

A major shift emphasized in the webinar: behavior is often a reflection of unmet sensory needs. By applying sensory modulation strategies, therapists and educators can move from reaction to proactive support.

3. Embed Strategies Across the Day

Effective sensory modulation doesn’t happen in isolation. It should be integrated into:

Whole-class instruction
Small group activities
Therapy sessions
Home routines

Consistency across environments strengthens carryover and long-term success.

4. Use Hands-On, Play-Based Learning

The webinar highlighted the importance of hands-on activities to reinforce concepts. Sensory-rich, engaging experiences help translate abstract regulation skills into real-world application.

5. Support Educators for Greater Impact

When teachers are equipped with practical tools and confidence, sensory strategies become sustainable classroom practices—not just isolated interventions.

Connecting Sensory Modulation to SEL

One of the most impactful insights from the session was the clear connection between sensory modulation and social-emotional learning. Sensory regulation is foundational to:

Emotional control
Attention and focus
Social participation

By embedding sensory modulation strategies within an SEL framework, schools can create more inclusive and responsive learning environments.

Practical Takeaways for Immediate Use

Start with simple, repeatable routines
Use consistent language across settings
Incorporate movement and sensory breaks
Focus on prevention—not just intervention
Make learning interactive and engaging

These small shifts can lead to meaningful improvements in student regulation and participation.

Watch the Full Webinar

Ready to implement these sensory modulation strategies in your own setting? Watch the full webinar to see these concepts in action and gain step-by-step guidance from an experienced school-based occupational therapist.

5 Ways to Support School Participation

March 1, 2026Therapist Resourcesclassroom strategies, occupational therapy (OT) tools, therapist resourcesTherapro

Participation is the foundation of learning. When students with developmental disabilities are supported with the right tools and strategies, engagement, confidence, and independence increase dramatically.

Here are five practical, classroom-ready school participation strategies that therapists and educators can implement immediately.

1. Optimize Seating for Regulation and Focus

Postural stability directly impacts attention and fine motor performance. Students who struggle to sit upright may fatigue quickly or seek movement in disruptive ways.

Practical supports include:

Wobble chairs or dynamic seating
Seat cushions for core engagement
Footfidgets for improved grounding
Therapy balls for structured movement breaks

The goal is not eliminating movement — it’s channeling it productively.

Attachable FootFidget® Footrest — Wobble Stool

2. Support Fine Motor Access

When writing, cutting, or manipulating materials is difficult, academic participation suffers.

Consider:

Pencil grips for grasp support
Slant boards to improve wrist extension and visual access
Raised line paper for spatial organization
Adapted scissors for controlled cutting

Reducing motor strain increases classroom confidence.

3. Build in Sensory Regulation Opportunities

Students with sensory processing differences may struggle with noise, transitions, or tactile input.

Support regulation by:

Offering scheduled movement breaks
Providing quiet corners or sensory calm-down spaces
Incorporating fidgets strategically
Using weighted items during seated tasks

Regulated students participate more consistently.

Comfy & Portable Weighted Sensory Lap Pad — Weighted Sensory Lap Pad

Sensory Dark Den framed tent for quiet, low-stimulation environments — Weighted Sensory Lap Pad

4. Modify Tasks Without Lowering Expectations

Participation improves when tasks are accessible — not simplified.

Examples:

Shortened written responses with oral explanation
Visual checklists for multi-step tasks
Adaptive technology for written output
Chunked assignments with structured breaks

The focus is access, not reduction of learning goals.

5. Foster Inclusive Peer Interaction

Participation extends beyond academics.

Encourage:

Structured cooperative learning
Peer modeling
Leadership opportunities
Classroom jobs that highlight strengths

Inclusive environments increase social participation and belonging.

Final Thoughts

Small environmental shifts create meaningful change. When we prioritize access, regulation, and motor support, we empower students to engage fully in school routines.

This Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, consider one strategy you can implement immediately to improve participation in your classroom or therapy space.