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What is Occupational Therapy (OT)?

Montclair Speech Therapy now offers Occupational Therapy evaluations, consultations, and individual treatments sessions. We offer a specially designed Occupational Therapy Center located within our Caldwell Office and we are currently enrolling new patients into this unique program. Schedule today (973) 364-0804!

Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapy (OT) focuses on helping people of all ages with physical, sensory, or cognitive disabilities be as independent as possible in their activities of daily living. Occupational Therapy can help kids and adults improve their cognitive, sensory, gross motor and fine motor skills to enhance their self-esteem and sense of accomplishment.

OT Services

  • Bilateral Coordination

    Bilateral coordination is the ability to use both sides of the body at the same time in a controlled and organized manner. Coordinating both sides of the body is an indication that both sides of the brain are communicating and sharing information with each other.

  • Gross Motor Skills

    Gross motor skills are those which require whole body movement and which involve the large muscles of the body to perform everyday functions, such as standing and walking, running and jumping, and sitting upright at the table.

  • dysarthria

    Self Care Skills

    Activities of Daily Living or ADLs is a term used by occupational therapists to refer to the basic self-care tasks an individual does on a day-to-day basis. These activities are fundamental in caring for oneself and maintaining independence. Self-care includes activities that complete one’s daily routine such as dressing, self-feeding, grooming, and hygiene, as well as functional mobility at home and in the community.

  • Fine Motor Skills

    Fine motor skills involve the use of the smaller muscle of the hands, such as when doing up buttons, opening lunch boxes, or using pencils or scissors. Fine motor skill efficiency significantly influences the quality of the task outcome as well as the speed of task performance.

  • Sensory Processing

    Sensory Processing is the effective registration of sensory input in the environment. It is the way the brain receives, organizes, and responds to sensory input in order to behave in a meaningful & consistent manner.

  • Visual-Motor Skills

    Visual-Motor Skills enable an individual to process information around them. The ability to observe, recognize, and use visual information about forms, shapes, figures, and objects makes up our visual-motor abilities.

Meet our Therapists

Elizabeth Gifford

Elizabeth Gifford, OTR/L

Elisabeth Gifford is an occupational therapist licensed and registered in New Jersey and New York. She attended Seton Hall University’s dual degree occupational therapy program, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in social and behavioral sciences and a master’s degree in occupational therapy.

Throughout her clinical experiences, she worked in acute care hospitals, outpatient therapy clinics for children and adults, teletherapy, day programs, and public schools with elementary, middle, and high school students. She had the opportunity to develop and present multiple in-services on topics including the role of occupational therapy in social and emotional learning and the impact of sleep on occupational performance.

Elisabeth has treated children with many diagnoses, including autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, learning disabilities, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, cognitive impairments, developmental coordination disorder, and more. She also has prior non-clinical experience working with children in summer camps, adaptive dance programs, and after school tutoring and enrichment programs.

Elisabeth loves creating individualized, playful therapy sessions that are motivating for every child. She believes it is important to collaborate with the child, caregivers, and other team members to best achieve each child’s goals. In her free time, Elisabeth enjoys exercise and yoga, reading, community service, and watching movies.

Kelly Shimabukuro

Kelly Shimabukuro, OTR/L

Kelly Shimabukuro is a licensed and registered occupational therapist in New Jersey and New York. She is certified by the NJ and NY Department of Education as a school-based occupational therapist. She graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with an Education minor. She then attended Seton Hall University where she received her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy in 2021.

Kelly has had the opportunity to work with children of varying ages and diagnoses across all their environments – home, school, and community. She has worked in early intervention, an outpatient clinic, and as a school-based occupational therapist. Kelly is also fluent in Spanish. During her graduate studies, Kelly has also had the opportunity to work with the adult population in a cognitive rehabilitation program. Within the cognitive rehabilitation program, Kelly focused on closing the gap on language barriers affecting progress in therapy by providing the program with a library of translated activities/resources for Spanish speaking clients to ensure carry over of strategies/exercises.

She has a passion for making therapy fun while still achieving goals. She believes that in order to be successful in therapy, it is important to listen to the child’s wants/needs and incorporate them as much as possible when planning activities. A strong relationship with each child helps build confidence and increase their motivation to improve the skills needed to be more independent in their everyday routines.

Kimberly Abel

Kimberly Abel, OTR/L

Kim Ebel is a licensed and registered Occupational Therapist in New Jersey. She graduated from Seton Hall University’s dual degree occupational therapy program with a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy. She is certified as a school-based occupational therapist in New Jersey.

Kim has worked as a pediatric occupational therapist in Early Intervention and outpatient clinic settings. During her graduate studies, she had the opportunity to work in a school setting as well as a skilled nursing facility working with older adults. Kim has experience working with a variety of diagnoses, including ASD, CP, sensory processing disorder, developmental delays, anxiety, learning disabilities, and more.

Kim is passionate about creating an environment that emphasizes close collaboration between therapists and families in order to help each child reach their unique goals. She enjoys getting to know each child’s interests and incorporating them into sessions to help motivate the child and make sessions fun!

Mya Sicherer

Mya Sicherer, OTD, OTR

Maya Sicherer is a Licensed and Registered Occupational Therapist in the state of New Jersey. She graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science and a Psychology minor. She then attended Boston University where she received her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy.

Throughout her graduate studies, Maya has worked with populations of all ages in multiple environments including community based and outpatient settings. She has experience working with clients with a variety of diagnoses including CVA, cancer, attention deficits, autism, sensory processing disorders, cerebral palsy, dementia, Parkinson’s, arthritis, and disorders of the vestibular system. Non-clinically, Maya has been working within the disability community for the past 10 years.

As part of her doctoral capstone, Maya completed a research project aimed at describing sensory challenges and recommendations for LGBTQIA+ Autistic adults participating in occupations associated with gender and sexuality. Utilizing her research, Maya created a preliminary sexual education resource and is in the process of publishing her findings along with the research team she continues to work with.

Maya is committed to collaborating with caregivers/carepartners to create neurodiversity affirming, evidence-based, and client-centered treatment plans that are engaging and motivating!

Nikki Perez

Nikki Perez, MOTR/L Clinical Supervisor of OT

Nikki Perez is a Licensed and Registered Occupational Therapist in the state of New Jersey. She attended Quinnipiac University in Connecticut where she received her Bachelors of Science degree in 2007 and went on to achieve her Masters of Occupational Therapy.
Nikki has worked in pediatrics for 13 years, employed primarily in outpatient hospital and private practice where she has collaborated with disciplines such as speech-language pathologists, physical therapists, psychiatrists, psychologists, and behaviorists. She also has experience working in early intervention and in a school setting specifically designed for children with disabilities.

She has been trained in the Alert Program and certified in The Listening Program as well as a Fieldwork Educator collaborating with various universities. Nikki has attended continuing education courses to further her knowledge in relation to sensory-based modalities, Torticollis, physical agent modalities, and feeding difficulties. Nikki has experience with a variety of diagnoses and conditions including, but not limited to Autism, Traumatic Brain Injury, Down Syndrome, Developmental Coordination Disorder, Sensory Processing Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, prematurity, visual impairments, neurological impairments, mental health disorders, and feeding difficulties.

Nikki’s fun, compassionate, and loving approach with children earned her the recognition of New Jersey’s Favorite Kids’ Doc in 2017 and 2018.

Samantha Bross

Samantha Bross, COTA

Samantha “Sammie” Bross is a Licensed and Certified Occupational Therapist assistant in the state of New Jersey. She attended Rutgers University where she received her Bachelor’s of Science in Public Health in 2017 and Occupational Therapy Degree from Eastwick College in 2019.

Sammie has had several years of experience working with children in a variety of settings. Her knowledge spans from, neurological, physical and developmental delays including ADHD, Sensory Processing Differences, Cerebral Palsy, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, Global Developmental Delay, Developmental Coordination Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, Dyslexia/ Dysgraphia, and Orthopedic Rehabilitation. Sammie has also led group therapy sessions in Handwriting, Kindergarten Readiness, and social skills classes.

Her favorite part of being an OT is the opportunity to get to know a kiddos unique interests and strengths, and then use that insight to help them grow towards their full potential.

In her free time she enjoys reading, days at the beach, exercising and spending time with her little dog named Beatrice.

Samantha Krych

Samantha Krych, OTD, OTR/L

Samantha Krych is a Licensed and Registered Occupational Therapist in the state of New Jersey. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science at the University of Delaware in 2018 and a Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree from Kean University in 2021.

Throughout her graduate studies, Sam has worked with populations of all ages in a variety of settings including inpatient rehabilitation facilities, community based settings, and public schools. She has experience working with a variety of diagnoses including CVA, cardiovascular diseases, traumatic brain injury, attention deficits, autism, sensory processing disorder, and cerebral palsy.

As part of her doctoral capstone, Sam created custom programming for the prevention and management of cardiovascular diseases and delivered it in a low income housing building. She presented her findings at the New Jersey Occupational Therapy Association annual conference.

Sam emphasizes an evidence-based, client-centered approach to treatment and seeks to help every individual reach their personal goals!

Specialized Training

The Listening Program

Therapeutic Listening is a specific sound-based intervention that is embedded in a developmental and sensory integration perspective.

Alert Program

The Alert Program®, with its user-friendly approach, helps anyone articulate their inner experience of self-regulation (how alert they feel). The program emphasizes how to change alert levels throughout the day, making it easy to get out of bed, work, play, learn, relax, socialize, and go to bed.

PAMs

Physical Agent Modalities

One class of treatments are called Physical Agent Modalities (PAMs). The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) describes PAMs as equipment including superficial and thermal agents, electrotherapeutic agents, and mechanical devices.