ExploreAbility owner Nicole MacLean works directly with clients in
and surrounding Barrie, Ontario.
ExploreAbiilty also has a team of OTs serving clients in
Calgary, Alberta.
We can make powerful gains with children when they feel safe and comfortable in their environment. All our services are strengths based and focus on your goals and priorities. Through play and various activities, we work with you and your child to develop skills and solutions for everyday life. We can assess your child using both formal testing and informal observations to determine a unique support plan. The support plan can be designed to address the following and more:
Activities of daily living
Emotional regulation
Sensory processing
Fine motor skills
Movement
Executive functioning skills
It is vital for parents and caregivers to feel supported as they care for their children. Our approach focuses first and foremost on the nervous system— helping you understand how it works, how it regulates, and how both you and your child's nervous system affect one another throughout the day. Our parent coaching provides you with a new level of confidence and awareness to bring greater ease and joy to your child and families' life. Our approach is founded on relational neuroscience and we help to make it understandable and relatable for your world.
These services include:
Designing nurturing spaces
e.g. chill-out spaces, play rooms, outdoor sensory spaces and more
Organizing your home for greater ease
e.g. decluttering and home-editing, organization systems, support in maintaining the systems, setting up visual supports
Advising on adaptive furniture, equipment and tools
e.g. recommending items that meet your child's unique needs, trialing equipment, sourcing affordable equipment to purchase
Nicole has been an occupational therapist for 25 years. She is also the mother of two amazing kids, an educator, and a mentor for aspiring OTs.
Nicole graduated from Queens University in Kingston, ON, in 1997. Her passion for children and youth began at a young age when she worked at specialized camps for children with disabilities. She continued to follow her passions and never wavered from the calling on her life to help children and their families navigate the joys and challenges of living and thriving.
As a pediatric OT, Nicole has spent her career working with children in clinical, educational and home setting. Nicole spent many years supporting teachers and children in their schools and classrooms. Over the past few years, Nicole has seen the need to support children not just in their school environment but also in their home environment.
Nicole lives in Barrie Ontario providing private pay services. She is also an OAP (Ontario Autism Program) Provider
She also leads a team of OTs in Calgary, Alberta who provide private pay and FSCD services (Family supports for children with disabilities)
For all children, feeling safe and connected in their home is essential, and often, families need help to navigate this. Nicole and her team specialize in supporting children who are neurodiverse and are having challenges with sensory and emotional regulation. ExploreAbility OTs take a strengths-based and holistic approach with children and their families.
What Clients Are Saying
“Nicole is thoughtful, proactive and caring in her approach. Her compassion only surpasses her patience, and she has been fundamental to discovering and supporting our kiddo’s needs. We are incredibly grateful to have Nicole on our team.”
Marlena S- Mom
"Nicole has been working with my daughter for a few years now. She always comes up with new and fun ways to keep my daughter engaged. We have appreciated all of Nicole's preparation for our sessions and her constructive feedback."
John P- Dad
"I appreciate that Nicole values parents as the experts on their children while bringing new information and strategies for us to experiment with. She knows each child is unique and works with them while celebrating their gifts."
Sacha M- Mom
"Nicole is an innovative, tactful and progressive-thinking therapist who takes her lead and guidance from my daughter. She is a very kind, receptive listener, approaching the whole child with humour and joy. It is apparent that Nicole is highly motivated to ask intentional questions and is an ambitious lifelong learner as a therapist."
Johanna W- Mom
"Working with Nicole has been life-changing for our autistic daughter and our family. She provides great care and expertise, intellectual honesty and empathy. She makes my daughter feel safe and happy and creates a real bond that enables them to work together on challenging issues peacefully and often through laughter. We feel privileged to have her as our OT and highly recommend her to any family looking for an OT."
Cyrielle F- Mom