Pediatric population with Autism Spectrum, Dyspraxia, Apraxia, Fragile X Syndrome, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, ADD/ADHD and various manifestations of Sensory Integration Disorder and various Developmental Disorders.
Behaviors stemming from motor and sensory system disorders.
What does Occupational Therapy address?
Few Signs of Motor Related Concerns:
- Child might appear clumsy and fall / bump into things
- Difficulty with imitation, understanding task sequence, executimotor task, generalizing things learnt from one area to another.
- Difficulty with items needing bilateral coordination and small motor skills like buttoning, opening snack packs
- Difficulty with handwriting
- Weak grasp and poor posture
- Preschool/ school will share concerns with classroom behavior.
- Few Signs of Sensory related concerns:
- Child might have be picky with daily tasks like eating, dressing, grooming, sleeping;
- Difficulty making transitions; anxiety or difficulty with change;
- Difficulty with loud noises and busy spaces;
- Difficulty with reading, finding objects from visual clutter
- Over activity or under activity and/or difficulty regulating in different environment
- Difficulty grading force/ pressure and deceased body awareness or position in space awareness
About the founder
Ami Gandhi is the founder of Acorn Pediatric Therapy LLC in Crystal Lake, IL. She got her bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy from University of Mumbai, India in 1996 and has been working with pediatric population in United States since 1999. She works as an occupational therapist specializing in pediatrics serving children and teens with Autism Spectrum, Fragile X Syndrome, Downs Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, ADD/ADHD, executive dysfunction and various manifestations of Sensory Integration Disorder and other developmental disorders. In addition to outpatient pediatrics at the Crystal Lake clinic, she collaborates at a DIR – based clinic in Glendale Heights IL. She works in Early Intervention. She consults with schools, group homes and adult programs in areas to support families transition their children into adult living. She was a board member of Northern Illinois Center for Autism for 7 years and advisor to the board for another 2 yrs. She has experience volunteering for the children of refugees at the English Learning Preschool Program at Heartland Alliance for 2 years. She has training in DIR approach, Therapeutic Listening, Astronaut training, STEPSI, M.O.R.E, Praxis and is a student of MNRI approach. She has a keen interest in supporting children with challenges with motor planning, self regulation and organization so that they can foster their individual strengths, form good relationships, connect with people and resources in their community and work towards growing into their full potential.
