Mim Ochsenbein, MSW, OTR/L (She/Her)
Director of Education
STAR Institute
Mim Ochsenbein, MSW, OTR/L has been a practicing pediatric occupational therapist for over 20 years. She received her BSc in Occupational Therapy from the University of Southern California in 1996 and her MSW from the University of California-Los Angeles in 2012 with an emphasis in non-profit management. She has received advanced training in sensory integration (SIPT certification, SPD ProCert1, SPD ProCert2), listening therapy (Therapeutic Listening, iLs), feeding therapy (SOS), DIR, and infant massage (CIMI). Her work in occupational therapy with children and youth has occurred in a variety of settings including early intervention, school based, clinic based, mental health, and private practice. As a social worker, she provided case management, program development, and program management. Mim has taught both graduate level and professional continuing education courses since 2013 and has been at the STAR Institute since 2017 at the invitation of Dr. Lucy Jane Miller, PhD, FAOTA, OTR. Mim strives to learn more and teach better.
Shelly Lane, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Professor and Academic Program Director
Colorado State University
Shelly Lane is Professor and Academic Program Director at Colorado State University and Professor of Occupational Therapy at University of Newcastle, Australia. With degrees in both occupational therapy and neuroscience, she has focused her research on neuroscience applications in occupational therapy, and neurophysiologic underpinnings of sensory integration and processing in children. Her current research addresses playfulness and interaction in father-child pairs; effectiveness of the Alert Program® for self-regulation in children with autism; effect of participation in Camp Jabiru on self-regulation, playfulness, and sensory integration/processing, and understanding the physiologic correlates of sensory modulation disorders and occupational therapy interventions. Her clinical work includes that with children who have experienced early childhood trauma, and children with sensory concerns linked to ADHD and ASD.
Stacey Reynolds, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Associate Professor
Virginia Commonwealth University
Dr. Reynolds has been an occupational therapist for 21 years. After earning a PhD in Health Sciences at Virginia Commonwealth University, she completed post-doctoral training in behavioral neuroscience at the University of Florida. Dr. Reynolds is currently at tenured associate professor at VCU, and director of post-professional programs in the occupational therapy department. Her research has focused on how children with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism, respond to sensory stimuli in their environment; and how these responses impact functional performance and behavior. Dr. Reynolds is the director of the endowed Sensory Processing and Stress Evaluation (SPASE) lab and has published over 30 peer-review publications in the area of sensory processing and pediatric research. She currently serves as the editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Occupational Therapy (AJOT).
Hallie Bramblett
Student Speaker
A junior in high school, Hallie Bramblett enjoys reading, music, theater, art, being outside and spending time with friends. She tested into a gifted program in elementary school and was diagnosed with attention deficit issues in middle school. Her insight into her journey took a giant leap forward after traveling to the Star Institute for a comprehensive, extended occupational therapy evaluation in 2019. Since then, she has found a passion for discussing neurodivergency with others — both students and their parents — back home in Tennessee. Hallie looks forward to learning and sharing during this summit.
Cooper Ochsenbein
Student Speaker
Cooper Ochsenbein is an avid soccer player and Spurs fan, a wildlife enthusiast, and a high school student in Colorado. He was diagnosed with ADHD-combined type, ODD, and generalized anxiety disorder when he was 6 years old, and as highly gifted when he was 10 years old, qualifying him as 2e -twice exceptional. Cooper's journey as a neuro-divergent individual has included various kinds of therapies, medications, and a lot of self-reflection. Cooper hopes that some of his experiences may be found as helpful to others.
Aviva Yochman, PhD, OT
Head of Pediatric Studies
Hebrew University
Aviva Yochman, OT, PhD, is a Lecturer and the Head of Pediatric Studies at the School of Occupational Therapy, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel. Her primary area of research has focused on sensory modulation disorder among children and adults, as well as investigating self-regulation as a multidimensional construct (sensory, cognitive, and emotional) among individuals from typical and diagnostic populations, and the impact of these processes on daily life functioning and quality of life. Furthermore, she is currently involved in developing theoretically driven OT intervention protocols for children with self-regulation challenges, resulting from health conditions such as PTSD and complex trauma. Her clinical work at multidisciplinary child developmental centers included treating children with a range of neurodevelopmental disorders, and promoting knowledge translation in occupational therapy.
Carol Kranowitz, MA
Author
The Out-of-Sync Child
As a preschool teacher for 25 years, Carol Stock Kranowitz observed many children with sensory processing differences (SPD), ADHD, and mild autism. To help them become more competent in their work and play, she studied sensory processing and sensory integration theory. She learned to help identify her young students’ needs and to steer them into early intervention. Today, she speaks internationally about SPD's effect on children’s learning and behavior and how families, teachers, therapists and other professionals can support children as they grow.
Since its publication in 1998, The Out-of-Sync Child (first in her “Sync” series) has become one of the most popular books about sensory processing and related issues. It has been translated into 15 languages, including Spanish and Chinese, and has sold one million copies. With Joye Newman, a perceptual-motor therapist, Carol has developed the "In-Sync Child Program” for parents and early childhood educators. The program includes books, cards, and webinars about fun and functional movement activities to develop children’s sensory, perceptual-motor, and visual skills.
A graduate of Barnard College of Columbia University, Carol has a master’s degree in education and human development from The George Washington University. She is an advisory board member of the STAR Institute in Colorado. She lives in Maryland, plays the cello, and dotes on five sensational grandchildren.
Peter Shankman
Author and Entrepreneur
The New York Times has called Peter Shankman "a rockstar who knows everything about social media and then some." He is a 5x best selling author, entrepreneur and corporate keynote speaker, focusing on customer service and the new and emerging customer and neurotatypical economy. With three startup launches and exits under his belt, (most notably Help a Reporter Out) Peter is recognized worldwide for radically new ways of thinking about the customer experience, social media, PR, marketing, advertising, and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and the new Neurodiverse and Remote economies.
In addition to his passion for helping people and companies find success, some of Peter's highlights also include:
• Founder of HARO - Help A Reporter Out, which became the standard for thousands of journalists looking for sources prior to being acquired three years after launch
• The ShankMinds Breakthrough Network, an elite, online mastermind of thought leaders, business experts, and change makers
• Faster than Normal - The Internet's #1 podcast on ADHD, focusing on the superpowers and gifts of having a "faster than normal brain,” which has helped thousands of people all around the world realize that having a neurodiverse brain is actually a gift, not a curse.
Peter is a worldwide influencer and/or spokesperson for several global brands including Sylvania Lighting, National Car Rental, Manscaped.com, Thule, and many others. Finally, Peter is a father, a 2x Ironman triathlete, a class B licensed skydiver, and has a pretty serious Peloton addiction. When he’s not traveling around the world speaking to companies big and small, he's based in NYC with his seven year old daughter and 20-year-old cat, both of whom consistently refuse him access to the couch.
Jonathan Mooney
Speaker; Entrepreneur; Activist
Jonathan Mooney’s work has been featured in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Chicago Tribune, USA Today, HBO, NPR, ABC News, New York Magazine, The Washington Post, and The Boston Globe. A nationally recognized advocate for neurological and physical diversity, he’s been speaking across the nation about neurological and physical diversity for two decades, inspiring those who live with differences and calling for change. He has published three books: The Short Bus, Learning Outside the Lines, and Normal Sucks.
Michele Parkins, MS, OTR
Occupational Therapist
Michele Parkins is an Occupational Therapist specializing in working with children and families with Sensory Processing and Integration Disorder and challenges in social emotional development as the Founder and Director of Great Kids Place in New Jersey. Michele is faculty of STAR Institute, teaching Levels 1 and 2 Intensive Mentorships and Levels 1 and 2 SPD Certification. She is SIPT (Sensory Integration and Praxis Test) certified. Michele has co-authored two chapters and is contributing to research articles related to sensory processing and social emotional development.
Michele has Advanced Certification in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health. She is DIR certified and is faculty of Profectum Foundation where she educates therapists all over the world on social-emotional development and the DIR model. She works closely with the New Jersey Association of Infant Mental Health providing training for early childhood workers on the impact of sensory processing differences on emotional regulation and relational health with caregivers and peers.
Michele’s passion lies in the use of play and affective interactions to facilitate social emotional development alongside sensory motor capacities. She has developed a play model reflecting this passion that is used in her practice – Great Kids Place. She advocates for all children and families impacted by Sensory Processing and Integration Disorder to help them and others to understand the impact of differences in sensory processing on social emotional development and well-being, including challenges in emotional regulation, developing and maintaining relationships and social skills. Michele is also a mother of two children with sensory processing differences. She uses her real life experiences to help her clients better understand the impact of SPD on family dynamics and relationships and the day to day demands of life with sensory processing differences.
Lisa Johnson, OTD, OTR/L
Assistant Professor
University of Findlay
Dr. Lisa Johnson is an Assistant Professor in the Occupational Therapy Program at the University of Findlay. She has practiced occupational therapy for 30 years working and supervising pediatric services in hospital, outpatient, home care and school settings. She has earned certification in the administration of the Sensory Integration Praxis Test and has completed the 8-week pediatric NDT course that has lead to the use of a strong sensory motor lens through application of the OT Process. Research interests include using a coaching approach for caregivers and clients who struggle with participation in everyday activity.
Tara Griffiths, Dr.O.T.
Associate Professor
University of Findlay
Dr. Tara Griffiths is Associate Professor and Associate Chair of the Occupational Therapy program at the University of Findlay. She has 20 years of teaching experience and her general practice area is older adults and her research interests include accommodation use with graduate students, health and wellness of graduate students, justice-based occupational therapy, and community programming with underserved populations.
Mary Beth Dillon, OTD
Full Professor
University of Findlay
Dr. Mary Beth Dillon is a Full Professor and Chair of the Occupational Therapy program at The University of Findlay. She has 24 years of teaching experience and her practice area is mental health. Research interests include accommodation use with graduate students, justice-based occupational therapy, and community programming with underserved populations.
Heather Coalt, OTD
Assistant Professor
University of Findlay
Dr. Heather Coalt is Assistant Professor of Teaching and Academic Fieldwork Coordinator of the Occupational Therapy program at The University of Findlay. She has 10 years of teaching and fieldwork experience and her general practice area is in acute care and inpatient rehabilitation. Research interests include accommodations use with graduate students, community programming with underserved populations, and fieldwork.
Andrea Sensel, OTD
Assistant Professor
University of Findlay
Dr. Andrea Sensel is an Assistant Professor and Doctoral Capstone Coordinator of the Occupational Therapy program at the University of Findlay. She has two years of teaching experience and 13 years of practice experience in skilled nursing and home health care settings. Research interests include accommodations use with graduate students, graduate student mental health wellness programming, older adult fall prevention & aging in place.
Lori Prusnek, OTD
Assistant Professor
University of Findlay
Dr. Lori Prusnek is an Assistant Professor in the Occupational Therapy program at the University of Findlay. During her 20 years within the occupational therapy profession, she has experience throughout the lifespan in the clinical settings of acute care, outpatient, pediatrics, home health, inpatient mental health, schools, and skilled nursing facilities. Research interests include mental health, well-being, and community programming.