Melissa: Lake Station tutor

Certified Tutor

I am a graduate of the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Exceptional Student Education with a focus on Intellectual Disabilities (IDD). I taught children (ages 5-10 years old) with IDD and autism spectrum disorder for 3 years before going back to school. I attended Nova Southeastern University and graduated with a Masters in Occupational Therapy. During my time in school pursing my degree, I home-schooled two children with autism ages 9 and 10. I practiced as a pediatric occupational therapist for 5 years in a sensory integration clinic and in the school system. I have a unique perspective as I am also the mom of a child with autism and who spent 94 days in the NICU before coming home. I also was the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program Director at a university for 8 and a half years in which I taught the following subjects: Introduction to Occupational Therapy, Human Development and Occupation, Psychiatric Disorders and Treatment, Group Dynamics, Therapeutic Media, Pediatric Disorders and Treatment, and Pre-Clinical. I also worked extensively with my faculty on the subjects they were assigned to teach. I have experience with test prep for the NBCOT exam for OTA students. I recently helped to develop a curriculum for adults with IDD in an adult day program and currently educate other individuals on how to implement the curriculum. I currently am working on my Ph.D. in Occupational Therapy from Nova Southeastern University. I firmly believe that all individuals can learn, and being creative while learning helps to achieve this. I strive to determine how individuals learn best and include that in my teaching strategies. I enjoy celebrating with the individuals I work with when they learn something new! Working with students, I currently have a 100% pass rate for students I have tutored