Nikki, OTR/L

Nikki has worked for the past 21+ years evaluating and treating children with autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, Downs syndrome, prematurity, failure to thrive, neonatal abstinence syndrome, medically complex (stroke, feeding tubes, tracheotomies, immunocompromised, cancer, etc.), variety of genetic/chromosomal disorders, and global developmental delays. Nikki has collaborated and performed co treatments with physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, developmental therapists/teachers, dietitians, to assist with meeting the child’s and family’s goals.

Following graduation from SUNY Plattsburgh, Nikki worked alongside adults with developmental disabilities within a group home setting for 4 years, assisting them with their activities of daily living. Upon graduation from OT school, Nikki moved from Long Island, NY to Connecticut and began working within the CT Birth to Three programs providing early intervention for children aged 0-3 and their families within their natural environment.

She has worked with children focusing on sensory integration, feeding challenges both oral motor and sensory-based, self-regulation challenges, fine and gross motor skills, attention and focus difficulties, and developing adaptive/self-help skills. Nikki is certified in the Sensory Integration Praxis Test (SIPT) and utilizes sensory integration theory throughout her practice. Nikki also has extensive training and experience with fine motor delays, and oral motor and sensory-based feeding difficulties.

Nikki uses play to build a relationship with the child while making this interaction therapeutic in nature. She enjoys incorporating family members, including siblings and caregivers into the treatment sessions to facilitate building a relationship with the entire family and assisting in follow through between sessions.

Nikki recently moved to downtown Raleigh from Connecticut with her husband and is looking forward to making connections with new friends, exploring this amazing city and the surrounding areas, especially the North Carolina beaches.