Understanding the Person Behind the Progress: A Conversation with Maribel Macalintal, School-Based Occupational Therapist

Part of Every Kid Can's ongoing interview series, where we speak with professionals, advocates, and educators who work alongside people with disabilities every day — to better understand the barriers they face and how youth can be part of the solution.

Every Kid Can was founded on a simple belief: that social isolation and inaccessible opportunities shouldn't stand between kids with disabilities and their peers. To understand these barriers more deeply, we've been sitting down with professionals across the disability field. This installment features Maribel Macalintal, a school-based occupational therapist whose work centers on helping students build the skills they need to thrive in the classroom and beyond.

What Does an Occupational Therapist Do?

Maribel's job is to help students with disabilities develop the functional skills necessary to participate fully in school life. That work spans a wide range — from fine motor skills like handwriting and scissor use, to visual perception challenges like letter reversals, to sensory regulation strategies for students with autism or ADHD.

"Many of the skills we work on — such as sitting appropriately, holding a pencil, or using scissors — are often taken for granted," she explained, "but they are essential for learning and everyday participation."

Much of her work happens in individualized sessions, tailored to each student's specific goals. And while her role is based in schools, she noted that occupational therapy spans many settings — early intervention programs, hospitals, rehab centers, and nursing homes — all working toward the same core goal: helping people build or regain the skills needed for daily life.

The Barriers Students Face

When asked about the divides and obstacles she's witnessed, Maribel pointed to something many people outside the field might not consider first: funding.

"In well-funded districts, students often have access to a full team of professionals... who work together to provide the services necessary for students to access their education," she said. But that access isn't universal. Early in her career, she worked in an underfunded district where she was responsible for 87 students a week — a caseload she described as unsustainable, leading to burnout that ultimately affects the quality of care students receive.

She also spoke candidly about the complexity of inclusive classrooms. While integrated settings can build valuable social connections, they aren't automatically beneficial for every student — some thrive, while others become more aware of their differences or struggle to connect. "The effectiveness of inclusion depends on each student's individual needs," she noted.

Her reflections point to a broader truth: the barriers facing students with disabilities aren't just social — they're structural, tied to funding, policy, and systems that need continued advocacy to improve.

How We Can Do Better

Maribel's advice for students hoping to be genuine allies was rooted in something refreshingly simple: kindness, respect, and curiosity.

"You don't have to fully understand someone's disability to be a supportive friend," she said. "You simply have to approach them with an open mind and a willingness to understand their experience."

She encouraged students to see the person before the disability — to build friendships around shared interests rather than treating peers differently. For volunteers specifically, she emphasized the importance of encouraging independence: giving someone the chance to try a task first, rather than immediately stepping in.

She also offered a reminder that resonates with Every Kid Can's own mission: many sensory needs aren't visible. Tools like fidgets, weighted equipment, or sensory boards "aren't special privileges — they're strategies that help students feel regulated, comfortable, and ready to learn."

Her closing thought captured the spirit of the entire conversation: "Creating an inclusive community begins with making people feel seen, valued, and accepted for who they are."

Every Kid Can is a youth-led initiative working to expand social and sensory inclusion for people with disabilities across our community. This interview is part of a series in which we speak with professionals, educators, and advocates to better understand the barriers to inclusion and how young people can help close them.