Occupational Therapy

Our pediatric occupational therapists work with children and their families to help develop skills in the following areas: play skills, fine motor skills (how our hands and fingers work to accomplish a task), and personal or self-care skills. Treatment techniques promote function and engagement in meaningful occupations, remediate disability, and provide support to families. The strategies our pediatric occupational therapists may use include working on hand/finger/arm strength, trunk strength and stability, practice of specific self-care tasks, and overall sensory processing. Play is used as a way to address desired skills and to encourage the child to be active participants in their therapy sessions.

Who are your therapists?

Ria R. Camerino, received her Bachelor's degree in Occupational Therapy from University of Southern California.  She has acquired immense experience in a pediatric setting where she treated children with diagnoses such as autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, drug exposure, prematurity, feeding difficulties and developmental delay.  To further her knoledge in the field, she has taken advanced courses in motor-based and sensory-based feeding, NDT principles, sensory integration and Handwriting Without Tears.  Ria genuinely loves her work as she hopes to make a difference in someone's life and family while aiding her patients with their challenges.  She is a mother of two beautiful girls whom she enjoys spending time with going to theme parks, attending their gymnastics and dance classes, and creating arts and crafts.  In her spare time, she looks forward to days spent in the company of her big, extended, close-knit family and friends.

Myra Magluyan, MA, OTR/L, received her Master's degree in Occupational Therapy from University of Southern California and her Bachelor's degree in Kinesiology and Adapted Physical Education from CSU Long Beach. She has been working with children with disabilities for the last 10 years, and spent 6 of those years working on behavior modification and inclusion of children with autism into the general education environment, within the context of ABA programs. She has taking advanced courses in the Handwriting Without Tears program, sensory integration theory, infant handling based on NDT principles, and pediatric feeding and swallowing. Participation and teaching in martial arts is a major hobby of hers, and s he plans to continue this for as long as she can.

Jane Moore, OTR/L, joined our therapy team after being a stay at home mom for the past 10 years. Jane received her Bachelor of Science from SUNY Buffalo and has 8 years of experience working with all age groups ranging from infants to geriatrics. She has practiced occupational therapy in various settings including clinic, school based and home environments working with patients with numerous diagnoses such as Autism, Sensory Processing Disorder, Developmental Delays, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Orthopedic Impairments and Cardiovascular Diseases. She is experienced in sensory integration theory, feeding/swallowing, including SOS approach to feeding, NDT and Myofacial Release techniques. Jane loves working with all ages but is passionate about children and is thrilled to be part of our pediatric therapy team. Jane is a mother of three children and enjoys spending time with her family and friends.

Kristy Schmieder, OTR/L, C/NDT, received her Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from Saint Louis Univeristy in St. Louis, MO.  She has been working as a pediatric occupational therapist for over 12 years.  She has experience working with children from two months to 21 years of age in a variety of settings including inpatient/outpatient rehabilitation, school and home environments.  Kristy has treated children with a variety of diagnoses including, but not limited to, autism, sensory processing disorder, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, genetic disorders and orthopedic impairments.  She has advanced certifications in neurodevelopmental treatment in pediatrics by NDTA; sensory processing mentorship level 1 by SPD Foundation; therapeutic listening by Vital Links; and interactive metronome.  She also has advanced training in DIR approach, Handwriting Without Tears, TAMO, SPIO, Theratogs, advanced baby handling, aqua therapy, therapeutic taping and sensory integration.  Kristy is excited to work with a dedicated team and UCP's wonderful children and families.  In her spare time she enjoys cooking, sports and the arts.

Mubina Chagpar-Sivjee, is the newest member of the occupational therapy team.  Mubina received her Bachelor of Science degree in Rehabilitation Medicine Occupational Therapy from the University of Toronto, Canada.  She has experience working with children from birth to 18 years of age in a variety of settings including NICU, inpatient/outpatient rehabilitation, specialty hospital clinics such as hand clinic, school based, clinic based and home environments.  Mubina has worked with children with numerous diagnoses such as Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, neurological impairments, orthopedic impairments, autism and developmental delay.  She is experienced in sensory integration and infant handling based on NDT principles.  She has taken advanced training and courses in Hand Writing Without Tears and Feeding/Swallowing therapy and has her Certified Swallowing Certificate.  Mubina loves working with children and is excited to be a part of our pediatric therapy team.