It all began in a cozy local coffee shop, where three occupational therapy educators—Dr. Tyra Banks, Dr. Angela Labrie Blackwell, and Dr. Erik Perez regularly met for lively conversations. Each had taken a different path to academia and clinical practice. Still, they were united by a shared passion: preparing the next generation of occupational therapy practitioners and a deep belief that every child deserves to thrive in their learning environment. Erik brought over fifteen years of experience working directly with children and families, having witnessed countless breakthrough moments when educators finally understood the sensory reasons behind a child’s challenges with focus or behavior. Angela’s sensory processing and self-regulation expertise showed her how small environmental changes could create major shifts in a child’s ability to engage and succeed in school. Tyra, with her background in pediatric development, had worked with too many bright, capable children who were mischaracterized as “difficult” or “unmotivated,” when in reality, they simply needed someone to recognize and respond to their unique sensory needs. As they mentored students and reflected on their clinical experiences, a familiar frustration surfaced again and again: teachers genuinely wanted to support their students, but lacked the training and tools to understand sensory processing differences. All three remembered the helplessness of brilliant, dedicated educators who felt defeated when traditional strategies fell short, and the heartbreak of seeing neurodiverse children internalize failure when the real issue was an unmet sensory need. “We kept seeing the same gap,” Angela recalls. “Teachers would ask us things like, ‘What can I do for this student who can’t handle the noise in the cafeteria?’ or ‘How do I help the child who melts down during handwriting?’ They were asking the right questions—but they didn’t have anywhere to turn for clear, evidence-based answers.” Erik adds, “We were teaching our OT students about sensory processing, but the current teachers—those working with kids every day—were left out of the conversation. It felt like a missed opportunity for real impact.”One day, while discussing a complex case study they were designing for a class, Tyra posed the question that shifted everything: “What if we could bridge this gap? What if we could take everything we know about sensory processing and make it accessible to teachers in a way that works in real classrooms?” That question lit a fire. They imagined professional development that went beyond one-time workshops—something rooted in collaboration, ongoing coaching, and real-world application. They envisioned resources that could translate clinical knowledge into language and strategies teachers could use confidently and immediately. What began as a few passionate conversations turned into late-night planning sessions. They researched the existing landscape and discovered that while information about sensory processing existed, it was either too clinical to be accessible or too vague to be useful. They saw an opportunity to do something different: to build a model of support that was not only practical, but transformative. Erik’s experience in school-based practice grounded their work in the realities teachers face every day. Angela’s deep clinical insight ensured the interventions were sound and effective. Tyra’s developmental expertise ensured their approach would meet the needs of children across age groups and ability levels.As their vision solidified, so did their mission: to empower educators with the tools and knowledge they need to support neurodiverse learners—creating classrooms where every child can participate, learn, and thrive. They knew lasting change comes not from swooping in to fix problems, but from walking alongside teachers as trusted partners—sharing knowledge, building confidence, and celebrating every lightbulb moment along the way. Every strategy they share, every teacher they coach, every moment of understanding they help create is done in service of the children who deserve to be seen, supported, and successful.Today, what began as three colleagues sharing ideas over coffee has grown into a movement that’s reshaping how schools understand and respond to sensory needs. By bridging the gap between occupational therapy expertise and classroom practice, they’re not only changing individual outcomes—they’re helping to build more inclusive, informed, and effective educational environments for all students. Their story is a reminder that some of the most powerful transformations start with a simple, persistent question: “What if we could do this better?”