BEYOND BOUNDARIES: THERAPY - Key Persons
Amy has been working directly with children having disabilities for 15 years. Her training is in the area of pediatric occupational therapy has prepared her for interacting with children in a variety of settings including homes, childcare settings, schools and hospitals. Amy has worked on numerous research projects related to children with disabilities centered at the State University of New York at Buffalo. She continues to practice home and community based occupational therapy with young children as well as train individuals who are preparing for a career in pediatric occupational therapy. Amy specializes in the area of sensory processing disorders and is a certified interactive metronome provider. She has shared her experiences and observations with audiences across the nation on topics of play, sensory processing disorders and the development of children with disabilities. She has authored articles, book chapters, training curricula and other publications focusing on the play development of young children with disabilities.
Job Titles:
- Beyond Boundaries Staff Member
Job Titles:
- Beyond Boundaries Staff Member
Job Titles:
- Beyond Boundaries Staff Member
Job Titles:
- Beyond Boundaries Staff Member
Job Titles:
- Beyond Boundaries Staff Member
Job Titles:
- Early Intervention Evaluation Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Beyond Boundaries Staff Member
Elizabeth, an avid singer, earned her degree in Physical Therapy from the Presidential Honors Scholar Program at the State University of New York at Buffalo. In addition to her responsibilities as PT Supervisor at Beyond Boundaries, she is an adjunct faculty member teaching pediatrics in the Physical Therapy Department at Daemen College. She is also a Consultant for the Hunter's Hope Foundation and is pursuing her certification in The Symptoms Recovery Model through the Make Lemonade for Cerebral Palsy Foundation. Elizabeth, a life-long learner, is passionate about adaptive equipment and believes every person should have access to appropriate adaptive equipment without accruing massive debt. To that end, she is developing an equipment loan closet to recycle gently-used adaptive equipment. She has lectured extensively on transdisciplinary teaming and the equipment justification process and prides herself on writing strong justification letters. She has training in Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT), Myofascial Release (MFR), Craniosacral Therapy (CST), infant massage, pediatric orthotics and prosthetics, and torticollis management and has sub-specialized in treating the medically complicated child. Elizabeth believes in accessible playgrounds for all and inclusive service provision in the least restrictive environment. This former home-school mom has a total of six children, some of whom are grown-ups. She sings every day and is privileged to know the words to over 100 different toddler tunes!
Job Titles:
- Beyond Boundaries Staff Member
Job Titles:
- Beyond Boundaries Staff Member
Job Titles:
- Beyond Boundaries Staff Member
Job Titles:
- Clinical Assistant Professor and Clinical Supervisor
Gretchen Swartzenberg is a Clinical Assistant Professor and Clinical Supervisor in the Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Gretchen earned her Master of Arts degree from SUNY at Buffalo in Speech Language Pathology. She has worked with children with complex communication profiles in a variety of educational settings including Bornhava Preschool for developmentally disabled children and the Clarence Central School District, working in self-contained special education classrooms. She has consulted with several Western New York school districts to promote appropriate inclusion of children with special needs in regular education classrooms. As a Clinical Supervisor at UB she is responsible for training students to provide appropriate therapy and administer diagnostic testing to accurately diagnose children with complex communication profiles. Training occurs at the UB Speech Language and Hearing Clinic, local school districts and agencies. Gretchen also serves on the Graduate Admissions Committee in the Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses including Speech Pathology in the Schools and has previously taught a Seminar in Augmentative Communication. In the past she has served on the executive board of the Speech Language and Hearing Association of Western New York (SHAWNY). Currently, she is a board member for Autistic Services and a member of the Western New York Center for Autism Research. She has also shared her expertise with professionals in the community providing continuing education presentations approved the American Speech Language and Hearing Association (ASHA) at local agencies, school districts and organizations.
Job Titles:
- Beyond Boundaries Staff Member
Job Titles:
- Beyond Boundaries Staff Member
Job Titles:
- Beyond Boundaries Staff Member
Job Titles:
- Beyond Boundaries Staff Member
Job Titles:
- Beyond Boundaries Staff Member
Job Titles:
- Beyond Boundaries Staff Member
Job Titles:
- Beyond Boundaries Staff Member
Mary Frances has enjoyed partnering with families of children with special needs throughout Western New York for over twenty years, in home and community-based settings. Trained in play therapy, Mary Frances has collaboratively worked with children, families and educators in the areas of behavior management, grief, sensitivity, attachment, and self-regulation. Other community work includes training early childhood educators on a variety of behavioral interventions and childhood behavioral disorders; for example, the importance of early attachment, managing challenging behaviors, and understanding sensitivity in young children. A graduate of The UB School of Management Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership and mentor for the Allstate Minority and Women Emerging Entrepreneurs Program, Mary Fran values working side by side with service providers who share the agency's core values and a healthy work/life balance.
Job Titles:
- Beyond Boundaries Staff Member
Job Titles:
- Beyond Boundaries Staff Member
Job Titles:
- Beyond Boundaries Staff Member
Job Titles:
- Beyond Boundaries Staff Member
Job Titles:
- Clinical Fellow
- Coordinator