ABOUT OT
Our Pediatric Occupational Therapists strive to help children improve their fine-motor and sensory-motor skills for improved independence and participation across environments:
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY SERVICES PROVIDED
Through tailored interventions, JEWELS occupational therapists focus on improving a child's fine and gross motor skills, sensory processing abilities, coordination, and self-regulation skills. These interventions can address challenges related to activities of daily living, school performance, and social interactions. Occupational therapy empowers children to engage more effectively in tasks such as self-care, handwriting, and play, fostering independence and increasing self-esteem. Additionally, therapists work collaboratively with families and educators to create supportive environments that cater to the child's specific needs, ensuring sustained progress and improved quality of life across all environments.
Sensory-Motor Processing and Integration: the ability to self-regulate and effectively manage environmental changes
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Self-Care Skills: feeding, dressing, and grooming
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Hand Strengthening and Coordination Skills: required for activities such as cutting with scissors, coloring, and writing, buttoning, using feeding utensils, and more
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Upper Extremity and Core Strengthening: for coordination and movement
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Adaptive Equipment: recommendation, training, for use of equipment
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Neurodevelopmental Treatment: as per diagnosis
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Visual Motor and Handwriting Skills Feeding and Oral Motor Skills: eating and swallowing safely
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY TEAM
Sara Handler
OTR/L
Clinical Director
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Sara has been a pediatric occupational therapist since 2010, joining the JEWELS team in 2014. She earned her Bachelors in Psychology from Touro College and her Masters of Science in occupational Therapy from Towson University. Sara has always had a passion for working in pediatrics and has previously worked in public school settings, special education non-public settings, and in private therapy. Sara is passionate about continuing education and completed the USC Sensory Integration Continuing Education Certificate Program and holds a Safe and Sound Protocol certification. She has additional clinical training in the Handwriting Without Tears Program, Zones of Regulation, and Size Matters Handwriting Program. Sara has also presented on the topics of The Interoception Curriculum and Executive Functioning Skill Development to JEWELS therapists and teachers. Sara worked as an occupational therapist and served as the OT/PT supervisor in JEWELS for 4 years prior to becoming the Clinical Director. In her current role, Sara enjoys collaborating with therapists from all disciplines to create a whole child approach to care for JEWELS clients. Sara strives to foster a warm and professional atmosphere in JEWELS Pediatric Therapy Clinic and loves working with the JEWELS families to provide supportive interdisciplinary care for their children.
Sara Don
OTR/L
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Sarah has worked as an occupational therapist in JEWELS since 2014. Prior to working in JEWELS, Sarah has worked with individuals of all ages in inpatient, outpatient, and school-based settings. In addition to working in JEWELS, Sarah works in Talmudical Academy as a student behavioral and functioning support staff. Sarah has experience providing in-services and presentations to therapists and educators on various topics, including child development, fine motor skills, sensory integration, self-regulation, and interoception. Sarah is trained in Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT), Interoception, Handwriting Without Tears, and Zones of Regulation. She loves collaborating with teachers and running self-regulation groups in the classroom to help promote a child’s success at home and in school. In her free time, Sarah enjoys spending time with her family, sewing, and volunteering for local organizations.
Kim Eads
OTR/L
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Kim earned her Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy from Towson University. She has worked in various settings including assisted living, long-term care, outpatient pediatrics, and schools. Kim is passionate about supporting neurodiversity and promoting skill development through child-led interventions. She values a family-centered approach to help children become successful across all environments. She enjoys spending time outdoors with her dogs, trying new restaurants, and photography in her free time.
"Nechama" Rachelle N. Katz
OTR/L
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Nechama earned her Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Since graduating, she has worked with pediatrics in therapy clinics and special-education schools. Before joining JEWELS in 2021, she worked on multidisciplinary teams in a non-public special education school for children with complex developmental, behavioral, and medical needs. Nechama's background includes using the DIR/Floortime approach, and she is passionate about promoting development and skill acquisition through child-led interventions. She is currently studying the Masgutova Neurosensorimotor Reflex Integration (MNRI) methodology to expand her skillset and enhance her clients' developmental progress through the therapy process. Outside of work, Nechama enjoys spending time with her family and reading.
Rachela Schwartz
OTR/L
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Rachela graduated from the Touro University Occupational Therapy program and joined the JEWELS team in 2019. Originally from New York, Rachela feels fortunate to have exchanged the hustle and bustle for a more laid-back lifestyle in Baltimore. Rachela is passionate about providing comprehensive care to help children of all abilities succeed. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, baking sourdough, and spending time outdoors when the weather permits. Rachela takes pride in being a member of the incredible JEWELS team, where she can make a positive daily impact.
Rachel Sagal
OTR/L
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Rachel received her Masters in Occupational Therapy from Towson University in 2010. She has spent over ten years specializing in early intervention and feeding. Rachel has taken numerous courses to support her skills in these practice areas and is ‘Feed the Peds’ trained. Rachel loves partnering with families, which she believes is the bedrock of early intervention. Additionally, Rachel feels strongly about partnerships between therapists, teachers, and medical professionals for the greatest good of each child. Rachel is a certified Kids Yoga Instructor and is passionate about incorporating breathing, dramatic play, and emotional regulation strategies into her OT work. She is a certified Physical Education Teacher in the State of Maryland and serves as the PE teacher at JEWELS. Rachel loves helping children address all kinds of fine, visual motor, and self-care needs. She is currently focused on working at the intersection of feeding and self-regulation skills.
Yocheved Lesnik
OTR/L
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Yocheved earned her Bachelor's degree in psychology and a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy. She has worked in Pediatrics for more than 25 years, in many different settings and cities. Yocheved has advanced training and experience in the areas of early intervention (from birth through age three), treating the medically fragile, neurodevelopmental treatment, and in the area of sensory integration. Her passion is developing and enhancing a child's self esteem and intrinsic motivation as she works to improve their skills and abilities. Yocheved strives to combine and integrate different treatment models into the perfect "recipe" for each specific child. She works together with families to take therapy to the next level, so that the benefits of therapy can be magnified and become part of the child's everyday life.
Avigail Khaver
OTR/L
​Avigail earned her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy at Towson University in 2014. She has experience working with the adult and pediatric populations. Avigail joined Jewels Pediatric Therapy Clinic in 2018. She is passionate about supporting children’s sensory-motor and self-regulation skills
through child-led interventions and enhancing their independence in daily activities. Avigail received training in Handwriting Without Tears and has supported school aged children using this curriculum. She also implements the
Zones of Regulation Curriculum and Interoception Curriculum to enhance sensory processing skills and self-regulation skills.
Yael Kanner
OTR/L
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Yael was born and raised in Kew Gardens Hills, NY. She received her undergraduate degree in psychology from Queens College and her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy degree from New York University. Yael’s passion and area of specialty is in the field of pediatric occupational therapy and she has had the privilege of working with and assisting children for over 14 years. As one of the first employees of JEWELS School, Yael has been working at JEWELS as an occupational therapist for over 12 years. In addition to her clinical role in treating clients, Yael has presented the S’cool Moves curriculum for the JEWELS staff and therapists. Yael also provides group OT sessions focused on fine motor skill development in the two year old and three year old JEWELS school classrooms, which she greatly enjoys.
Emily Sellman
OTR/L
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Emily received her Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) from Tufts University. Her doctoral studies focused on the benefits of incorporating integrative health into occupational therapy practice. She has experience in a variety of settings and populations including geriatric psych, acute rehabilitation, schools, and adult and pediatric outpatient. In addition to her OTD, Emily is a 200-hour certified yoga instructor. Emily became attracted to the occupational therapy profession through her love of mind-body movement, building relationships and connections, and working in a dynamic environment. Emily strives to incorporate all these elements into her treatments at JEWELS. In her free time, Emily enjoys cooking up vegetables from her weekly farm share, spending time outdoors with her toes in the grass, and spending quality time with family and friends.
Eli Parry
OTR/L
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Eli joined the JEWELS team in 2020. She earned her Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy from Towson University. She has always had a passion for working with children and particularly enjoys working with preschool aged children to help them develop skills to promote improved participation in all areas of their lives. In her free time, she loves spending time with her family, spending time outdoors, and reading.
Ananda Clark
COTA/L
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Ananda earned her Associate of Applied Science degree from Community College of Baltimore County graduating from the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program and receiving certification from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy. She gained experience and a passion for providing support and resources for teachers and parents, working on skills necessary for successful participation in the educational environment. Since joining the team at JEWELS in November 2023, Ananda has developed a passion for sensory integration, self-regulation, and using a variety of strategies that can help regulate a child to engage inactivities with more purpose. She believes it is important to promote development with interventions that are intrinsically motivating to the child to encourage skill acquisition. In her spare time, she enjoys doing yoga with her son, spending time with friends, and going on fun excursions.