Occupational Therapists
Dana Chalfin: I have experience working with children impacted by a wide variety of diagnoses affecting development. I have a strong background in the areas of neurological and visual dysfunction. Fine motor, feeding, self-help, vision, and sensory issues are frequent areas of focus within my therapy sessions. I view myself as a team member with the families that I serve and will provide information and activities which are fun and practical to incorporate into family routines to help you help your child achieve their greatest potential.
Carla Cockrell: I have 12 years pediatric experience with extensive continuing education in sensory integration and early intervention. I use play-based treatment activities to address developmental delays and sensory processing issues to help infants and young children maximize their potential. I also provide home programs (sensory “diets” and play-based activities) to reinforce treatment goals. I enjoy and respect young children, and I feel priveledged to work with them. I also have 10 years experience as a mother! Comfortable with: I am comfortable working with young children who have sensory processing disorders, feeding/oral-motor difficulties, autism spectrum disorders, attention/learning difficulties, prematurity, visual impairment, and children who have developmental delays without a specific diagnosis.
Tyla Hudon: I really enjoy my job and find it very rewarding. I try to make therapy as fun as possible! I keep families involved and will spend time answering questions and educating families on ways they can help their child reach their fullest potential. I am a strong team player, since this is critical for your child to reach his/her maximum potential developmentally. I am comfortable with a wide range of diagnoses. I have and continue to attend several continuing education courses to keep me up to date on current therapy practices. I have attended neuro-developmental treatment (NDT), sensory integration (SI), oral-motor/feeding, visual, and splinting courses to improve my skills as an occupational therapist. I will make appropriate recommendations if adaptive equipment and/or other specialists are needed. I am also the proud mother of a child with Down Syndrome. I prefer non-smoking environments. Thank you!
AmyMartin: I have been a therapist for 21 years, and worked with kids for over 11 years. I love working with the 0-3 population, and feel that early intervention is important in helping to enhance a child’s life! I have 2 young children ( 7 & 3) and both are first steps graduates! I have experience working with children with a variety of diagnosis including, Autism, Sensory Integration Dysfunction, CP, Down Syndrome, Fragile X, Mitochondrial Disorders, Spina Bifida, Spinal Cord Injury, SMA, TBI, Burns, Muscular Dystrophy, Osteogenesis Imperfecta, Prematurity, FAS and Developmental Delay. I have extensive training in sensory integration dysfunction, oral motor/feeding issues and biomedical issues related to autism spectrum disorders. I have unique experience and knowledge with manual and power wheelchair mobility and custom seating. I am certified to implement Samonas Sound Therapy and am a certified educator for The Happiest Baby On The Block.
Paula O’Connor: I love working with children and their families, and have made it the focus of my career during the past 19 years. I am a mother of 3 young children and value the importance of making therapy fun and part of your daily routine. I enjoy working with other team members to provide your child with the highest quality therapy intervention and home program. I have a wide range of experience working with children who have diagnoses including but not limited to developmental delay, cerebral palsy, prematurity, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, ventilator dependency, autism, sensory processing disorder, seizure disorder, down syndrome and other genetic syndromes, head injury, brachial plexus injury, feeding disorder, visual impairment. I pride myself on maintaining the highest quality of skills through continued education and networking with colleagues. Please call or e-mail me if you have any questions. Thank you.
Marci Penner: I believe my 19 years experience as an occupational therapist working in adult rehab and pediatrics and being the mother of two young adult children are my greatest strengths. I am a strong child and family advocate and will do whatever it takes to help your child. I believe that parents know their children the best and I’m always open to their comments and insight as it relates to your child’s progress. My areas of expertise include sensory dysfunction and related sensory disorders, oral/motor and feeding concerns, self help and adaptive difficulties, prematurity, Autism and related spectrum disorders, genetic diagnoses and general developmental delays. I welcome frequent phone calls and communication between visits. Please feel free to call me prior to choosing me as your child’s therapist or to discuss specific scheduling needs.
Jane Safrin: I have over 10 years experience working in a hospital setting with medically fragile children and am comfortable working with g-tubes, ventilators and tracheostomy tubes along with other medical devices. My areas of expertise include oral motor and sensory/feeding concerns, increased and decreased muscle tone, premature infants, developmental delay and chromosomal abnormalities. I also have experience treating children with sensory concerns, and children on the Autism Spectrum. I believe that communication with the entire team is crucial to the progress of your child. I have two children of my own, and feel that being a parent has helped make me a better therapist. I have worked over 6 1/2 years on the Eligibility Determination team, so I am extremely familiar with the eligibility requirements and with assessing and treating the whole child. I have many years of experience, but have LOTS of energy and feel like I’m still a kid too! I look forward to working with your child and your family!
Karen Scimeca: Infants, toddlers, and preschoolers are special little people who I feel are a joy to work and play with! I have experience evaluating and treating children birth through six years old, including those children who are entering/currently in First Steps and those who have transitioned from First Steps into the school system setting. I enjoy working as a member of a team and love the opportunity to work with children and their families in the home and community. I believe therapy is most successful when it is fun for the child and when parents and siblings are involved! I have worked with and feel comfortable working with children who have developmental delays, autism, cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, ADHD, seizure disorder, traumatic brain injury, Spina Bifida, cleft lip/palates, and sensory processing difficulties. Availability: late afternoon during the school year (after 4:30pm), daytime during the summer.
Christi Smith: I am the mother of two children and understand that all parents have questions regarding development. I would enjoy the opportunity to partner with you to enhance your child’s development, and believe strongly that developing rapport with you and your child is vital to successful therapy. I want your child to enjoy our time together, and work to make therapy fun and educational. Experience includes: prematurity, brain injury, spinal cord injury, work with multiples, developmental delays in fine and oral motor skills. I have worked with preschool through school aged children in a school setting, so am able to assess school readiness throughout the developmental process. Training: sensory integration, vision rehab, pre-handwriting / handwriting, oral motor, and autism. I hope to work with your family! Please contact me with any questions. Openings are on Wednesdays. Must be in zip codes listed during treatment time! I am with TALKING TIME LEARNING CENTER.
Stephanie Taylor: I have been working in the pediatric population since 1996. I have worked in an out-patient pediatric clinic, neonatal intensive care unit, and home based therapy. I have extensive training in treating children with a variety of diagnoses including, but not limited to metabolic disorders, down syndrome, CP, torticollis, prematurity, neurological disorders, visual impairments, spina bifida, and genetic syndromes. I have a passion for working with medically fragile children and children with neurological impairments. I look at the child as a whole, incorporating sensory integration techniques, stretching, strengthening, splinting, and positioning equipment as needed. I have also treated children with a variety of feeding challenges and sensory challenges. I am a certified instructor for “The Happiest Baby on The Block” and have instructed a physical handling course.