Virginia Spielmann (she/her), PhD, OTR/L 
Executive Director
STAR Institute
Host

Virginia is a well-travelled speaker, coach and educator on topics including sensory integration, DIR/Floortime, child development and infant mental health. She has conducted trainings in Kenya, Australia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and the USA and leads workshops at international conferences.

Virginia is a founder and former Clinical Director of SPOT (Speech, Physical, and Occupational Therapy) Interdisciplinary Children's Therapy Center in Hong Kong, where she led a large and widely respected inter-disciplinary team.

Virginia obtained her BSc in Occupational Therapy in Oxford England (2002) and her Masters in Occupational Therapy from Mount Mary University, Milwaukee (2018). She is a DIR/Floortime Training Leader and Expert and clinical consultant for the Interdisciplinary Council for Development and Learning (ICDL). Her extensive pediatric experience includes children on the autism spectrum, as well as those with Sensory Processing Disorder, infant mental health issues, adoption, developmental trauma.

Virginia has considerable post-graduate training, she is certified on the SIPT and is currently completing her Ph.D. in Infant and Early Childhood Development with an emphasis on mental health, with Fielding Graduate University, in Santa Barbara. She is a published author and contributed to the STAR Frame of Reference as part of the 4th Edition of Frames of Reference for Pediatric Occupational Therapy, alongside Dr. Miller and Dr. Schoen.

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Carrie Alvarado, PhD, OTR 
Chief Operating Officer
Autism Community Network

Dr. Carrie Alvarado serves as the Chief Operating Officer for Autism Community Network (ACN), which is a non-profit in San Antonio Texas that provides autism diagnostic and peri-diagnostic support for families of children 0-6 years of age. Carrie has a PhD in Infant and Early Childhood Development with an emphasis on Infant Mental Health and Developmental Disorders. Dr. Alvarado was the first in the United States to become a Pediatric Autism Communication Therapy (PACT) Accredited Practitioner. She serves as an Associate with PACT UK. Carrie is a DIR®Floortime™ Certified Expert Clinician, and she serves as an Assistant Faculty for the Profectum™ Foundation. 

Dr. Alvarado also serves as the lead for the Clinical Advisory Committee for STAR Institute in Colorado. Dr. Alvarado is passionate about building bridges where none yet exist, about innovating and expanding the boundaries of our knowledge, and about meeting families and fellow clinicians where they are and empowering them to find the gifts they all have to give.

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Amy Laurent (she/her) PhD, OTR/L 
Developmental Psychologist, Occupational Therapist, Co-Director
Autism Level UP!

Dr. Amy Laurent is a developmental psychologist and a registered pediatric occupational therapist. She is a co-author of the SCERTS model, a comprehensive, evidence-based model for supporting autistic individuals across the lifespan. She frequently lectures and provides training throughout the United States and internationally on topics related to neurodiversity and helping others to understand and honor the implications of "different ways of being" in relation to navigating the physical and social world. Her research interests include emotional / energy regulation and active engagement in natural contexts. Dr. Laurent strives to practice what she preaches and uses her love of play and movement to meet her own regulatory needs.

Jacquelyn Fede (she/her), PhD 
Psychologist, Autistic Self-Advocate
Autism Level UP!

Jacquelyn Fede, PhD is a super fun, Autistic Self-Advocate, developmental psychologist and program evaluator.  Her research interests include immigration policy, autism, and community engagement.  She uses her experience to help educate others about autism through lecturing, blogging and consulting on evaluation projects.  A full scholarship Division 1 athlete in college, Dr. Fede continues to meet her sensory needs by seeking extreme physical activity.  She also enjoys the use of creativity and art for expression.  

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Alexa Herrera (she/her), OTD, OTR/L 
Occupational Therapist
STAR Institute

Alexa graduated from Colorado State University with a Bachelor of Science in Health and Exercise Science. She then went on to complete her Doctorate of Occupational Therapy at Belmont University. Alexa’s doctoral capstone was on the role of occupational therapy in postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and sensory modulation in POTS. She has spoken on POTS at the AOTA Inspire Conference and Dysautonomia International Annual Conferences. 

Alexa has experience practicing in outpatient, early intervention, and home health settings. Alexa is passionate about providing neurodiversity-affirming care. She also has experience with adapting augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices to facilitate access and navigation. Alexa has completed the STAR Institute Intensive Mentorship Program Level 1.

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Hannah Robertson (she/her), OTD, OTR/L 
Occupational Therapist
STAR Institute

Hannah graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Arts in Health and Human Physiology, with a minor in psychology. She then went on to complete her Doctorate of Occupational Therapy at St. Ambrose University. During her time at St. Ambrose University, she worked closely under a faculty mentor to support efforts towards establishing test-retest reliability and collecting normative data for the Evaluation in Ayres Sensory Integration (EASI) standardized assessment. Hannah's doctoral capstone project was on the role of occupational therapy in neurodiversity affirming feeding therapy. 

Hannah has clinical experience in sensory integration, outpatient and school-based pediatrics, and acute care. Her special interests include continuing research to support evidence-based practice and providing neurodiversity-affirming care to clients and their support systems. She is passionate about celebrating clients as they discover their most authentic versions of themselves. Hannah has completed STAR’s Level I Intensive Mentorship program and Proficiency Level I, as well as DIR Floortime 201 and SOS Approach to Feeding trainings, further deepening her knowledge in relationship-based, sensory-informed care.

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Allison Cost (she/her), OTR/L 
Occupational Therapist
Wild Fig Occupational Therapy

Allison Cost is a pediatric occupational therapist and the founder of Wild Fig Occupational Therapy. Her work is rooted in neuroscience-informed care, blending sensory processing, movement, and relationship-based approaches to help children build regulation, resilience, and confidence in everyday life.

Alli earned her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Columbia University and bachelor’s degrees in psychology and sociology from Texas Tech University. Her career has encompassed early intervention, integrative medicine, and leadership roles in health and movement education, giving her a holistic perspective on development across the lifespan. Driven by a passion for health equity, Alli has served in Americorps and twice in the Peace Corps, shaping her culturally informed, creative approach to care.

Alli’s spends her time between New York City and Tucson, getting the best of both worlds. She treats, teaches, consults, and enthusiastically pursues continuing education. Outside of work, she loves to run slowly, write creatively, and plan her next adventure

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Kathy Platzman (she/her), PhD 
Psychologist
Floortime Atlanta 

Kathy is a Licensed Psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia. Her private practice, Floortime Atlanta [www.floortimeatlanta.com], is transdisciplinary and focuses on both assessment and treatment of individuals with a wide range of developmental conditions and their families. 

She received her doctorate from the University of Chicago, Committee on Human Development. Additionally, she completed a re-specialization in Child and Family Psychotherapy from Georgia State University. 

She was on the research faculty at Emory School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, where she worked in the Human Genetics Laboratory taking part in a research team that focused on prenatal drug exposure and long-term developmental consequences thereof. 

Some of her research efforts have been with nonhuman primates at the Harvard School of Public Health’s Nutrition Laboratory, at Georgia State’s Language Research Center, and at Yerkes Primate Center. 

She was the first recipient of the DIR Lifetime Champion Award (2022). 

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Lola Dada-Olley (she/her) 
Attorney. Author. Advocate.

Lola Dada-Olley is Executive Director and Assistant General Counsel at a global banking institution, where she leads the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) legal team responsible for advancing accessibility and inclusion across consumer-facing products and services nationwide. A TEDx speaker and advocate, Lola brings more than thirty years of lived caregiving experience to her work. She is the mother of two autistic children and the older sister of an autistic, intellectually disabled man—roles that have shaped her voice, her leadership, and her unwavering commitment to building systems that honor every kind of mind. Lola has spoken to audiences on caregiver mental health and wellness, disability inclusion, and accessibility before audiences that include the U.S. Department of Education, the University of Wisconsin, various non-profit organizations, and corporations. Her family’s story was featured in Sensory Overload, the Vox Media documentary that explores sensory sensitivities and the environments that support neurodivergent people.

Beyond the legal and advocacy arenas, Lola is the host of Unapologetically Whole, a podcast dedicated to caregiver mental health, wellness, and the pursuit of wholeness amid demanding, often invisible responsibilities. She is also the author of the memoir Unapologetically Whole: A Memoir About Autism, Caregiving, and Owning Your Story, released on May 12th, a deeply personal exploration of identity, generational caregiving, and the courage it takes to rewrite the narratives handed to us. Lola lives in the Dallas, Texas area with her husband of nearly twenty years and their children.

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Anne Tellez (she/her), MS, OTR/L, ASDCS, CPRCS 
Occupational Therapist

With nearly three decades of experience in school-based practice, Anne Tellez is a highly respected occupational therapist dedicated to supporting students with diverse learning and developmental needs. Throughout her career, Anne has worked across a wide range of educational settings, collaborating closely with families, teachers, and multidisciplinary teams to help students access and succeed in their school environments. Anne brings deep expertise in navigating the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process, with a strong emphasis on meaningful collaboration between parents and school teams. Known for a practical, compassionate, and empowering approach, Anne helps families understand their role as essential members of the IEP team and equips them with tools to advocate effectively for their child.

As a presenter, Anne combines real-world experience with a clear perspective, making complex systems feel accessible and manageable. Her sessions focus on building productive partnerships, understanding rights and responsibilities, and fostering student-centered outcomes that support both academic success and functional independence. Anne is passionate about bridging the gap between home and school, ensuring that every child’s strengths are recognized and supported through collaborative, informed, and purposeful IEP planning.