Clinic-Based Team

Dana Hutchings, M.S. OTR/L, C/NDT Program Director                                                                                           

Dana is an Occupational Therapist as well as owner of Sunrise Therapy Services.   She strives to build Sunrise on a reputation of honesty and excellent quality of services.  Dana received her Master of Science degree in Arizona at the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine.  She has over twelve years working with children birth to 18 years of age.  Dana is certified in the Neurodevelopmental Treatment Approach for Pediatrics and has the one week certification in “NDT Approach to Baby Treatment” course with Louis Bly.  She is also certified provider in Myofascial Release, DIR Floortime, Bal-A-Vis-X, Vision Intervention, Behavior Vision Concepts, ILS, Interactive Metronome, Vital Links, Theraputic Listening, and in the administration of the Sensory Integration and Praxis Test.  Dana passion and specialty is in the area of sensory processing disorder and has taken advanced mentor courses with Lucy Miller at the Star Center. Dana has also completed the Arizona Early Intervention Program Standards of Practice Certification.

Susan Damewood, B.S. Office Manager

Susan has spend most of her career working in the AzEIP world for over 20 years in many different capacities including, training, management and direct services with families. Susan has recently taken the Office Manager position and is enjoying learning the ins and outs “behind the curtain”.  Susan is passionate about children and their families to meet their full potential, especially teaching families to advocate for their children’s education and knowledge of resources in their community.

Sheila  M., M.S., OTR/L Licensed Occupational Therapist                                                                                         

Sheila is a licensed Occupational Therapist who received her Master of Science degree in Arizona at the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine.  She has been working with children, ages birth to 18 years, in the home-based, early intervention and clinic settings for almost 20 years. Sheila has extensive experience in the area of sensory processing disorders and how Reflex Integration can impact learning and development.  She has advanced training in sensory integration including Therapeutic Listening, Integrated Listening System, Safe and Sound Protocol, Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests, Bal-a-vis-x, DIR Floortime, Interactive Metronome and Rhythmic Movement Training. Sheila has completed both Level 1 and Level 2 Intensive Mentorship Programs at the STAR Institute in Denver, CO under Dr. Lucy Jane Miller.  Sheila provides evaluations and on-going services to children and their families.

Nicole B., M.S. OTR/L Licensed Occupational Therapist                                                                                             

Nicole is a licensed Occupational Therapist who received her Master of Science degree in Nevada at Touro University Nevada following her Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from Arizona State University. She has been working with children, ages 3 to 18 years, in the clinic setting for over 3 years leading to experience in sensory processing disorders as well as various developmental disorders. She has advanced training in sensory integration therapies including ILS Therapeutic Listening and Interactive Metronome. Nicole provides evaluations and on-going services to children and their families supporting their success and celebrating every milestone.

Danette S.,  COTA/L Licensed Occupational Therapy Assistant                                                                             

Danette is a licensed certified occupational therapist assistant who received her AAS at Apollo College in phoenix, Arizona. She has been providing services for 23 years in  the geriatric and pediatric populations with a variety of different diagnoses in home based and facility/clinic settings. She enjoys sharing her knowledge and helping families at Sunrise Therapy by developing a fun yet productive environment for each individual that she treats. She has continued to increase her knowledge and skill set by completing a variety of educational courses that allow her to effectively treat children with sensory processing disorders, fine and gross motor development disorders, and wheelchair positioning problems. Her continuing education has also included NDT and ILS. Danette takes pleasure in providing occupational therapy services intended to assist persons/families living with disabilities in order to support, maintain and enhance positive outcomes for a better quality of life. Danette also enjoys growing her faith, spending time with her family, traveling, and has a special place in her heart for animals. Her favorite place to be on a beach and is always ready for a new adventure.

Patty K., M.S. CCC-SLP Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist                                                                         

Patricia is a licensed Speech Therapist, who received her Maters of Science  and Bachelors of Science degrees in Utah at the Utah State University.  She has over 21 years of experiences working with children birth to 18 years of age.   Patti specializes in the treatment of unintelligible children, those with simple single sound as well as multiple articulation errors, supporting them and their families toward being understood in their spontaneous conversations.  She previously assisted in designing and implementing a local school district’s preschool speech-only program that focused on identifying and providing intensive interventions for children with significant phonological processing errors.  Patti was one of 25 speech-language pathologist chosen to attend the inaugural Childhood Apraxia of Speech Intensive Training Institute and is recognized by the Childhood Apraxia of Speech Association of North America (CASANA) for having advanced training and clinical expertise in childhood apraxia of speech.

Betsy H., M.A.,CCC-SLP  Speech-Language Pathologist                                                                                             

Betsy is a Speech-Language Pathologist who received her M.A. from Appalachian State University in Speech Therapy. 30 years experience working with children 0 to 5. Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech Language Hearing Association. Post Masters education from Case Western Reserve University in literacy. Undergraduate degree in Speech from The Ohio State University. Additional training in feeding, MBSS and FEES.

Kathleen Y.,M.N.S., CCC-SLP  Speech-Language Pathologist                                                                                       

Kathleen began her career as a social worker but has been a speech-language pathologist for twenty-five years. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice and a Master of Speech and Hearing Science Degree from A.S.U. She has worked with all ages from infants to adults, but specializes in preschool and school-age children with a wide variety of receptive, expressive and articulation problems. Kathleen has training and experience in working with second language learners and speaks Spanish. She is the author of two published speech books, “Fun With Language”, Books I and II.  This title summarizes her approach to speech therapy.

Kim M.,COTA/L Licensed Occupational Therapy Assistant                                                                                                  

Kim has 14 years experience in schools, clinics and working with families in Occupational Therapy. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Arizona State University as well as a Certification and AA Degree in Occupational Therapy from Apollo Medical College.  Additional experience includes continuing education courses in sensory integration and assistive technology for pediatrics.  She was the recipient of the 2005 Scottsdale Mayor’s Committee’s Special Education Elementary Teacher/Educator of the Year Award.  Kim served as Scottsdale Unified School District’s OT Department Lead between the years of 2005 and 2009.

Logan M. SLPA Speech-Language Pathologist Assistant

Logan is a licensed Speech Language Pathologist Assistant who received her Bachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing Sciences at Arizona State University, followed by her certification as a SLPA through the Arizona Department of Health Services. Logan has worked with children to address their speech and communication goals since 2017 in the clinical-based, home-based and school-based environments. She works closely with her supervising SLP’s to create the best plan of action to address each individual client’s needs. Logan exercises a multidisciplinary therapy approach by collaborating with other therapists, parents, caregivers and teachers to encourage carryover of skills in all environments. She enjoys creating a fun, safe environment for clients to be themselves and express their wants and needs with meaningful communication. She continues to take courses to expand her knowledge on developmental disabilities, therapy techniques, the use of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), and other speech-language disorders.

Mandy S., PT, DPT Licensed Physical Therapist

Mandy is a licensed physical therapist who received her Doctorate in physical therapy from Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences in Rochester, MN in 2007. She moved to Arizona after graduation and began her career in pediatric physical therapy. Mandy has experience in multiple settings including acute care, home health care, Arizona early intervention, and clinic-based therapy. Mandy has extensive training including but not limited to NDT, assessment for early identification of neurological conditions, Perception-Action approach, Myofascial Release, Reflex Integration, and electrical stimulation for targeted muscle strengthening (TASES). She is calm and focuses on creating a fun environment to help each child learn and develop the skills they need to crush their goals. When not at work Mandy enjoys nature walks, painting, and playing games with her husband and two children.