My areas of special interest include strengths-based, neurodiversity affirming therapeutic practices for children and adults. My experience is primarily in school-based occupational therapy for individuals with developmental or psychiatric disabilities. I have significant experience co-teaching independent functional writing to build emergent literacy skills using adaptive writing tools in extensive supports needs (mod-severe settings). Teaching neurodivergent kids that their ideas matter, irrespective of penmanship or spelling, is a personal passion of mine. Also, collaborating with parents/teachers/specialists and other support staff to build relationships with kids, promoting co-regulation over compliance to promote mental health and self-efficacy across the lifespan is a key motivator for me in the pediatric setting. I have significant experience using the OT lens to develop free or affordable community-based recreation programming to improve health outcomes for lower SES groups of all ages. During my graduate studies at USC, I cultivated these interests by volunteering in free/ low-cost adaptive PE programs at El Camino College, Kicks for Kids, a free adaptive soccer program at USC. While at USC, I also took specialized courses in school-based occupational therapy and completed an internship in the Disability Services office at El Camino College. In preparation for applying to OT programs, I also volunteered at Santa Monica College Post-Stroke Pathfinders program, and Free 2 Be Me Dance, an adaptive dance program for dancers with Down Syndrome. I have practiced Zumba for nine years and became a certified Zumba instructor in preparation for co-leading Movin’ & Groovin,’ a free all-abilities dance class for older adults and young adults with developmental disabilities at the Miriam Matthews Hyde Park Branch as part of the Los Angeles Public Library Health Matters program. I came to OT as a second career, following a decade of work as a visual artist and interlibrary loans specialist at The UCLA Library.