Episode 33: A Quest for Curiosity: Bringing Interoception to Life in Classrooms
This episode of Connecting the Dots takes listeners inside a panel discussion recorded during OCALICONLINE, OCALI’s annual conference. Hosts Megan Trowbridge and Simon Buehrer explore what truly happens after professional development by diving into the practical realities of implementing interoception in schools.
Following a 13‑part interoception series hosted by the Autism Center, this episode brings together three voices deeply immersed in the work. Occupational therapist Kelly Mahler, who served as the series presenter, joins Amy Brennan, an occupational therapist, and Pam Thornburg, a parent mentor who both attended the series. Together, they reflect on what shifted when educators began looking beyond behavior and toward internal body signals.
Listeners will hear powerful stories of educators shifting from compliance to curiosity, students learning to notice and name their internal body signals, and teams recognizing that self-awareness begins with adults as much as with kids. The panel explores cultural shifts, coregulation, practical strategies, and small “experiments” that lead to meaningful change, showing how interoception offers a fresh lens for understanding behavior. These ideas move from theory into real classroom practice.
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Video: Episode 33: A Quest for Curiosity: Bringing Interoception to Life in Classrooms
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