ABOUT OUR THERAPISTS

Stacie Berck

Stacie has been a licensed and registered occupational therapist since May of 2004.  She is a graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and a Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy.  She has 4 ½ years of pediatric experience in the public schools, pediatric home health, inpatient pediatrics, and in the neonatal intensive care unit.  Her pediatric career has been primarily focused on developmental intervention and infant feeding and swallowing.  Stacie has also attended the Handwriting Without Tears workshop.
  

Since graduate work concluded, Brittney has served full time as a Speech-Language Pathologist in the Memphis City School District providing a variety of services to children from Headstart through High School. Brittney enjoys providing therapy to children with varying disorders and personalities. Special interest areas include articulation, phonological, and stuttering disorders as well as aural rehabilitation and reading-based disorders. Brittney is dedicated to helping children along with their families work together in order to meet communication goals and reach their highest levels of potential.

Mandy Brown

Mandy has been working with children as a licensed and registered occupational therapist for over 11 years. She graduated from UAB with a Bachelor of Science degree in occupational therapy in December 1998. She completed clinical rotations at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo and at University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson focusing on adult and pediatric rehabilitation. Prior to joining the Child’sPlay staff, Mandy focused her OT career in pediatric services to include inpatient and outpatient services, early intervention, and school-based services at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center in Meridian, MS. In addition, Mandy has taken many continuing education courses regarding various fine motor disorders, feeding disorders, sensory disorders, and wheelchair seating and positioning. She also has specific training in the evaluation and treatment of children using the Handwriting Without Tears program. Currently, she is employed full-time by a local school system. Mandy provides after school occupational therapy services at Child’sPlay.

Pam Bruner

Pam has been working with children as a licensed and registered occupational therapist for 12 years. She graduated from UAB with a Master of Science degree after completing a clinical rotation at UAB Civitan Sparks Clinics and The Bell Center for Early Intervention Programs. Prior to joining the Child’sPlay staff, Pam primarily worked in early intervention services. Pam has taken many courses to learn more about various fine motor disorders, feeding disorders and sensory disorders. She enjoys working with children of all ages and provides services through Child’sPlay for a local public school system.

Jackie Brunson

Jackie is a licensed and registered occupational therapist. She completed her clinical rotations at Children’s Hospital of Birmingham and with the state Early Intervention services. In addition to working part time at Child’sPlay, Jackie is an occupational therapist for the ACQUIREc Program at UAB and provides constraint induced therapy for children with neuromotor disorders.

Jackie graduated Summa Cum Laude for her Master and Bachelor degrees. She earned her Masters of Science degree from UAB in occupational therapy in 2008. Her Bachelors of Science degree was earned from Mississippi State University in 2005, majoring in Human Development and Family Studies, with an emphasis in Child Life. Before working as an occupational therapist, Jackie worked at Children’s Hospital in Birmingham as a child life assistant.

Donna Dahl

Donna Dahl provides after school tutoring services at Child'sPlay. Donna is a teacher with the Vestavia City Schools. Since 1989, she has worked with special needs children at Vestavia Elementary West and currently teaches reading, language, and math to students who are learning English. She loves to hike and camp and travel with her family. She volunteers with Fresh Air Family whose motto "No child left inside." is dear to her heart.

Kapi Dismukes Farrell, OTR/L

Kapi holds a Masters degree in Occupational Therapy from UAB and a Bachelors degree in Exercise Science from Auburn University. Her experience includes four years in OT, a year with the Sparks Clinics, and three years with the Shelby County Board of Education. Pediatrics is Kapi’s main area of expertise, and she holds a certification in Low Vision.

Kapi is an occupational therapist for a local public school system.  She provides after school occupational therapy services at Child’sPlay.

Fran Frost

Fran Frost has been a licensed and registered occupational therapist since 1994 when she graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She worked for twelve years at Children’s Hospital in Birmingham, AL where she specialized in neonatal and early childhood developmental and feeding disorders while experiencing many other areas of acute care including head injury, spinal cord injury, general rehabilitation, outpatient feeding disorders, and psychiatry.

More recently, Fran functioned as a contract therapist for the Madison City School System in Madison, AL before moving back to the Birmingham area. She serviced preschool and elementary aged children focusing primarily on fine motor, sensory, and handwriting skills.

Fran has completed certification courses for the administration of the Neonatal Oral Motor Assessment Scale and for Vital Stimulation Therapy. She has worked in conjunction with University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Occupational Therapy Program providing guest lectures on various pediatric topics. She is also trained in the Handwriting Without Tears method and has attended several continuing education courses on sensory processing disorders.  She has been trained in the Therapressure Technique for sensory defensiveness.

Tammy Glover is a certified and licensed speech-language pathologist with over 15 years of experience working with children and adults.  She received her bachelors of science degree at Auburn University and her master's degree at the University of Alabama.  She worked at Healthsouth Lakeshore Rehabilitation Hospital for 10 years, specializing in traumatic brain injury rehabilitation.  She provided clinical supervision of speech-language pathology students at the University of Montevallo for two years and became interested in the education side of her profession.  Tammy then provided speech-language pathology services in an elementary school working with children with a wide variety of abilities.  She is dedicated to improving communication abilities at all ages.

Lynsey Hatch

Lynsey Hatch is a certified and licensed speech-language pathologist. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Auburn University where she received her Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders with a concentration in Rehabilitation and Special Education. She received her Master of Arts from The University of Memphis School of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology.

Lynsey enjoys working with children of all ages who have a variety of developmental disabilities. Her special interests include early language development, language-based reading disorders, phonological disorders, and pragmatic language disorders. Lynsey enjoys working together with children and their families to improve all aspects of communication.

Marsi Hays is a certified and licensed speech-language pathologist. She received her Bachelor of Science in Communicative Disorders from The University of Alabama where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. She was awarded a graduate stipend from The University of Alabama where received her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology. Marsi has over 17 years of experience in the field of speech language pathology. She has worked in public school and private practice settings providing a variety of services to children and adults. Marsi has completed specialized training in the areas of Childhood Apraxia of Speech and tongue thrust. Marsi feels that effective communication skills are critical to success in all areas of life and she is dedicated to providing therapy services with that goal in mind.

Karen is a Music Therapist and active member of the American Music Therapy Association. She received her degree in Music Therapy from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Karen has had a variety clinical experiences providing music therapy. In 2010, Karen completed a six month internship with United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Birmingham’s Early Learning Program, Hand in Hand. There she provided group and individual music therapy for children ages six weeks to five years. Karen worked at the Rise Center in Tuscaloosa Alabama where she provided group music therapy for children ages six weeks to five years. She has also had experience providing music therapy services for school aged children with disabilities, at risk youth, hospice, adults with memory disorders, and adults with multiple disabilities. Karen enjoys providing music therapy for children of all ages and abilities. She is committed to creating individualized treatment plans that help her clients achieve nonmusical goals.

Karen is a Music Therapist and active member of the American Music Therapy Association. She received her degree in Music Therapy from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Karen has had a variety clinical experiences providing music therapy. In 2010, Karen completed a six month internship with United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Birmingham’s Early Learning Program, Hand in Hand. There she provided group and individual music therapy for children ages six weeks to five years. Karen worked at the Rise Center in Tuscaloosa Alabama where she provided group music therapy for children ages six weeks to five years. She has also had experience providing music therapy services for school aged children with disabilities, at risk youth, hospice, adults with memory disorders, and adults with multiple disabilities. Karen enjoys providing music therapy for children of all ages and abilities. She is committed to creating individualized treatment plans that help

Laura Lee, PT has been a licensed physical therapist since 2003. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Mississippi in Biological Sciences and a Masters of Physical Therapy from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Laura has worked in numerous settings including adult and pediatric acute care and inpatient rehabilitation, pediatric outpatient rehabilitation, and recently school system therapy. She has been employed in pediatric settings since 2005, treating children with both neurologic and musculoskeletal disorders. Laura has published research investigating the effects of strength training on children living with cystic fibrosis, and specializes in developmental, pulmonary, and adolescent therapy.

Amy Moore, M.Ed., CCC-SLP

Amy Moore has been a licensed speech-language pathologist since 1998. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Auburn University in Communication Disorders, followed by a Master’s Degree in Education specializing in speech pathology from Alabama A & M University.

Amy has worked with both children and adults in a variety of settings. These include long term care facilities, home health, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation clinics, preschool and elementary school settings, and early intervention. Amy enjoys working with children, and specializes in early intervention, language, and oral motor/feeding disorders. Amy provides services to Child'sPlay as an independent contractor.

Tracy Owens

Tracy Owens is a certified and licensed Speech-Language Pathologist.  She received her undergraduate degree from Mercer University and a Master's of Education from Florida Atlantic University.  After spending four years as a classroom teacher, Tracy attended Baylor University where she received a Master's of Science in Communication Disorders.  She has over 10 years of experience treating speech and language disorders in hospitals, early childhood intervention, long term care, and the public school system.  Tracy's special interests include language development and disorders, disorders of feeding and swallowing, and pragmatic disorders.

Amanda Phillips

Amanda has been a licensed physical therapist since January of 2006.  She received her Bachelor of Arts from Mercer University in Psychology and her Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.  She has nearly 5 years of pediatric experience ranging from inpatient pediatrics, the neonatal intensive care unit, weight management and obesity, pulmonary impairments, and general developmental delay or weakness.   Special interests include infants and children with neuromotor disorders. Amanda enjoys working with children and families to overcome developmental delays in order to maximize quality of life, and to achieve the highest level of function possible.

Janet Simon

Janet is a licensed and registered occupational therapist. She completed her internship at T.K. Martin Center, a center that specializes in assistive technology and early intervention services, and the Mountain Brook School System. She graduated with a Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy and Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Alabama in Birmingham. She earned the Elizabeth Ann Davis Occupational Therapy Scholarship Award and the Cecile Clardy Satterfield Award for Humanism in Health Care.

Janet enjoys working with children of all ages and helping them reach their full potential and independence in their home and school environments. Her areas of interest include Autism Spectrum Disorder, Sensory Integration disorders, and genetic disorders. She has specialized training in the Handwriting Without Tears program, as well as the Therapressure Technique for sensory defensiveness. Janet, her husband Eric, and daughter Victoria live in Hoover. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading mystery books, and running races for charitable causes in the community.

Claire Stewart, M.C.D., CCC-SLP

Claire Stewart is a certified and licensed speech language pathologist. She has seven years of experience providing diagnosis and treatment of communication disorders in the preschool and elementary school-aged population. Her areas of specialty include articulation, fluency, language delays, and phonological disorders.

Claire graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Montevallo with a Bachelor's Degree in Communication Science and Disorders and a minor in Deaf Studies. She also received her Master's of Science in Speech Language Pathology from the University of Montevallo.

Susan Sturdivant

Brooke White

Brooke graduated from UAB in December of 1991 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Therapy. She is an Alabama native but has been living in Tennessee for the last 12 years. Brooke began the first half of her career working with adults and the later half in pediatrics.

Brooke’s pediatric experience includes Williamson County public schools and High Hopes Inclusive Preschool/ Outpatient Clinic located in Tennessee. She has worked with both Early Intervention and school aged children including autism, down syndrome, sensory processing disorder, CP and various genetic syndromes. Brooke has completed courses in sensory processing and behavior management; Tools for Tots; autism/asperger’s syndrome and interventions; vestibular and visual processing and Kid Talk. Brooke has been trained in the Handwriting Without Tears method and the Therapressure Technique for sensory defensiveness.  She is certified for the Therapeutic Listening program.