The SpecialMoms Parenting Magazine 1st Issue | Page 29

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Interview
How old is your business/
organization:

a junior in high school and never looked back. I

I founded Route2Greatness in 2005. There was a

know every client on a personal level and it’s

need for CDs like our Sound-Eaze and School-Eaze
for my own children. I couldn’t find exactly what
I was looking for, so I created my own. I went to a
recording studio and bought my own high quality

have never considered any other career. There’s
something unique about OT.
a very rewarding profession.

You truly get to
Knowing that you

make such an impact on someone’s everyday
functioning is something special.

sounds and hired a wonderful music therapist

I am now writing articles about OT and training

to sing. The CDs truly helped my children and I

other

decided to sell them to help other children who

education companies and partnerships. I LOVE

were also afraid of loud noises such as: fire alarms,

what I do!

thunder, school sounds, and fireworks. Now, they

therapists

through

several

continuing

for children with special needs. Around the same

Tell us about your family
(other children, ages, hobbies):

time, I co-founded Aspire Pediatric Therapy. The

I am the homeschooling mother to two sweet

are sold across the US and in several catalogues

company started in a basement office and
quickly grew to three offices, school-based
therapy and in-home therapy to babies. It was
a huge blessing to see it grow so quickly. We
concentrated on making parents partners in their
child’s treatment and they really appreciated
that. It is still a thriving company. My husband
had transferred from Pittsburgh to South Carolina
for his career and at that point, I sold my share of
the company and began work here!

and intelligent boys that definitely keep me on
my toes! They are eleven and thirteen. We have
two dogs, Peaches and Molly. As a family, we
enjoy traveling, fishing, and going to the beach.

Share with us the diagnosis of your
child with special needs, how did
you find out?
When my first son was born, he was generally a

The Pocket Occupational Therapist was founded

fussy baby. He ate an extremely limited diet and

in 2009.

didn’t “coo” and interact much with us.

It’s the name under which I provide

I was

individual OT services, advocacy, consult, and

familiar with the early signs of autism and refused

training. It’s also the name of my book series! My

to accept it for a few months. As milestones with

son actually helped create my logo.

socialization passed, he did not reach them. I
knew he needed the addition of ABA, speech,

Tell us a little about yourself:

and occupational therapy.

When he was

I looked at many career options and spent time

program using the LEAP (Learning Experiences

observing various health professionals while I

and Alternate Program for Preschoolers and their

was in high school. After ONE DAY of observing

Parents) model.

an occupational therapist, I know that’s what I

peers to children with autism. His classroom had

wanted to do. In fact, I applied to OT school as

four children with autism spectrum disorders and

three, I was blessed to get him into a pre-school

LEAP has a 2:1 ratio of typical

Winter 2014 ~ The SpecialMoms magazine   29