Grace, Owner, OTR/L
Grace has been an occupational therapist for 37 years, with the last 12years joyfully spent in pediatrics. She started out in hospitals working with adults in acute care, rehab, and outpatient settings, eventually becoming the go-to expert for hand and upper-extremity injuries. She loved teaming up with hand surgeons to help people get back to the everyday activities that made them feel like themselves again. She even stepped into a leadership role, managing the OT department at a large California hospital.
After taking a break to be a stay-at-home mom, Grace returned to the field and unexpectedly found herself in pediatrics, a world she hadn’t visited since her school internship. She dove in, relearning old skills, mastering new ones, and discovering a passion she didn’t know she had. Working with children on the spectrum and those with sensory processing challenges quickly became her calling. She soaked up every course she could find and poured her heart into helping her young clients thrive.
Most importantly, Grace became a true advocate, guiding parents, cheering on kids, and celebrating every win with the families she supports.
Grace's newest title of Grandma keeps her quite busy spoiling her beautiful granddaughter.
Maddie, MOT, OTR/L
Maddie is a licensed and registered Occupational Therapist dedicated to helping children build the skills they need to thrive in their daily lives. She received her degree from Nova Southeastern University in 2023. With a compassionate and play-based approach, Maddie focuses on promoting independence, confidence, and joy in every child she works with. Her expertise includes sensory integration, fine and gross motor development, emotional regulation, nervous system regulation, and primitive reflex integration.
Maddie believes that therapy should be fun, meaningful, and family-centered. She works closely with parents and caregivers to create individualized treatment plans that support children both in the clinic and at home. Whether helping a child master handwriting, improve attention, regulate their emotions, or develop daily routines, Maddie’s goal is to empower every child to reach their fullest potential.
When she is not at the clinic, she and her husband are introducing their baby girl to the love of the outdoors and new experiences in the community
Emily, MOT, OTR/L
Emily, OTR/L, CPRCS, is an occupational therapist and Certified Primitive Reflex Clinical Specialist who has spent the past 11 years helping children grow, heal, and shine. Known for her gentle, trauma-informed approach, she creates a calm, supportive space where kids feel safe, understood, and ready to take on new challenges.
As both a clinician and a mom of two daughters, Emily brings warmth, patience, and real-life insight to her work. She loves working with our patients at Forever Family Farm, weaving movement, play, and regulation strategies into sessions to help children build confidence and thrive in their daily routines.
When she’s not wearing her therapist hat, you’ll likely find Emily exploring the outdoors with her husband and two daughters or jamming on her bass guitar.
Steph, COTA/L
Steph, COTA/L, is a pediatric occupational therapy assistant who’s been cheering on little ones and their families since 2010. With a background in child development from LSU and OTA training from South University in Tampa, she brings both heart and skill to every session.
Stephanie’s superpower is connecting with kids, making them feel safe, seen, and excited to learn through play. She views behavior as communication and uses that insight to guide fun, thoughtful, and effective therapy focused on fine-motor skills, sensory processing, self-regulation, and daily routines.
She loves partnering with families, sharing practical tips and encouragement so progress doesn’t stop at the therapy room door. Her mission? Helping each child show up in their world with more confidence, joy, and independence.
In her free time, Steph can be found on a soccer field or in the theater with her two daughters or spending time on walks with her devoted husband.
Ken, COTA/L
Ken, COTA/L, is a passionate and dedicated Occupational Therapist specializing in pediatric care. With a strong focus on sensory integration, emotional regulation, and functional skill development, Ken helps children build confidence and independence in their daily activities. His therapeutic approach combines creativity, compassion, and evidence-based strategies to support each child’s unique strengths and needs. Ken earned his Occupational Therapy Assistant education from South University, where he built a strong foundation in evidence-based practice and client-centered care. As a bilingual practitioner with a strong connection to the Spanish-speaking community, Kenneth provides culturally responsive support and expands access to quality OT services for families who may otherwise face communication or cultural barriers.
Outside of his professional work, Ken devotes his time to his family and church community. He is actively involved in praise and worship, youth ministry, and supporting others in strengthening their spiritual relationship with God. His faith-centered service reflects the same compassion and dedication he brings to the children and families he serves.
Allie, Patient Care Coordinator
Allie is often the first friendly face our families meet, and she takes pride in making every child and caregiver feel welcomed, supported, and truly understood from the very first interaction. As Sensory Works’ Patient Care Coordinator, she manages scheduling, communication, and daily clinic operations with warmth, efficiency, and a deep commitment to our mission, allowing our therapists to focus fully on delivering exceptional care.
Allie brings not only professional skill but also meaningful personal experience to her role. With eight years of life experience as a foster care and adoptive sister, she developed a strong foundation in empathy, resilience, and the ability to meet families where they are. This background helps her connect with caregivers navigating complex situations and ensures that every family feels seen, valued, and cared for.
In her spare time, Allie enjoys reading, with a goal of 60 books a year. She also is an amazing big sister to her six siblings, many with high needs.
Nylah, Therapy Technician
Nylah brings a warm, helping spirit to everything she does. Homeschooled and raised on a therapeutic farm, she’s grown up surrounded by meaningful work, big hearts, and lots of animals. She has shown livestock through 4-H and is one of 16 siblings, an experience that has shaped her strong sense of responsibility, patience, and care for others.
As the Therapy Technician at Sensory Works, Nylah supports daily sessions with enthusiasm and reliability, always ready to lend a hand and make families feel comfortable and cared for.
With a natural desire to help people, Nylah is already looking ahead with purpose. After graduating high school, she plans to attend college and pursue a degree in nursing, continuing her lifelong passion for supporting and uplifting those around her.
Nylah enjoys shopping, attending youth group at her church and 4-H.
Brendale, Owner
Forever Family Farm
Brendale has dedicated her life to creating spaces where families can learn, heal, and grow. She and her husband of 35 years, David, spent 16 years as foster parents and are now proud parents of 16 children, three biological and thirteen adopted. These experiences fueled her passion for family-centered support and restorative care.
Brendale began her professional journey as a doula and then transitioned into the foster care system, supporting children and families. She has also spent the past 25 years homeschooling, nurturing the whole child through individualized learning.
Her work culminates at Forever Family Farm, a small therapeutic farm offering hands-on living and farm-skills education, horse-powered reading, and a growing range of therapeutic services, including music therapy, occupational therapy through Sensory Works, and mental health services with Dr. Ed Shoemaker. Brendale’s vision is to make the farm a refuge where families feel safe, supported, and connected, while hoping to provide enriching opportunities for homeschooling families in the future.
When time permits, Brendale practices self-care by baking sourdough goodies, attending church activities, and spending time with family near and far.