Child & Family Development, Inc.
Our Mission
Occupational Therapy
meet our staff
 
Occupational therapists analyze the child''s functional performance within different environments to identify the child''s strengths and limitations and to identify the variables to be targeted in intervention. The occupational therapist''s goals are to improve the child''s functional performance in the areas of self-care, play, and academics (work) and to enhance the child''s ability to interact within his or her physical and social environment.
 
Occupational Therapy Staff
Jenifer Anderson, MS, OTR/L, CIMI, received her M.S and B.S degrees in Occupational Therapy form Barry University in Miami Shores, FL and an A.A.S degree in Occupational Therapy Assistant from Briarwood College in CT. Prior to moving to North Carolina, she worked in South Florida in a private pediatric outpatient clinic that provided her extensive experience working with children with a variety of diagnosis''including: feeding disorders, failure to thrive, prematurity, Torticollis, ADHD, neuromotor disorders, Down Syndrome, and developmental delays. She has a passion for treating children with oral motor and feeding difficulties and premature infants. Jeni has focus expertise in oral-motor intervention, visual perceptual and visual motor skill development, Sensory Integration (SI), Therapeutic Listening, Neuro-Developmental Treatment (NDT) for Infants, and handwriting (First Strokes and Handwriting Without Tears). She is a Certified Infant Massage Instructor (CIMI) and is Interactive Metronome Certified.
Ellen Bruce, MSOT, OTR/L, received her B.S. degree in Therapeutic Recreation from UNC Chapel Hill. She then attended Milligan College, where she graduated with honors, receiving her Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy. After completing a pediatric affiliation at Duke University, Ellen began her career at Duke Children''s Hospital where she gained experience in a variety of settings including neonatal intensive care, pediatric acute care, and outpatient clinics and services. Within these varied settings, she has experience working with children with a wide spectrum of disorders/diseases including: developmental, congenital, and neuromotor disorders, Autism, Sensory Processing Disorder, failure to thrive, feeding difficulties, and Muscular Dystrophy (Duchenne, Beckers, SMA). She is trained in splinting and taping protocols, as well as Handwriting Without Tears, and has extensive continuing education in feeding development and Muscular Dystrophy. Ellen is committed to working closely with families to address their needs when developing and implementing their child's treatment program.
 
No photo available- Monica Gilbertsen, M.S., OTR/L, has 20+ years of clinical experience.  She graduated Cum Laude from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 1983, earning a B.A. in Biology with an emphasis on Comparative Anatomy and Physiology.  She earned a Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, graduating with honors in 1988.  In addition to her professional preparation, Monica has participated in extensive training in Neurodevelopmental Technique (NDT), Sensory Processing, Project Active, M.O.V.E., Handwriting Without Tears, Loops Hoops and Other Groups, and Therapeutic Listening.  She spent much of her career as Lead Occupational Therapist for two school districts in Central Washington state. While in that capacity, she also functioned as a clinical educator for the YVCC COTA program and as an assessment specialist with the Migrant Assessment Team for EPIC Head Start, Region 2.  She has been honored to work with children whose disabilities include autism, Asperger Syndrome, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Brachial Plexus Injury, Cerebral Palsy, Congenital Limb Agenesis, down Syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Effects, Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, Muscular Dystrophy, Prater Willi Syndrome, Sensory Processing Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Trisomy 8 and 13.  She has a penchant for treating the various occupational performance components that impact a child's success across his academic, social, and home settings.
 
 Megan J. Keller, COTA/L, graduated from Cabarrus College of Health Sciences in May 2006 and obtained an Associate Degree as an Occupational Therapy Assistant. She has worked in private clinics and public schools, specializing in Sensory Processing Disorder, Dyspraxia, fine motor skills, and handwriting, providing individual and group treatments. Her strong interest and experience is in treating children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Sensory Processing Disorder, as well as other nueromotor disorders.  She has also been trained in Therapeutic Listening and has extensive continuing education in Sensory Integration.  
 
No photo available- Lindsey Pritchard, OTR/L, received her Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina. She has worked in both private practice and school settings.  Her focus of experience in the areas of autism spectrum disorder, dyspraxia, fine motor skills, handwriting, oculomotor skills, Sensory Processing Disorder, kills, visual perceptual skills, as well as leading social skills groups. She has is SIPT Certification (Sensory Integration and Praxis Test), Interactive Metronome Certification, and is trained in Therapeutic Listening. Lindsey believes parent education and involvement in therapy is key to helping children become successful in all their environments.
 
No photo available- Tamia Steele, M.S., OTR/L, graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Health & Human Resources from the State University of New York at Buffalo and later earned a Master's degree in Occupational Therapy from the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center.  Prior to moving to Charlotte, she worked within the New York City school system gaining experience in assessing and treating children with ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, Cerebral Palsy, developmental delays, Down syndrome, and Sensory Processing Disorder.  She has also provided home based early intervention services to children, ages birth to three years old.   Tamia has advanced training in Craniosacral Therapy, feeding techniques, Handwriting Without Tears, Myofascial Release, Sensory Integration (SI), and Therapeutic Listening.   

Michelle Taylor, M.S., OTR/L, graduated with Highest Honors from University of Florida with an undergraduate degree in Psychology and an emphasis in Child Development. She received a Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy from Florida Gulf Coast University that included a pediatric affiliation with Child and Family Development. Michelle has more than 2 years of professional experience and her focus has been treating children with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, Brachial Plexus Injury, Cerebral Palsy, developmental delays, down Syndrome, Dyspraxia, Hypotonia, learning disabilities, Sensory Integration Dysfunction (DSI), and other diagnoses.  Michelle has special interests and training in Sensory Integration (SI), Therapeutic Listening,Neurodevelopmental  Techniques (NDT), upper extremity strengthening, fine motor skills and handwriting/ perceptual skills. She is the Lead OT in the aquatic therapy specialty service at this practice.  

Cheryl Wigley, M.S, OTR/L, received her Bachelor of Science degree in Rehabilitation Studies and her Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy from East Carolina University. Following graduation Cheryl worked in private pediatric practice specializing in Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) as well as pediatric home health. She has experience in treating children with a wide variety of diagnoses including: Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD), Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD and ADHD), developmental delays, Cerebral Palsy, Hydrocephaly, Dyspraxia, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Down Syndrome, Erb’s Palsy, Prader-Willi Syndrome, Torticollis, Spina Bifida and handwriting difficulties. She has special interests in handwriting difficulties, Sensory Processing Disorder, aquatic therapy, visual motor skills development and Therapeutic Listening. She is certified in the Interactive Metronome program.  Cheryl believes in a true family-centered parent-therapist interaction to achieve the greatest possible learning environment and therapeutic outcomes for each child.  
 

Marion Wilm, OTR/L, has 20+ years of experience in pediatric occupational therapy, and has been on staff since 1994. She graduated in 1984 from Western Michigan University with a B.S. degree in OT. Marion is a certified therapist in Neuro-Developmental Treatment (NDT) with extensive experience treating children with neuromotor disorders, including Cerebral Palsy. Marion also has extensive experience, training, and interest to treat children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Sensory Processing Dysfunction (SPD), Down syndrome, and learning disabilities. Additionally, she has extensive training in Sensory Integration (SI), SAMONAS, Therapeutic Listening, Perceptual/Visual-Motor Skill Development, Feeding, Splinting, and Handwriting Skills. Marion is committed to integrating the family’s needs into the treatment program. She is also involved in community activities to support children with disabilities.