Meet the Owners
Pattie Rutledge, OTR/L
Patti’s dedication to children began when she worked as a preschool teacher for the Community Nursery School in Massapequa. As much as she loved early education, she wanted to pursue a career where she could help children even more. In 1996, she received her Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) certificate from LaGuardia Community College. She went on to become a Licensed Certified Occupational Therapist (OTR/L) from Dominican College in 2001.
As part of her commitment to empowering children, Patti has done extensive training in:
- Sensory Integration Praxis Testing (SIPT) Certified
- Evaluation in Ayres Sensory Integration (EASI) Certified
- Yoga for the Special Child
- Kay Toomey’s S.O.S. Approach to Feeding
- Brain Gym
- Therapeutic Listening
Patti believes a therapist’s goal should be to help children feel good about themselves. Building self-esteem is the cornerstone of her approach because she understands that confident children are more willing to embrace new challenges.
Sara Pereira, MS OTR/L
Sara didn’t intend to follow in her mother’s footsteps as an occupational therapist. But as fate would have it, a recommendation from her high school guidance counselor ignited her passion for this field. She graduated from Quinnipiac University in 2004 with a Bachelor’s in Health Science before earning her Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy in 2005.
Sara has continued to pursue knowledge to deliver exceptional care to children and has completed training in:
- Level 1 Mentorship in Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD Foundation)
- Advanced Therapeutic
- Listening Provider certification
- Kay Toomey’s S.O.S. Approach to Feeding
- Visual and Vestibular Intervention
Sara’s contributions to her community and the field of occupational therapy were celebrated in 2022 when she was inducted into Massapequa High School’s Hall of Fame.
Sara believes that a therapist’s primary duty is to uncover the root of every child’s functional challenges and take a “bottom-up” approach to ensure each child’s needs are fully understood. She also values educating parents and working closely with families as essential elements in a child’s success in therapy.