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Hannah Jewell | Autism & Sensory OT

@ot.by.the.sea

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OT By The Sea®
Paediatric OT | Autism & Sensory Specialist
Supporting Families • Schools • Professionals
👇 Free Autism & sensory insights

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This has been a dream of mine for years 💙

The OT By The Sea Foundation is something I’ve wanted to create to make healthcare more accessible and help remove some of the barriers families face when trying to get support for their Autistic children.

I know how it feels from both sides - as an OT, and as a mum who has spent £7,000 on private reports for my own children.

I don’t want access to support to depend on what a family can afford.

This is just the beginning.

Keep up to date with @otbytheseafoundation as we grow!

#OccupationalTherapy #AutismParent #AutismSupport #ADHDParents #Neurodiversity by @ot.by.the.sea

👋 Welcome to OT By The Sea.

I’m Hannah, a HCPC Registered Paediatric Occupational Therapist with a Master’s in Autism Studies and a Postgraduate Certificate in Sensory Integration.

I’m also an AuDHD adult and mum to two Autistic children, so I understand sensory differences from both a professional and lived experience perspective.

I created this page to make Occupational Therapy and Autism information easier to understand. Here you’ll find practical strategies, sensory education, evidence-informed resources and neurodiversity-affirming support for families, schools and professionals.

Whether you’re trying to better understand your child’s sensory needs, looking for ideas to support the children you work with, or simply want reliable, accessible information—you are so welcome here. 🌊

Thank you for being here. I can’t wait to share this journey with you.

💙 Hannah by @ot.by.the.sea

If I had £1 for every time someone asked me, “What is occupational therapy?” I’d probably be a millionaire!

The truth is, occupational therapy is so much more than most people realise.

Occupational therapy promotes participation through meaningful occupations—helping people engage in the everyday activities they need, want, and love to do.

Whether it’s supporting a child through play, promoting independence, understanding sensory needs, or using autism-affirming approaches, OT is all about enabling people to participate in life in ways that are meaningful to them.

This carousel is just a snapshot of what occupational therapy is. Which slide resonated with you most?

✨ Follow for more OT tips, autism-affirming content, and practical strategies for everyday participation

#sensory #otbythesea #autismacceptance #adhdawareness #inclusion by @ot.by.the.sea

Autism isn’t always visible, especially in girls who “cope”. Hannah @ot.by.the.sea talk's about sensory processing, communication needs, tribunals, and why familiarity can make or break a college choice. ⠀
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🎙️Listen to the full episode for practical tools for independence via the Sunflower Conversations link in our bio.
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🎞️ Watch the full episode on our YouTube Channel via the link in our bio.
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#Autism #ADHD #SENDParenting #Neurodiversity #SunflowerConversationsPodcast #School⠀ by @ot.by.the.sea

One of the things I LOVE about this community is seeing parents turn their own experiences into something meaningful for other families.

A little shoutout to some incredible people making a difference:

✨ @stak.life – Emma helped me so much at the beginning of our journey. A wealth of knowledge on autism and PDA. STAK was created in memory of her beautiful boy Stefan.

✨ @bornanxious – Kelly shares her autism and ARFID parenting journey with Oscar, alongside her neuroaffirming, label-free clothing range. I’m obsessed with the ‘Be A Good Human’ collection!

✨ @theabilitiesinme – Gemma has written over 30 inclusive books and an amazing school inclusion programme, inspired by her son Logan, who has 22q.

✨ @stevessenin10 – Steve makes movement accessible for all abilities through inclusive 10-minute exercises, inspired by his beautiful boy Bobby.

✨ @storiesaboutautism & @twins_tides_and_autism_vibes These are recently discovered accounts. They might not know me, but I’m already a fan. And I LOVE my leopard print advocate bag from @s.a.a.clothing

✨ @annakennedy - Anna has two autistic sons and is a powerhouse! She is an incredible autism campaigner. Anna created Autism's Got Talent to celebrate the incredible talents and abilities of autistic people. I love watching the clips online! She's been such a passionate advocate, standing alongside autistic children, adults and families.

✨ @sentalktags I recently met these lovely people at @sendshowuk and LOVE what they've created! After having their little boy, they developed 3D-printed visual tags and tools to support neurodivergent children. Its communication made simple, GENIUS! The amount of evenings I've spent laminating visuals when I could have had these instead!

Behind so many of these businesses and organisations are parents who have turned their own experiences into something that helps others.

We shouldn’t have to do this alone. We’re stronger when we support each other.

Please go and show these wonderful people some love 💙 Thank me later ✌🏻

#Autism #ADHD #SEN #occupationaltherapy #sensory by @ot.by.the.sea

"When you're already overwhelmed, even support that's available can feel impossible to access."

🎙️ In the latest episode of Sunflower Conversations, Hannah @ot.by.the.sea , an occupational therapist, autism specialist, and mum of two autistic children with ADHD, shares her daughter's experience of transitioning from school to college.

From masking and sensory overload to EHCPs, tribunals, and finding the right educational support, this conversation offers honest insight into the realities many autistic young people and their families face.

A thoughtful listen for parents, educators, support professionals, and anyone wanting to better understand autism.

Listen to the full episode for practical tools for independence, tap Sunflower Conversations link in our bio.

🎞️ Watch the full episode on our YouTube Channel.

#Autism #ADHD #SENDParenting #Neurodiversity #SunflowerConversationsPodcast #School by @ot.by.the.sea

Firework night can be a lot more than just loud noises for autistic children 🎆

From auditory and visual processing to interoception and proprioception, there are eight sensory systems at play.

Understanding these differences helps us reduce barriers, support regulation and make experiences more accessible.

Because inclusion starts with understanding.

And of course, we wouldn’t be heading into firework night without our trusty ear defenders from @sensorydirect. 💙

(I work with Sensory Direct, but I genuinely love their ear defenders and believe they’re among the best on the market. They’re our go-to for noisy environments!)

Save and share with a family who might find this helpful.

#Autism #ADHD #SEN #SensoryProcessing #OccupationalTherapy by @ot.by.the.sea

A little Halloween reminder that participation doesn’t have to look the same for everyone. Sometimes the biggest wins come from the smallest moments, a little understanding and a world that makes space for our children to be themselves.

Incredibly proud of my boy. Five houses and a core memory to treasure.

#Autism #ADHD #SEN #occupationaltherapy #sensory by @ot.by.the.sea

PE Meets OT: Jump Into It!

Jumping and stepping might look simple, but there’s a lot happening beneath the surface.

Maintaining balance, coordinating movements, planning how and where to move, and knowing where our bodies are in space all play a part. Postural control, bilateral coordination and body awareness help us adjust our movements, manage changes in position and navigate different movement challenges.

Throughout this series, we’ll explore the skills involved in everyday PE movements, the sensory systems that may contribute, and simple ways to grade activities up or down to support participation.

Because jumping isn’t just about getting both feet off the ground. It’s about understanding what our bodies need to do to make it happen.

A big thank you to @stevessenin10 for bringing the PE perspective to this series and exploring where PE meets OT.

Two professional perspectives. Shared lived experience. One goal: supporting every child to participate.

#OccupationalTherapy #SEN #InclusiveEducation #Neurodiversity #PE by @ot.by.the.sea

My work brings together occupational therapy, sensory integration, neurodivergence and a passion for making everyday life more accessible for autistic and neurodivergent children and young people.

Whether I’m working directly with a child, supporting the people around them, collaborating with organisations or sharing knowledge through training and podcasts, the focus remains the same: understanding individual needs, reducing barriers to participation and supporting meaningful involvement in everyday life.

My diary is now open and I’m welcoming new clients and collaborations.

Whether you’re a parent, a professional or an organisation, feel free to email me to arrange your free 15-minute discovery call and explore how I can help.

I look forward to working with you! 💙

#OTByTheSea #OccupationalTherapy #Autism #sensory #SEND by @ot.by.the.sea

🎙️ My podcast episode with @send_net is now LIVE!

It was so lovely to catch up with Georgie at the @sendshowuk and discuss individual sensory needs, my vision for the future, and the reason why behind everything I do through OT By The Sea.

As an occupational therapist, an Autistic and ADHD adult, and a SEN mumma, this work is so much more than a profession. It’s personal.

Every child deserves to have their individual sensory needs understood, their differences accepted, and the right support to participate in everyday life.

This is why I do what I do.

Go and have a listen! The link is in my bio 💙

#Autism #SEND #sensory #ADHD #Inclusion by @ot.by.the.sea

AD | What you see vs what someone may be experiencing

I have been using our Sunflower lanyard for years with my children, from days out to travelling through airports. I’m looking forward to showing you the range of products available from @sunflowerlanyardscheme and sharing how they can help communicate that an individual may have an invisible disability or additional need.

For us the Sunflower conveys that we may be experiencing sensory overload, finding communication or processing information difficult, or simply need a little more time, space and understanding.

#SunflowerLanyard #HiddenDisabilities #OccupationalTherapy #Autism #Accessibility by @ot.by.the.sea