Alison graduated with distinction from the University of Victoria with a Bachelor degree in Child and Youth Care and received a Master of Occupational Therapy from the University of British Columbia. She is a Registered Autism Service Provider (RASP).

Alison grew up with her sister who has a physical and developmental disability called Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome. Her lifelong experiences supporting and caring for her sister made her passionate about providing client-centered and family-centered care for others. She believes in enabling children to participate in meaningful activities and fulfill their potential, while providing families with knowledge, empathy and respect.

Alison began working with children and youth with disabilities by participating in the Queen Alexandra summer camp for all abilities and as a volunteer at Operation Trackshoes. Alison worked as a Behavior Interventionist at a private pediatric therapy centre while pursing her Child and Youth Care education and became a full-time lead interventionist after graduation. This provided Alison with experience working with a diverse population, including those with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, anxiety, learning disabilities, and developmental delay. Alison has since taken her occupational therapy experience and theory and integrated it with previous behavioural approaches to provide a holistic, developmental approach to therapeutic intervention.

Alison is experienced in providing 1:1 and group therapeutic interventions. She has supported children’s development of fine and gross motor skills, sensory and self-regulation skills, communication and social skills, self-care and life skills, executive functioning, and school and play skills through programs such as Handwriting Without Tears, Social Thinking, Zones of Regulation and SOS Feeding Therapy.

Alison believes therapeutic support should be strengths-based, culturally safe and rooted in relationship building and play to support children and families to reach their goals.

She has taken the following professional development courses:

• Primitive Reflexes: Building Blocks of Sensory Integration - VitalLinks

• Sleep: A pediatric, evidence-based approach - CAOT

• Understanding ADHD Needs in Occupational Therapy Across the Lifespan - CAOT

• Participation in Academic Occupations: Considerations for School-based Therapist - CAOT

• Feed the Peds: Screening your first Pediatric Feeding

• ASIST Suicide Prevention

• Brain Story Certification: Alberta Family Wellness Initiative

• Treatment of Picky and Problem Eaters Using Food Chaining Therapy

• Executive Functioning Across the Lifespan - Sarah Ward

• Best Practices for Implementing Interoception-based Supports - Kelly Mahler

• Pediatric Feeding & Swallowing: Managing Complex Issues