Sarah Anne graduated from the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill with a double major in human development and family studies and psychology and was co-president of UNC's Disability Advocates Committee. Their honors thesis investigated occupational barriers for autistic youth with and without a co-occurring mental health condition. They completed their Doctorate of Occupational Therapy at Wingate University magna cum laude and received the Outstanding Fieldwork Student Award.
Sarah Anne served as their school's co-chair for the Coalition of Occupational Therapists Advocates for Diversity chapter and developed a campus inclusion project for students with disability in conjunction with the Collaborative for the Common Good. They also studied as an AHEC Scholar focusing on social determinants of health. Sarah Anne's doctoral capstone researched self-advocacy in the context of disability. Sarah Anne has presented on trans-inclusive healthcare, creating neurodiversity-affirming cultures, and using lived experience as a therapeutic tool. Sarah Anne has experience practicing in sensory integration and acute-care mental health.
Sarah Anne is passionate about providing neurodiversity-affirming, trauma-assumed, evidence-based care across the lifespan. They love helping people better discover and rediscover joy in their daily occupations. They have a special interest in the effects of autistic burnout, the impact of active rest, and cultivating third spaces.
Occupational Therapist
Sarah Anne Hart, OTD, OTR/L (they/them)