Category Archives: Inside Therapro

Stay connected with everything happening at Therapro—from product launches and company news to conference highlights, community involvement, and special events we attend or host.

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.

Assistive Technology Solutions for Schools: Highlights from NYC AT Conference

March 25, 2025Events & Conferencesconference highlightsGuest Blogger

Therapro recently had the privilege of exhibiting at the 2025 New York City Public Schools Assistive Technology Conference in Brooklyn, NY. This event provided an excellent platform to showcase Therapro’s assistive technology solutions for schools, designed to enhance student independence and participation across various school activities.

Enhancing Grasp and Functional Use with The Functionalhand and EazyHolds

Attendees were particularly impressed by The Functionalhand and EazyHolds. These adaptive devices facilitate improved grasp for individuals with limited hand function. Demonstrations highlighted their versatility in enabling students to hold items such as paintbrushes in art class, drumsticks in music sessions, pencils during lessons, and utensils at mealtimes. Combining The Functionalhand with EazyHolds further amplifies their utility, promoting greater independence in daily school activities.

Empowering Classroom Engagement with Switch-Adapted Tools

The PowerLink 4 Control Unit captured significant attention for its ability to make virtually any electrical device switch-accessible. By accommodating up to two standard switches, educators can adapt classroom tools to meet diverse student needs, fostering inclusivity in learning environments. Additionally, our range of switch-adapted activities demonstrated effectiveness in teaching cause-and-effect relationships and enhancing peer interaction, crucial components in cognitive and social development. These tools are essential assistive technology solutions for schools looking to improve accessibility for students with disabilities.

Therapro's Booth showing the Powerlink setup for switch access

Facilitating Fine Motor Skills with Adapted Scissors

Our collection of adapted scissors was well-received, particularly the Push-Down Table Top Scissors. Designed for individuals with limited hand strength or coordination, these scissors operate with a simple downward push, allowing one-handed use and promoting autonomy in art and classroom projects. The Dual Control Teaching Scissors also garnered interest for their unique design that enables educators to guide students through the cutting process, providing a supportive learning experience.

Push down scissors assistive technology solution

Improving Handwriting with Raised Line Paper

Experiencing our Raised Line Paper firsthand allowed attendees to appreciate its subtle tactile feedback. The raised lines assist students in maintaining writing alignment and spacing, benefiting those with visual impairments or challenges in handwriting legibility. This simple yet effective tool supports the development of fine motor skills and written communication and is a valuable assistive technology solution for schools seeking to enhance student success.

Participating in the NYC Assistive Technology Conference reinforced the importance of hands-on demonstrations in understanding the impact of assistive devices. Therapro remains committed to providing educators, therapists, and parents with practical solutions that empower students to achieve greater independence and success in their educational journeys.

Celebrating Pediatric Physical Therapists

October 18, 2024Events & Conferencesphysical therapy (PT)Guest Blogger

October is National Physical Therapy Month, a time to spotlight the incredible benefits of physical therapy (PT) across all ages. This month, we want to focus on and celebrate pediatric physical therapists, their invaluable work, and the impact they have on the lives of children. With over 4,000 pediatric PT practitioners in the U.S., their expertise, commitment, and compassion shine brightly in the healthcare landscape.

Understanding Pediatric Physical Therapy

Pediatric physical therapy is a specialized practice dedicated to addressing movement disorders, developmental delays, sports injuries, and orthopedic conditions in children. Utilizing evidence-based practices, pediatric PTs focus on:

Posture and movement analysis
Functional mobility training
Balance training
Dynamic bracing
Electrical stimulation
Parent training

Pediatric PTs work in various settings, including neonatology, early intervention, schools, and both inpatient and outpatient facilities. Their primary goal is to enhance a child’s physical function, address impairments, and help them reach their fullest potential at home, in school, and within their communities. Through PT, children gain increased strength, flexibility, and independence while preventing the progression of movement issues.

Importance of Early Intervention

Monitoring a child’s physical development and the value of early intervention cannot be overstated. Early detection and treatment can prevent more serious issues down the line, leading to benefits such as improved mobility, enhanced motor skills, and better overall health.

Role of Family and Caregivers

Family members and caregivers, including educators, play a critical role in a child’s therapeutic journey. By collaborating with pediatric PTs, they can help integrate therapy gains into everyday activities. For instance, a therapist may recommend that a child practice moving from sitting to standing through an activity like picking up toys from the floor while squatting, then standing to place them in a toybox, promoting both skill development and play.

Passion of Pediatric Physical Therapists

Pediatric PTs are uniquely trained to engage with children through play-based and enjoyable activities. Resources like pediatricapta.org offer insight into the specialized training and techniques employed by these professionals. They incorporate age-appropriate and motivating activities—think balance pods, obstacle courses, yoga, and more—to ensure therapy is both effective and fun.

Two Yellow Balance Pods used by physical therapists for balance activities

Transformative Success Stories

The impact of pediatric physical therapy is profound. Take, for example, a 3-year-old referred for PT due to postural instability and low muscle tone. After six months of focused therapy on core stability and strength, the child demonstrated remarkable progress, experiencing less fatigue in the classroom and successfully participating in an obstacle course with peers. Such transformations illustrate the power of dedicated PT intervention.

Final Thoughts

National Physical Therapy Month provides a fantastic opportunity to recognize the essential contributions of pediatric physical therapists to children’s growth and development. By sharing knowledge, resources, and inspiring success stories, we can encourage parents and caregivers to advocate for their children’s health.

At Therapro, we proudly honor the dedicated professionals in pediatric physical therapy who work tirelessly to help children develop the mobility skills they need to reach their full potential. Let’s celebrate their hard work and the positive changes they bring to countless lives!

Guest Blogger: Filomena Connor, MSOT Retired