Pediatric Occupational & Physical Therapy Sensory Gym & SChool Based Sessions
SPRING AHEAD TEAM
SPRING AHEAD WITH US
Jessica Zambito M.S. OTR/L, Director
Jessica has been practicing as an pediatric OT for 14 years & utilizes an evidence-based, holistic, sensory & playful approach in working with children. Jessica is the owner &director of 3 private practices in NYC, Bloom OT.
Jessica holds a dual B.S. in Psychology & Biology & Masters of Science in Oc
Jessica Zambito M.S. OTR/L, Director
Jessica has been practicing as an pediatric OT for 14 years & utilizes an evidence-based, holistic, sensory & playful approach in working with children. Jessica is the owner &director of 3 private practices in NYC, Bloom OT.
Jessica holds a dual B.S. in Psychology & Biology & Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy. She has worked in public, charter & private schools, early intervention, sensory integration clinics, outpatient hospital settings & volunteer work throughout the world with children ages birth-teen years.
Jessica has extensive experience in providing evaluations & treatment for children with neurological, fine motor, visual, sensory integration & neardevelopmental differences. Jessica specializes in sensory integration & floor-time approach. She is trained in a variety of specialized programs such as Astronaut Training, Therapeutic Listening, Denver STAR center model, Alert & Zones Program, DIR/FLOORTIME, Brain Gym, Children’s Yoga, DPPT/Willbarger protocol, Reflex Integration, NDT & Handwriting Without Tears.
Jessica enjoys working with children and families. She utilizes a holistic & whole child approach. She believes in a joyful & meaningful engagement with children & their families throughout their therapy and enjoys collaborating with all members of a child’s life to help support a child’s independence & success. She provides workshops and seminars to families throughout NYC. In her free time Jess enjoys traveling with her family
Bianca Bartoli MS OTR/L - Senior Therapist
Bianca graduated from New York University with a Masters in Occupational Therapy and has been working in pediatrics in New York City for the last ten years. Bianca has been a senior therapist at Spring Ahead for the last three years. She has worked with children ranging from 1-15 years of age in various settings such as center-based earl
Bianca graduated from New York University with a Masters in Occupational Therapy and has been working in pediatrics in New York City for the last ten years. Bianca has been a senior therapist at Spring Ahead for the last three years. She has worked with children ranging from 1-15 years of age in various settings such as center-based early intervention, home-based services for both early intervention and preschool aged students, as well as school-based settings including public and special education schools Bianca supervised & led the OT team at a private special education school prior to transitioning to a senior therapist at Spring Ahead. Bianca is a senior therapist at Spring Ahead over the last two years, As a pediatric occupational therapist, one of her strongest attributes is her ability to pair her therapeutic relationship with her clients to their functional outcome achievement. She values and incorporates a child’s individuality and strengths to facilitate progress in deficit areas while maintaining a playful, yet structured session. She is proficient in the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales Second Edition (PDMS-2), Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency Second Edition (BOT™-2), Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration, Handwriting Without Tears’ Screener of Handwriting Proficiency, and the Sensory Profile -2. She has received formal training in the Handwriting Without Tears Program (pre-school-fifth grade), Astronaut Training, Yoga for the Special Child, planning and time management executive functioning, picky eating and problem feeding, sensory integration & handwriting, Bianca enjoys collaborating with schools and other professionals and works at our clinic and local schools.
Carolyn Hatfield MS OTR/L Senior Therapist
Carolyn Hatfield MS OTR/L Senior Therapist
Carolyn has been practicing as a pediatric occupational therapist for almost 12 years. This is her third time returning to New York City and she is very excited to be back in the place she now considers home. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mental Health and Human Services and a Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy. Carol
Carolyn has been practicing as a pediatric occupational therapist for almost 12 years. This is her third time returning to New York City and she is very excited to be back in the place she now considers home. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mental Health and Human Services and a Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy. Carolyn specializes in sensory integration and has a passion for parent education and research. She is trained in a multitude of diverse programs including the STAR Institutes level 1 mentorship program, Therapeutic Listening, SOS feeding, Interactive Metronome, Julia Harpers Sensory Integration Courses, Beckman Oral Motor, Kinesiotaping 1 & 2, Responsive Feeding, Sensory Processing for Early Education, Insights into Reaching and Teaching Teenagers, and CLASI sensory integration courses. She recently received her AOTA Fieldwork Educator Certificate after attending the workshop at St Augustine University in California. Carolyn has experience leading group sessions for children in early intervention while instructing occupational therapy students. She loves working with a team using a multi-disciplinary approach focusing on a collaborative mission to help children and families. In her spare time, Carolyn enjoys running, working out, going to the theatre, exploring New York City, and volunteering in the community.
Heidi Hallenback OTR/L
Heidi Hallenback OTR/L
Carolyn Hatfield MS OTR/L Senior Therapist
Heidi Hallenbeck is native New Yorker who holds a master's degree in occupational therapy from Columbia University. She has over nine years of experience working in pediatrics and has been a part of the Spring Ahead team since 2018. Heidi has extensive experience working with children from 3K to middle school and with ASD, ADHD, ODD, SPD,
Heidi Hallenbeck is native New Yorker who holds a master's degree in occupational therapy from Columbia University. She has over nine years of experience working in pediatrics and has been a part of the Spring Ahead team since 2018. Heidi has extensive experience working with children from 3K to middle school and with ASD, ADHD, ODD, SPD, dysgraphia, learning disabilities, and developmental delays. In addition to working at Spring Ahead Heidi, is a school based occupational therapist at two elementary schools in the city. She is a certified handwriting specialist through handwriting without tears and is proficient with the Alert Program, Zones of Regulation, reflex integration, sensory processing, Brain Gym, and Bal-A-Vis-X, among others. Heidi is passionate about working with children and believes in tailoring each session to the child’s individual passions and needs. She loves finding creative ways to achieve individual goals making therapy fun and meaningful for each child. Heidi is a strong advocate of a collaborative, team-based approach, actively engaging with parents, teachers, and other professionals to provide optimal support for the child. She values the crucial role that parents play in a child’s development journey and seeks to create a collaborative, supportive partnership with them, to ensure that therapy strategies can be carried over into the home environment. In her free time Heidi enjoys exploring NYC with her husband, son & daughter
Kailey Gruber OTR/L
Heidi Hallenback OTR/L
Kailey Gruber OTR/L
Kailey has been a practicing occupational therapist in New York City since 2020. Prior to her arrival she worked as an OT in Canada for several years with children ages 2-18 in schools and sensory based clinics. She graduated from Western University with a degree in Health Sciences and attended McMaster University, where she received her
Kailey has been a practicing occupational therapist in New York City since 2020. Prior to her arrival she worked as an OT in Canada for several years with children ages 2-18 in schools and sensory based clinics. She graduated from Western University with a degree in Health Sciences and attended McMaster University, where she received her Master’s in Occupational Therapy. Kailey specializes in treatments related to sensory processing, executive functioning and handwriting support. Kailey is certified in Therapeutic Listening, Trauma Informed Approach to Sensory Processing and the ALERT program.. Kailey is passionate about working with children with a variety of needs to support them as they grow. She believes in a child- and family-centered approach to therapy to ensure the child is engaged and motivated. When she is not treating clients, Kailey enjoys reading, spending time with family and friends and exploring the city.
Heidi Hallenback OTR/L
Kailey Gruber OTR/L
Meg Roy, COTA/L
Meg Roy is a passionate and confident therapist with 9 years of experience working in pediatric Occupational Therapy. She has been a member of the Spring Ahead and Bloom OT team for the last three years. She is originally from Atlanta, GA where she obtained her COTA/L degree and began her career in various settings such as
Meg Roy, COTA/L
Meg Roy is a passionate and confident therapist with 9 years of experience working in pediatric Occupational Therapy. She has been a member of the Spring Ahead and Bloom OT team for the last three years. She is originally from Atlanta, GA where she obtained her COTA/L degree and began her career in various settings such as Montessori programs, sensory gyms, home care, school settings, and early intervention with ages 0-18. She utilizes many different techniques and methods to OT including DIR/Floortime, the Alert Program, the Zones of Regulation, Brain Gym, primitive reflex integration, Learning/Handwriting Without Tears, Rhythmic Movement training, Interactive Metronome, Therapeutic Listening and Quickshifts. Meg has experience working with ADD/ADHD, ASD, DCD, picky eaters, Sensory Integration Disorder, and developmental delays. She takes a holistic, child-led approach to her sessions and views OT as a collaboration between the child, the therapist, and the child’s caregivers in all environments. She believes strongly in the value of parent education, as well as building a child’s confidence and self-esteem through play.
TOVY AUBE PT, DPT
TOVY AUBE PT, DPT
TOVY AUBE PT, DPT
Tovy is an exceptional pediatric physical therapist who has been practicing for 15+ years. Tovy has extensive experience with early intervention, preschool, school & tween populations. Tovy is confident and comfortable in working with children in our sensory gym, schools , community & homes. She has extensive experience in outpatient faci
Tovy is an exceptional pediatric physical therapist who has been practicing for 15+ years. Tovy has extensive experience with early intervention, preschool, school & tween populations. Tovy is confident and comfortable in working with children in our sensory gym, schools , community & homes. She has extensive experience in outpatient facilitates, home based services and school based settings. She is skilled in evaluating & treating children with neurological, motor & sensory integration differences including ASD, Down syndrome, Hypotonia, Cerebral Palsy, Dyspraxia & global developmental delays. She draws from a variety of techniques including biomechanics, NDT, sensory- motor & kinesiotaping. She is skilled in gait training, ambulation & orthotic management.She utilizes an effective and dynamic approach in working with children and families to help them achieve gross motor skill goals independently.