In this episode of The People Teaching People Podcast, I am joined by Emily Lee.

Emily is a registered Occupational Therapist, and Board Certified Behaviour Analyst. She is passionate about working with autistic children and their families and continues to dive deeply into her own ongoing learning about interventions that can support her clients. Since graduating from a Bachelor’s degree in OT at the University of Toronto (2002), she has also completed her Masters of Rehabilitation Sciences at UBC (2017) and a graduate diploma in Behavioural Analysis from the Florida Institute of Technology (2022). Her family regularly teases her about her never-ending education adventures!

Emily currently works as the OT Clinic Lead for a non-profit organization in Vancouver called Nurture Society for Learning and Development, where lots of fun OTs, SLPs (Speech-Language Pathologists) and Therapy Assistants provide early intervention for kids with a variety of support needs. She spends lots of time thinking about play and specifically how to support kids in learning how to spontaneously initiate their own ideas in play and initiate new motor and self care skills. She’s a keen advocate for finding creative ways to build supports for kids so that they can find meaning and joy in the things they do everyday, so that their family and helpers can support them with confidence and so that the environments they journey through are kinder, more supportive and, frankly, more fun. 

In her free time, Emily plays board games, cooks and hikes with her husband, Ryan, and teenagers, Eloise and Lawrence. She loves summer swims in the ocean and playing in the woods. 

Listen in as we talk about:

5:08 Lessons from nature and community at Pearson College

10:23 From childhood play to occupational therapy

21:14 The heart of occupational therapy

24:27 The power of connections in learning

30:00 Relationship building in occupational therapy

37:02 Fostering creativity through play

41:08 Teaching and learning together with families 

44:25 Emily’s favourite teachers

46:09 What Emily is most proud of

48:07 Emily answers some rapid-fire questions

50:40 Embracing mistakes as learning opportunities 

Connect with Emily and learn more about the Nurture Society for Learning and Development:

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• Website: https://nurturelearn.ca/
  
• LinkedIn: Emily Lee
  
• Instagram: @nurture.learning
  
• Facebook: @nurturelearn
  
• Video Resource: Autism Community Training
  
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  • SLP and OT Support for Autistic Children & Families An Introduction from Nurture Learning and Development ~ Presented by Kate Chase, PhD, SLP, BCBA & Emily Lee, OT, BCBA
    
  
  
  
• Online Learning Platform: The Nurture Parent Path
  

Connect with Tiana:

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• Website: https://tianafech.com
  
• LinkedIn: Tiana Fech
  
• Instagram: @tianafech 
  
• Facebook: @tianafech 
  
• Book: Online Course Creation 101: A step-by-step guide to creating your first online course 
  

Emily reflects on her transformative experience at Pearson College, describing it as a magical and humbling shift from a large public school in Toronto to a small, tight-knit community nestled in the woods. Living in this intimate environment with just 200 students, she learned the value of diverse perspectives and how connecting with people who don’t think like you can be both enriching and inspiring. The community aspect, coupled with the beauty of living in a rainforest, left a lasting impression on her, influencing her love for nature. She also highlights the rigorous academic challenges which taught her resilience and the importance of adaptability. Ultimately, Pearson College was not just about academics but about finding balance in a world of differing ideas, creating lasting relationships, and embracing personal growth. Surrounding yourself with diverse perspectives can shape who you are and inspire new ways of thinking.

Emily’s journey to becoming an occupational therapist (OT) was shaped by a mix of early influences and personal experiences. Her mom, who worked with occupational therapists in a hospital setting and later founded a nonprofit for people with facial differences, introduced Emily to the profession. Through job shadowing at Pearson College and volunteering with visually impaired children in England, Emily discovered a passion for helping others learn new skills and gain independence. Her parents’ emphasis on community, connection, and experiential learning further shaped her approach. From her childhood of active outdoor play to her experiences in alternative education, where she learned to negotiate her own learning pace, Emily embraced the importance of adaptability, hands-on experience, and supporting others in their journey. The path to discovering your true calling often involves a mix of personal influences, hands-on experiences, and the courage to ask for help along the way.

Emily emphasizes that occupational therapy is not just about returning to work, as many might assume, but rather about helping people of all ages engage in the meaningful activities that define their lives. For children, this can include play, self-help skills like eating, sleeping, and dressing, as well as developing motor skills and navigating sensory experiences. OT is about supporting people to do the things they want and need to do, whether it’s moving their bodies, participating in school, or managing sensory sensitivities. It’s a holistic approach that considers how the world around us impacts our ability to engage with life in meaningful ways. Occupational therapy helps people of all ages find balance in their daily lives by focusing on the activities that shape who they are and how they interact with the world.

In her work as an occupational therapist, Emily emphasizes that the foundation of effective learning – especially for children – begins with connection. Before any learning happens, it’s crucial to engage with children in a way that fosters trust and curiosity. One of the key principles she highlights is the importance of teaching children through hands-on experiences, allowing them to make mistakes and learn from their own actions, whether that’s learning to feed themselves or mastering motor skills. She also points out how children build associations between daily experiences, like connecting a specific car ride to a familiar destination. These small moments can have a big impact on their ability to understand the world and learn new skills. The science of learning, Emily explains, is about intentionally creating meaningful connections – between actions, emotions, and environments – that help children grow. Effective learning comes from real-life experiences, where children are encouraged to explore, make mistakes, and connect their actions to real-world outcomes.

In occupational therapy, particularly with children and families, building strong, authentic relationships is essential for progress. Emily explains that, whether working with kids or collaborating with a multidisciplinary team, the first step is to create genuine connections – getting on the child’s level, engaging with them where they’re at, and setting up environments that promote autonomy and choice. She emphasizes the importance of being generous in interpreting behaviors, understanding that kids are constantly trying to connect with the world around them. The same approach is extended to the staff at Nurture Society for Learning and Development, where Emily fosters an environment of safety, support, and mutual respect – where adults are encouraged to make mistakes, take breaks, and practice self-regulation. This holistic, empathetic approach helps everyone feel valued and comfortable, which is crucial for learning and growth. True learning happens when people feel safe and respected. Creating a space where people feel comfortable to be vulnerable is at the heart of meaningful change.

In occupational therapy, creativity plays a vital role in engaging children and helping them grow. Emily explains how using creative, play-based approaches, like the JASPER (Joint Attention, Symbolic Play, Engagement and Regulation) approach, encourages children to explore their environment, express themselves, and problem-solve. Occupational therapy starts with setting up play at the child’s current skill level, which fosters confidence and autonomy. From there, the occupational therapist joins in, taking turns, imitating, and modelling new ideas to help the child expand their play. The focus is on helping children initiate their own actions and ideas, which supports their creativity, motor skills, and communication. Emily emphasizes the importance of making space for children to make choices and express themselves without being told exactly what to do, as this process nurtures their sense of agency and creative thinking. Creativity isn’t just about fun – it’s about empowering children to take the lead in their own learning and growth, building confidence and resilience along the way.

“Teaching and learning isn’t just about the expertise I bring – it’s about co-creating solutions with families and meeting the child where they are, helping them find their own path to success.”

In occupational therapy, teaching and learning are a reciprocal process, where the occupational therapist, family, and child engage in mutual exchanges, supporting and learning from each other to foster a child’s growth. Emily believes in an “open door” policy, where families are not just passive recipients of expertise, but active participants in the learning process alongside their child. By co-creating plans with families, Emily values their input and helps them feel confident in their parenting choices. Whether through direct involvement or observing, families are encouraged to engage at their own pace. A memorable moment for Emily was seeing a family, with whom she had worked for years, confidently advocate for their child in an IEP (Individual Education Plan) meeting – showing how much they had learned and grown through their partnership. Collaboration, openness, and mutual respect are the heart of effective learning.

RAPID-FIRE QUESTIONS

What is something that you would love to learn about or something that you would love to learn how to do?

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• Learn how to play the ukulele or guitar
  

What is a book, podcast, movie or TV show that you have learned from recently?

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• Podcast: Two Sides of the Spectrum with Meg Proctor 
  

If you could sit down and have a conversation with someone that you would love to learn from, who would it be?

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• Colleen – an exceptional occupational therapy colleague and special friend who passed away a number of years ago
  

Emily shares a powerful and simple piece of wisdom: make mistakes. She encourages us not to shy away from mistakes or feel frustrated by them, but to embrace them as essential parts of the learning journey. Mistakes aren’t setbacks – they are opportunities to grow, learn, and try new things. Emily believes that by being generous with ourselves in interpreting our mistakes, we create space for growth and learning. Don’t fear mistakes; they are stepping stones to greater understanding and progress.

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Today’s episode is produced by VOLT Productions, a full-service podcast production agency helping creators and entrepreneurs launch, grow and monetize their shows. You can learn more about the agency’s founder Simona, their work and their team by going to www.voltproductions.co.