Click here to learn more about Wendi McKenna, DPT, PCS, C/NDT,
Founder of Move Play Grow
Brooke is a pediatric speech-language pathologist whose specialties include: Early Intervention, Feeding Therapy, Apraxia Treatment, Oral Motor weakness, Social Skills, and treatment of speech, language and feeding challenges associated with Autism and Genetic Syndromes. She has additional training in PECS, PROMPT, DIR/FloorTime, TalkTools, SOS Feeding Approach and Mealtime Partners. Brooke’s experience includes in-home early intervention, working in schools, helping with the creation of a nonprofit speech clinic in Pasadena, CA and private practices in CA and PA. She founded “The Speech House” in CA and “JumpStart Therapies” in PA.Brooke is skilled with using music, creative play, and sensory integration techniques to enhance her therapy. She believes in a multi-disciplinary team approach and is thrilled to join the team at Move Play Grow. Parents appreciate her caring approach. As a mother of a child with special needs she understands first-hand the challenges families face. She provides families with effective home strategies and treats every child and family with the care that she would want her own child to receive.
Brooke enjoys creating and teaching parent classes. She is excited to bring her Infant/Toddler Communication class “ChatterBugs” to Move Play Grow.
Brooke is passionate about helping children communicate their thoughts and ideas to the best of their ability. She looks at the whole child and tailors her sessions to the needs of each child and family.
“I found my passion 20 years ago when I was asked to work 1:1 at school with a young boy, diagnosed with Autism. This beautiful, complex child did not yet have spoken words, but was just waiting to be understood. I attended all of his therapies, and helped to adapt his environment and his schoolwork. I knew immediately that I enjoyed team collaboration and that I wanted my role on the team to be facilitating communication. Communication and self-expression are vital to a happy life. I have been passionate about pediatric speech therapy ever since. It often takes a little creativity and out-of-the-box thinking, which is what I love about my job.
It is an exhilarating experience to help a child use their first words, whether spoken, signed, or with pictures. We sometimes take our basic skills for granted until someone we love is challenged with eating, speaking, or walking. In my village we celebrate all of the little steps toward success. I am humbled by the strength and courage of the families I work with.
Twelve years ago my beautiful son became my most important teacher. He was born with complex special needs. He teaches me more every day than I could ever learn from a book. I have worked with top specialists (OT, PT, SLP, BSC, physicians) around the country to help him meet his challenges. I trained to become a feeding specialist so that I could help him safely eat. It brings me joy to share with parents the tools that I have learned from my own professional experience and as a parent.
I am thrilled to join Wendi’s team at Move Play Grow. She and I have enjoyed collaborating professionally over the years and she was part of my son’s “A team” (helping him walk well before doctors predicted). We share the vision of building a village to support families on their parenting journey. So many wonderful teaching and parenting strategies have come from helping our kids with challenges. These techniques can help all children thrive. At Move Play Grow we want to share these ideas with all families to build a happier village.”
Click here to view Brooke’s Speech & Feeding Therapy Services
My name is Kimberly Joyce and I’m an out-of-the-box therapist when it comes to creating home exercise programs for children. For over 15 years, I’ve practiced in pediatrics: intensive and traditional outpatient settings, schools, clinical and early intervention in a home health setting. With an understanding of the developing body, we will design a safe environment for your child to explore and thrive in multiple areas of their life. We will continually evolve the art of actively engaging your child with a regulated sensory system, to nurture appropriate and sensory development while we have FUN!
I am committed to listening, being a voice, and providing strategies for your child to support gross motor development, motor planning, and visual-motor skills in a sensory enriched environment where the child can thrive. In addition, I will address muscle tone, strength, and development, range of movement, quality of movement, balance- coordination, and sensory integration. Paying close attention to the quality of your child’s movements such as their pace and their gait when they learn to walk, as well as their balance and coordination skills.
We will collaborate to design a safe space for your child to explore courageously, trust to explore and play with as few limits as possible to blossom into their fullest potential. I will provide you with therapeutic physical therapy play strategies to provide your child with high dosages of variable, motivated sensory-motor play experiences that promote learning and development. Often, Physical Therapy goals include support with developmental milestones like, rolling, sitting, standing, crawling, and walking.