Located in: New York, United States

Co-Presenting: An OT, PT and SLP Walk into a Classroom: Utilizing transdisciplinary collaboration to support learning and development

Bio: Sarah Attanasio, OTD, OTR/L is a New York State licensed Occupational Therapist who earned her B.S. in Kinesiology from UMASS Amherst in May 2019 and her Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree from MGH Institute of Health Professions in September 2022. She has experience working in the hospital setting with a focus on physical and cognitive rehabilitation in the adult population and currently practices as a pediatric OT under the DIRFloortime® model at Rebecca School in NYC. 

Located in: New York, United States

Co-Presenting: Testing the Limits: Psychological assessment in partnership with DIRFloortime®

Bio: Ava Baker is a School Psychologist dedicated to supporting children and adolescents. She holds master's degrees in Educational Psychology and School Psychology from Columbia University. Ava conducts psychoeducational and neuropsychological evaluations, utilizing a Cross-Battery Assessment approach. She also provides evidence-based therapeutic interventions for children and adolescents and consults with families. 

Located in: Italy

Presenting: The Little Prince: A journey into the child’s inner world through the lens of DIRFloortime

Bio: Irene is an occupational therapist based in Italy with a specialization in sensory integration and relationship-based interventions. She works with neurodivergent children and their families through coaching, supervision, and clinical support, helping caregivers and professionals understand each child's unique sensory and emotional profile.

Irene provides training to interdisciplinary teams, with a focus on translating theory into meaningful, everyday strategies rooted in DIRFloortime and Ayres Sensory Integration. She is passionate about promoting co-regulation, functional emotional development, and the power of authentic connection.

In addition to her clinical and educational work, Irene is dedicated to designing therapeutic spaces and creating sensory equipment tailored to individual needs. She is the founder of Ergotois and Ergotools, two initiatives that combine clinical expertise, inclusive design, and creativity to make sensory support more accessible and responsive.

Her work is guided by the belief that every child is a sensory and relational being, and that meaningful growth emerges from connection, play, and being truly seen

Located in: Canada

Co-Presenting: The "Good or Bad? Hard to Say..." Parable: Navigating the complexities of Autistic support needs

Bio: Daria Brown created affectautism.com and the accompanying DIRFloortime podcast for those looking to implement DIRFloortime. Daria is ICDL’s Parent Advocate, late-diagnosed autistic, and the mother of a 16-year-old autistic son. She is the author of "We Chose Play: Raising an Autistic Child to Thrive and Feel Understood".

Daria holds a master’s degree in Personality and Social Psychology from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. She has worked in the fields of research, evaluation, and education for over 30 years at universities, not-for-profits, and in government.

Located in: New Jersey, United States

Co-Presenting: The Interplay of Prosody in the Mother Tongue (PMT), Affect, and Regulation in Constructing Emotions and Social Engagement

Bio: "Alicia Bustos is a pediatric neuroaffirming bilingual speech-language pathologist. She supports autistic children and their families, their sensory and regulatory needs, and speech-language-learning differences. She integrates Polyvagal Theory and trauma-informed care to foster emotional connections and meaningful communication.

Alicia has researched developmental dyslexia in bilingual students, published in scientific journals and presented at conferences. She provides workshops and clinical support on the implementation of affective reciprocal interactions for social, emotional, and cognitive development to the New York City schools.

Alicia discovered the value of supporting parents during the COVID-19 pandemic, when virtual sessions became the only option. Her DIRFloortime journey reshaped her role as a speech-language pathologist and empowered her clients. She holds an Expert/Training Leader Certificate in DIRFloortime through ICDL, conducts therapy with Spanish-speaking students and their families in the Borough of the Bronx, N.Y. She is an evaluator, parent coach, and DIRFloortime clinical supervisor in New Jersey."

Located in: Spain

Presenting: Approaching Higher FEDC Through Psycho-Pedagogy, DIR and Gestalt Therapy

Bio: Vane holds a PhD in Educational Sciences, special education teacher and psychopedagogue. In addition, she has training in Early Childhood Care, Psychomotor Therapy, Systemic Family Therapy and Gestalt therapy applied to childhood and adolescence. She has been working with children, adolescents and families in Spain since 2002, in situations of neurodiversity, trauma and with neurotypicals. She feels a great vocation for her work, both in direct intervention and in her teaching role. She loves to play and enjoys the overall creative process behind her work. In addition, she has been the first person trained in DIR in Spain. As a Training Leader, she lives this opportunity and responsibility with a deep commitment.

She balances her personal life thanks to surfing, her new great passion, and shares her office with a cat (Little Moon), a great intervention partner."

Located in: New York, United States

Co-Presenting: An OT, PT and SLP Walk into a Classroom: Utilizing transdisciplinary collaboration to support learning and development

Bio: Jasmine Chevez, PT, DPT is a New York State licensed PT at Rebecca School in NYC specializing in pediatric rehabilitation with a focus on neurodiverse populations. Jasmine received her B.S. in Integrative Neuroscience and B.A in Comparative Literature from Binghamton University. She received her Doctor of Physical Therapy from Drexel University in April 2024, where she received comprehensive training in evidence-based practice and a holistic approach to physical therapy. Jasmine holds a Basic Certificate in DIRFloortime® from the International Council on Development and Learning. Since beginning her clinical practice in 2024, Dr. Chevez has worked extensively with students with neurological conditions that influence motor development and physical activity participation. Her professional interests include the development of functional movement patterns that enhance engagement, promote motor learning, and support long-term physical wellness in children with diverse needs.

Located in: Latvia

Co-Presenting: Integrating DIRFloortime® into Paediatric Palliative Care: A five-year experience with neurodevelopmental disorders

Bio: I’m a pediatrician with over 25 years of experience, leading a regional pediatric palliative care team. My journey with the DIRFloortime approach began not as a doctor, but as a mother to a “special” child. I started learning the method to better connect with my own child—and what I discovered changed the way I practice medicine.

Seeing how DIRFloortime helped us build joyful, meaningful interactions, I began using it with families of children who faced much more complex challenges—many of them in palliative care, where we often can't change the diagnosis, but we can transform the moments shared. My focus is to help parents find delight and connection with their child, even in the smallest gestures.

Over time, these skills have also become part of my everyday pediatric work. In fact, children don’t fear entering my consultation room—they often don’t want to leave! Working with Floortime daily, I’ve come to appreciate how essential it is to adapt the method to each child’s unique personality and each family’s rhythm. For me, it's not just therapy—it’s a way of being with the child, heart first.

Located in: Turkiye

Presenting: Teaching Parents Tools They Need in a Dyadic World While Attuning and Empowering Them at the Same Time: A glimpse into a culturally based video feedback method while working with neurodivergence

Bio: Kemal is a Speech and Language Therapist primarily working with autistic children and individuals with developmental disabilities. He has been doing so in his private practice since 2007. 

Kemal received his first degree in physiotherapy in 2003 and then earned his Masters Degree in Speech and Language Pathology in 2006.

In 2019, Kemal became a DIRFloortime Expert Training Leader.

Located in: South Africa

Presenting: Teaching in Humanness

Bio: As a Special Educational Needs (SEN) Teacher, I am deeply passionate about teaching and training. My mission is to bridge the gap between neurotypical and neurodivergent individuals, fostering an inclusive and supportive experience for all. With a commitment to understanding and addressing the unique needs of each student, I strive to inspire environments where every learner can thrive.

In addition to my teaching role, I am also a dedicated writer. Through my writing, I aim to share insights, strategies, and stories that highlight the importance of inclusivity and the power of education. My work is defined by the desire to drive equity and make a positive impact in the world of education and employment.

Located in: Florida, United States

Presenting: Supporting Educators in a DIR School: A case study of REConnections Education Center

Bio: Dr. Fernald was awarded Board Specialty Recognition in Child Language from the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA) and uses DIRFloortime, when working with children and families. A neurodiversity-affirming, clinician, Dr. Jo has been a DIRFloortime Expert Training Leader for nearly 18 years. She has a special interest in the social emotional development of young children and its impact on their speech and language skills. As a speech-language pathologist, Dr. Fernald works with children who have a variety of communication disorders. She partnered with Easter Seals NH in 2006 to begin an assessment and treatment clinic specifically for children with selective mutism and has recreated the model in the Tampa Bay area of Florida as well. In 2018, Dr. Fernald co-founded REConnections Education Center, a private school that utilizes the DIRFloortime framework as its foundation to support children with individual differences. She enjoys public speaking and has presented nationally on the topics of neurodiversity, childhood apraxia of speech and selective 

Located in: Georgia, United States

Presenting: The Significance of Curiosity and How to Foster It

Bio: Mike is a parent practitioner in Atlanta, GA who believes like his dad did that while we may have to get older, we don’t have to grow up. We’re all at our best when we feel safe, connected, competent, and confident. After his first professional stint as a software engineer Mike felt compelled to change careers and share his hope and obnoxious optimism with others. Mike began working with families and individuals as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) 2009. He remains a firm believer in the power of stories to inspire us, and to promote growth and healing. As an Expert DIRFloortime® Training Leader, 

Mike embraces a wellness model employing the DIRFloortime® framework using play, both unstructured (following a person’s lead / need) and semi-structured (like cooperative, collaborative, and narrative tabletop games), giving people the opportunity to see themselves as not just the authors, but the heroes of their own stories, shifting the focus from pathology to potential. Mike is rarely seen without some superhero paraphernalia or his trusty ukulele.

Located in: South Carolina, United States

Co-Presenting: Meaning Making in Play: Using the DIRFloortime model to support development of representational praxis and symbolic language

Bio: Erin Forward is a speech-language pathologist and certified lactation counselor. Erin works as an SLP at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in an outpatient setting working mainly with AAC, Autism and as a part of their feeding team. She has advanced training in pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders, early language, AAC, and trauma, specifically for medically complex children. Erin holds an Expert DIRFloortime Provider Certification and is a TBRI® Trained Practitioner. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor's degree in CSD and Psychology and graduated from the University of South Carolina with her Master’s in Speech Pathology. She is the regular co-host of "First Bite: A Speech Therapy Podcast" with Michelle Dawson, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC, where she shares her experiences and evidenced-based practices from her time working in early intervention/home health, NICU/PICU, GI clinic, and outpatient clinic settings. For her dedication to the field, she was awarded an ASHA Distinguished Early Career Professional Certificate in 2021

Located in: Canada

Co-Presenting: Building Bridges: How DIRFloortime aligns with Middle Eastern cultural values

Bio: "Zaineb Ghlayem is a neurodivergent inclusive education consultant and founder of Clever Clogs Inclusive Academy, offering strength-based, neurodiversity-affirming programs. With an M.Ed. in curriculum building and over five years of experience, she specializes in DIRFloortime to support social-emotional growth.

A family counselor and workshop facilitator, Zaineb advocates for inclusive learning environments. Trained in Motivational Interviewing, Mental Health First Aid, and Yoga for Kids, she empowers families and educators through respectful practices.

Zaineb uses social media to promote DIRFloortime and neurodiversity, focusing on Arabic-speaking communities worldwide, aiming to make relationship-based support accessible across cultures."

Located in: New York, United States

Co-Presenting: Testing the Limits: Psychological assessment in partnership with DIRFloortime®

Bio: Lyndsey Gillespie is a fourth-year doctoral candidate in Clinical Psychology with a Health Emphasis at Touro University. She is currently a psychology extern at the Rebecca School in Manhattan, a therapeutic day school serving children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental delays in relating and communicating. At Rebecca, Lyndsey provides individualized interventions informed by the DIRFloortime model to support emotional regulation, engagement, and developmental growth. She is also trained in evidence-based clinical approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Her work is grounded in a holistic, strengths-based framework, and her professional interests include the intersection of health and neurodevelopment, the promotion of physical well-being, and improving quality of life for neurodivergent youth.

Located in: Michigan, United States

Co-Presenting: Teachers with Self-reported Lived Experiences of Anxiety with Strict, Cold Parents, had Higher Capacities for Emotional Awareness

Bio: Dr. Ira Glovinsky is a fully licensed psychologist practicing in West Bloomfield, Michigan. He is a mental health practitioner who educates and trains F.I.R.S.T. Clinic parent allies about interoception. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1977 with a Ph.D. in Special Education and taught for five years in the New York City school system working with emotionally impaired children and then for five years in a children's psychiatric hospital helping develop a clinical program for preschoolers with emotional difficulties. He then coordinated a NICU follow-up program for high-risk infants at Sinai Hospital in Detroit. Since 2007 he has been part of the Interdisciplinary Council for Developmental and Learning Disorders, co-leading the program when it merged with Fielding Graduate University. He has written two books on pediatric mood disorders with Dr. Stanley Greenspan. He also is currently an adjunct faculty member at Brooklyn College and at Fielding Graduate University.

Located in: Wisconsin, United States

Co-Presenting: FEAS(t) Your Eyes: The launchpad for developmental practice

Bio: Helen Groth is a British trained, dynamic special educator and DIRFloortime® Expert and Training Leader currently living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Helen uses the developmental framework of DIRFloortime®, combined with expertise gained from 30 years dedicated to nurturing the fullest potential of each child she works with. It excites Helen to collaborate with caregivers to promote their child’s development meaningfully through play and create a strong foundation for success across life.  Helen owns and runs a DIR accredited business and has funding for her DIRFloortime work with families through the Wisconsin CLTS program. Her work is rooted in nurturing connected relationships through playful interactions. She is a life-long student who is always reading and learning through additional training and mentorship.

Located in: New Jersey, United States

Presenting: Considering Kaplan’s and Maslow’s Laws of the Instrument in DIRFloortime Practice: Maintaining flexibility in our conceptualizations and practices as parents and professionals

Bio: Dr. Jeffrey Guenzel has been the leading ICDL since 2013. 

Dr. Guenzel is a professional counselor, psychotherapist, and a leader.  As a counselor and psychotherapist, he has a wide range of experience counseling adults and children for over 30 years with specialized expertise in child development, child and adolescent behavioral health, and autism.  As a leader, he has a proven track record of leadership in both the public and private sectors.  

Prior to joining ICDL, Dr. Guenzel served as the Deputy Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Children and Families and previously served as the Director of the New Jersey Division of Child Behavioral Health. In these positions, he led many innovative initiatives including restructuring the New Jersey service delivery system for children with developmental and intellectual disabilities.  

Prior to his appointments with the State of New Jersey, Dr. Guenzel was the inaugural Executive Director of the Partnership for Children of Essex, a not-for-profit agency providing Wraparound care management services for children with complex behavioral health challenges. Under his leadership, the agency became one of the largest Wraparound agencies in the nation gaining him national recognition.  

Dr. Guenzel has worked as a counselor at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (now Rutgers University), the Mental Health Clinic of Passaic, and in private practice. 

Dr. Guenzel has lectured and/or provided consultation on mental health and autism in-person throughout the world including Australia, Canada, China, Cyprus, Germany, Haiti, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and in most states in the United States of America.  His lectures and consultation have focused on clinical practice, leadership, and promoting systemic change.  In addition, Dr. Guenzel has presented to and worked with many more groups around the world live-online.  

Dr. Guenzel earned his B.A. degree in Psychology and his M.A. degree in Counseling from Montclair State University and his Doctorate in Education from Spalding University.

Dr. Guenzel has a valuable combination of clinical knowledge and skills coupled with a proven track record of successful leadership. Underpinning these skills is a life-long commitment to serving others.  

On a personal note, Dr. Guenzel has been married since 1993 to his high school sweetheart, Amy (Dr. Amy Guenzel). They have three wonderful adult children and have lived in the same home in northwest New Jersey since 1994. Dr. Guenzel's vision for life was certainly informed by being legally blind for many years of his life.  During that period of his life, Dr. Guenzel competed internationally as a member of the United States Paralympic swim team.  Although he remains visually impaired, his eye sight is much better now.  Dr. Guenzel enjoys anything handyman related, cooking,  the outdoors, and spending time with his kids and family. 

Located in: New York, United States

Co-Presenting: "Greenspans" & The Aftermath

Bio: Rachel Hammer is a New York State licensed and ASHA certified speech-language pathologist at the Rebecca School in Manhattan, where she has worked since 2017. Prior to her work at the Rebecca School, Rachel worked as an Early Intervention speech-language pathologist in Brooklyn, New York. Rachel received her B.A. in Communicative Sciences and Disorders from the University of Pittsburgh in 2013 and completed her M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology at Brooklyn College in 2015. Rachel holds an Advanced Certificate in DIRFloortime® from the International Council on Development and Learning.

Located in: New Jersey, United States

Co-Presenting: The Interplay of Prosody in the Mother Tongue (PMT), Affect, and Regulation in Constructing Emotions and Social Engagement

Bio: "Dr. Elizabeth Ijalba teaches at Queens College, CUNY. Her research focuses on bilingualism, autism, parent/teacher education, and play. She publishes in scientific journals, co-authored/edited Language, Culture and Education: Challenges of Diversity in the United States, Cambridge University Press. She was recognized by the Office of Multicultural Affairs of the American-Speech-Language-Hearing-Association (ASHA). She has trained teachers in China and Latin America to work with autistic children and their families. She was awarded the Rehabilitation International Centennial Award for her “contributions in advancing the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities worldwide”. She is a DIR-Expert Training Leader, specialized in Sensory Integration through the USC Mrs. T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy; she teaches through ICDL, and she has extensive clinical experience supporting children and adults.  

Dr. Ijalba views affect and attunement as foundational pillars of emotional communication and social engagement. She integrates developmental science, individual differences in sensory processing, regulation, and meaningful interactions in relationship building, as core factors in shaping development. Her recent work focuses on the study of prosody in the mother tongue (PMT), its cultural and emotional implications, and how PMT can be used to support regulation and engagement in children and their caregivers."

Located in: New York, United States

Presenting: DIR Against the War: Meeting parents where they are (literally) -  An experience of multimodal support groups with adults

Bio: Galina Itskovich, LCSW-R is a certified DIR®/Floortime Expert Provider and Training Leader practicing as a psychotherapist for nearly three decades. Her work reaches across clinical applications including trauma, infant and parent mental health, developmental disorders in children and adults, anxiety and depression, grief and loss. She works with kids, adults, couples, groups and families applying DIRFloortime principles to improve clinical outcomes. She lectures around the world and nationally, serves on the editorial board of “The Journal of Mental Health: Global Challenges”, and authored 10+ articles. Her work with autistic individuals and their families, with multimodal support groups and with acute war trauma was featured in several prominent publications, from “The New York Times” to “Psychology Today”

Located in: Germany

Presenting: A Developmental Journey: A story of growth from age 2 to 18

Bio: Sibylle is a psychologist with over 40 years’ experience of working with families, children and autism using a therapeutic approach that has feelings and emotional states of mind at its center, with a focus on emotional relationships and communication in the family. 

She also runs workshops, webinars and training for parents and/or professionals on Autism, DIRFloortime, the Waldon Method to Early Play and Learning, in English and German.

Sibylle lives in Germany and is author of several books and educational materials in English and German, including 'FEDC- Cards',  ‚Reaching the young autistic child‘ (2000), 3 illustrated Books in simple language for adults 'In the Family' (2004) and  ‚Autism in the Family‘ (2006), ‚MindBuilders‘ Play Manual: Playing with Babies – Playing in the Family – Playing and Autism‘ (2012) as well as ‘Autismus beziehungsorientiert behandeln’ (2021), a comprehensive handbook on theory and practice of to DIRFloortime in German."

Located in: New York, United States

Co-Presenting: An OT, PT and SLP Walk into a Classroom: Utilizing transdisciplinary collaboration to support learning and development

Bio: Allison Johnson, MS, OTR/L is a New York State licensed Occupational Therapist who earned her Master of Occupational Therapy degree from SUNY Downstate Medical Center in December 2016. Allison holds an Advanced Certificate in DIRFloortime® from ICDL. She has experience working in the school setting with a focus on autistic individuals and developmental delays and currently practices as a pediatric OT in Brooklyn, NY.

She also runs workshops, webinars and training for parents and/or professionals on Autism, DIRFloortime, the Waldon Method to Early Play and Learning, in English and German.

Located in: Egypt

Co-Presenting: Building Bridges: How DIRFloortime aligns with Middle Eastern cultural values

Bio: Nagwa Khedr is a dedicated specialist in child and family mental health with nearly 15 years of experience. She holds a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Infant, Child, and Family Mental Health and Development from Fielding Graduate University, a postgraduate certification in Sensory Integration from Sheffield Hallam University, and a Bachelor's degree from the American University in Cairo (AUC), where she graduated in 2009.

As a Certified DIRFloortime®️ Expert Training Leader, Nagwa is deeply committed to professional education and advocacy in child development. She has trained and mentored professionals worldwide in the DIR® model, sharing her expertise to enhance therapeutic practices and support families.

In 2023, Nagwa co-founded Etwasel Center for Child Development Services in Cairo, the first DIRFloortime®️-based center in Egypt, providing specialized support for children with developmental needs. Her dedication to advancing the DIRFloortime®️ model in the region led to the successful collaboration with ICDL to organize the first DIRFloortime®️ conference in the MENA region in May 2025, attracting over a hundred attendees.

Located in: Georgia, United States

Presenting: "Was it a Good Day"? Relationship Based Strategies to Support Children, Parents, and Caregivers to have "Good Days"

Bio: Amanda is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist whose practice focuses on both assessment and therapy with very young children through adults and their families. She offers services that include consultation, psychotherapy, parent coaching, and treatment planning as well as supervision and mentoring for clinicians wanting to broaden their therapeutic skills.She has expanded her practice to work with those diagnosed later in life with ADHD and Autism, especially women, girls, and those AFAB. She provides on-site, and online training in the DIR®/Floortime™model. Amanda works from a neurodiversity affirming lens and believes that there are not “one size fits all” interventions. Amanda is part of Floortime Atlanta, an interdisciplinary practice.

She is a Certified Expert DIR®/Floortime™ clinician and training leader. She serves on the Board of Trustees for the International Council on Developmental and Learning. Amanda received both her Doctoral of Psychology degree (PsyD.) and her Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from APA accredited Georgia School of Professional Psychology, in December 2010. She has a B.A. in Psychology from Tufts University and a B.F.A. in Studio Art from The School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Amanda began training and working at Floortime Atlanta in the spring of 2006.

Located in: New York, United States

Co-Presenting: An OT, PT and SLP Walk into a Classroom: Utilizing transdisciplinary collaboration to support learning and development

Bio: Jenna Lame, MS, CCC-SLP, TSSLD-BE is a New York State licensed, and American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) certified bilingual (Spanish and English) Speech Language Pathologist SLP at Rebecca School in NYC, where she has worked since 2022. Jenna received her B.A. in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences from the University of Connecticut in 2020 with a minor in Spanish and completed her M.S. in Communicative Sciences and Disorders with the Bilingual Extension at Teachers College at Columbia University in 2022. Jenna holds a Basic Certificate in DIRFloortime® from the International Council on Development and Learning. Jenna’s passions and interests include bilingual language development, the impact of bilingualism in Floortime, and neuroaffirming practices through the use of the DIRFloortime® transdisciplinary model.

Located in: Pennsylvania, United States

Presenting: DIRFloortime Relevance to Academic Performance

Bio: Maude Le Roux is a global trainer in multiple methodologies and mentor to therapists from multidisciplinary teams. She opened her practice, A Total Approach in Glen Mills, PA, USA in 2001, and the satellite office in Allentown, PA in 2023. Maude started her training career in 2007 and opened her online academy in 2019. She has designed the Developmental Pathways Model (DPM), which she applies to her unique assessment and intervention protocol for major diagnosis such as Dyspraxia, ADHD and Executive Functions, Autism, Reading and Writing Disorders, and Trauma and Attachment. Maude served 9 years on the Board of Directors for ATTACh and currently serves on their Advisory Board. She serves on the Advisory Board for LSWorks (Neuralign program). She co-authored two books and more recently wrote a chapter on Trauma and the Body in “Healing Connections” which launched in September 2024. Maude received an award for “Continued child advocacy” through the ATTACh organization in September 2024. She also received the Champion Award through ICDL in November 2024. Maude has a “whole child” approach to care and intervention and equipping the child, while empowering the parent is at the core of who she is as a clinician and trainer.

Located in: Virginia, United States

Co-Presenting: Reimagining Education: Designing a DIRfloortime school for all children

Bio: Ann-Bailey Lipsett is a special education teacher/consultant, a DIRFloortime clinical supervisor, and a DIRFloortime Training leader for ICDL. In all of these roles she works with schools, families, and Floortimers to promote neurodevelopmental practices for all individuals. Ann-Bailey is the co-author of the book Building Blocks for Social-Emotional Learning: Creating Safe, Secure, and Successful Schools. She lives in the mountains of Virginia with her husband, two daughters, two cats, two rabbits, and one dog.

Located in: California, United States

Presenting: I-DIR: Regulating interoception throughout DIR

Bio: Sanette operates a DIR-based occupational therapy private practice in far northern California. The essential heartbeat of Floortime guides her in nurturing meaningful connections and personalized solutions with clients of all ages and stages of life. Her DIR learning is ongoing—she teaches on the ICDL platform and also offers DIR mentoring and reflective practice. 

Sanette holds postgraduate certificates in infant-parent mental health, attachment, and trauma.

One of her favorite quotes from Dr. Stanley Greenspan is:

“A mentally healthy person is someone who is capable of experiencing the full range of life’s emotions at each developmental phase of life, in a broad, comprehensive, stable and deep manner.”

She considers it a true gift to work toward that ideal—both for herself and for those she serves—through the transformative power of DIRFloortime.

Located in: Massachusetts, United States

Co-Presenting: "It Just Looks Like Play": How to talk to parents about doing Floortime

Bio: "Nikki Magliaro is a licensed mental health counselor with over a decade of experience working with children and families. She is the co-founder and Clinical Director of Puzzle Pieces, LLC, an outpatient pediatric therapy practice in Quincy, MA, that provides neurodiversity-affirming, family-centered support to children ages 12 and under.

Under Nikki’s leadership, Puzzle Pieces has grown into a multidisciplinary team offering mental health therapy, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, and parent support groups. Rooted in the DIRFloortime® approach, the practice emphasizes connection, play, and emotional development as the foundation for growth. Nikki is also a certified Expert Training Leader through the Interdisciplinary Council on Development and Learning (ICDL). 

With a background in Early Intervention and a passion for creating collaborative care models, Nikki regularly presents to parents, educators, and professionals on topics related to child development, emotional regulation, and neurodiversity. She is committed to helping families feel seen, supported, and empowered every step of the way."

Located in: New York, United States

Co-Presenting: An OT, PT and SLP Walk into a Classroom: Utilizing transdisciplinary collaboration to support learning and development

Bio: Kacie McGoldrick is a New York State licensed and American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) certified Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) at Rebecca School in NYC, where she has worked since 2018. Kacie received her B.S. in Communicative Sciences and Disorders and Psychology from Northwestern University in 2015 and completed her M.S. in Communicative Sciences and Disorders at New York University in December 2017. Kacie is an Expert DIRFloortime® Provider and serves as the Research and Professional Development Coordinator for the Speech Language Pathology Department at Rebecca School. Her areas of interest include the foundational functional emotional developmental capacities (FEDC) and their impact on language development, including presymbolic language development. Additionally, Kacie feels passionately about the importance of clinical and continuing education, serving as a graduate student supervisor, coordinating the graduate student experience for the SLP Department at Rebecca School and presenting on several occasions at various national and international conferences for a variety of organizations, including the International Council on Development and Learning (ICDL) and ASHA.

Located in: South Carolina, United States

Co-Presenting: Meaning Making in Play: Using the DIRFloortime model to support development of representational praxis and symbolic language

Bio: Karen McWaters graduated from Georgia State University with her Masters in Occupational Therapy in 2018, and she completed the Post-Professional Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (PPOTD) program at the Medical University of South Carolina. She is a Clinical Assistant Professor and Academic Fieldwork Coordinator at Georgia State University with research interests in pediatric mental health and trauma-sensitive practice in addition to the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. She has extensive clinical experience as a pediatric OT specifically related to complex trauma, foster/adoptive children, Autism, and visual perceptual challenges. She holds advanced certifications in these areas of practice. She has directed OT programs at private schools and community-based organizations. As a pediatric OT, she loves that this field enables partnerships with families to meet each child’s unique needs and harnesses the power of relationships to impact each kid’s life.

Located in: New York, United States

Presenting: Being a DIRFloortimer in a Mixed Model Special Education Preschool

Bio: Michelle Merna has over 17 years of experience using DMT to support neurodiverse children within a school setting. In 2022 she received her DIRFloortime Expert certificate and now practices DIRFloortime informed DMT. In addition, she has a private clinical supervision and DIRFloortime mentoring practice. She has presented on using movement to support neurodiverse children at numerous conferences and community settings.  Michelle has also held an adjunct position at Long Island University within the Art Therapy department teaching undergraduate students’ interdisciplinary collaboration. Her passion and focus are bringing the neurodiversity affirming model of DIRFloortime to the forefront of DMT practice.

Located in: New York, United States

Co-Presenting: Testing the Limits: Psychological assessment in partnership with DIRFloortime

Bio: Dr. Christine Moyle (she/her) is a New York State Licensed Psychologist with a doctorate in School-Clinical Child Psychology from Pace University (2018) and a bachelor’s degree from Fordham University. She has worked in diverse clinical settings, including medical environments, in-home care, and therapeutic schools such as the Howard Haber Early Learning Center at AHRC NYC and, most recently, as a psychologist at the Rebecca School in Manhattan.

Currently practicing at Ridge Psychological Services in Park Slope, Brooklyn, Dr. Moyle provides psychotherapy, DIRFloortime®, and neuropsychological assessments. She also supervises psychologists-in-training, guiding their integration of developmental perspectives in therapy and assessment.

Her work focuses on children, adolescents, and families, particularly those in the neurodivergent population, LGBTQIA+ youth, and members of nonmonogamous communities. She blends relationship-based play therapy, cognitive-behavioral strategies, and trauma-informed, sensory-somatic approaches, often incorporating music, movement, imaginative play, and storytelling (including tabletop roleplaying games) to deepen connection, build emotional insight, and foster self-expression.

Located in: Pennsylvania, United States

Co-Presenting: The "Good or Bad? Hard to Say..." Parable: Navigating the complexities of Autistic support needs

Bio: Robert Naseef has a distinct voice as a psychologist and father of an adult son with autism. He has spoken around the country and trained professionals internationally in treating autism and supporting families. Along with Stephen Shore, Ed.D., Dr. Naseef is a lead consultant to the Arc of Philadelphia and SAP’s “Autism at Work” program which involves collaboration with the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation. He speaks at conferences nationally and internationally on issues facing families of children with autism and other special needs. He is a member of the Panel of Professional Advisors of the Autism Society of America and a member of the Board of Directors of ICDL. He has a special interest in the psychology of men and fatherhood.

Located in: Italy

Co-Presenting: Language Individual Differences: Analytic and Gestalt processors through the lens of DIRFloortime

Bio: Sissy is a Speech and Language Pathologist who completed her university studies in Greece and her clinical training in Scotland. Following her training, she moved to the UK, working in Brighton and Manchester across a range of settings, including nursery schools, primary schools, and adult care homes. After nearly five years in the UK, she relocated to northern Italy, where she has spent the past six years working in a private multidisciplinary clinic supporting American military families and their children.

Now a certified DIRFloortime Expert and Training Leader, Sissy is passionate about promoting social-emotional and language development through relationship-based practices. Her goal is to build knowledge and interest in the DIR model across Italy, Greece, and beyond, helping clinicians understand how to support children’s social communication, foster meaningful interactions, and better understand the process of language development.

Located in: New York, United States

Co-Presenting: Wait For It: The importance of integrating processing time in students' daily learning

Bio: Anna O’Connell is a head teacher at the Rebecca School. She has spent the past eight years at Rebecca School working with neurodiverse students ages 17 to 22. She particularly enjoys the creativity involved in tailoring academic lessons to fit her students’ diverse strengths, and prioritizes self-advocacy, confidence-building, and family collaboration in her practice. With a background in creative writing and playwriting, Anna integrates her experience in theater, specifically storytelling and humor, into her teaching. Anna is passionate about DIRFloortime, inclusive education, and reimagining learning through a lens of accessibility and empowerment.

Located in: Thailand

Presenting: Adapting DIRFloortime in a Hospital Outpatient Setting: Introducing the "Circle of Security" a visual aid for effective teaching methods

Bio: Dr. Kingkaew Pajareya is a certified DIRFloortime Expert Training Leader and author of a book exploring the integration of developmental therapy with Buddhist principles, emphasizing compassion, mindfulness, and holistic approach. Now she serves as an Associate Professor at Mahidol University and is the Editor-in-Chief of the ASEAN Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine. Her work focuses on applying family-centered, evidence-based interventions to children with autism and developmental challenges, blending modern therapy with traditional Buddhist philosophies to foster inner peace and resilience. Through her research, training, and writings, she continues to inspire professionals and families to harness mindfulness and developmental principles for optimal growth and full potential.

Located in: New York, United States

Co-Presenting: DIR and Communication: One child's communication development over 5 years as told through stories and videos by his parents and a DIRFloortime Speech Language Therapist

Bio: Bridget Palmer is a DIRFloortime Expert Training Leader at ICDL where she teaches DIRFloortime courses and mentors’ providers in DIRFloortime. She has been a strengths-based, developmental, relationship-based Speech Language Therapist for over 25 years. She loves supporting engagement and connection, and going for the gleam in the eye. She embraces neurodiversity and is neurodiversity-affirming. She lives with her wonderful husband in Buffalo, New York in the United States.

Located in: Georgia, United States

Presenting: Good Stress, Toxic Stress, Burnout and DIR: Poisons and antidotes (and the wisdom to know the difference)

Bio: Kathy is a Licensed Psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia. Her private practice, Floortime Atlanta is transdisciplinary and focuses on both assessment and treatment of individuals with a wide range of developmental conditions and their families. 

She received her doctorate from the University of Chicago, Committee on Human Development. Additionally, she completed a re-specialization in Child and Family Psychotherapy from Georgia State University. 

For 23 years, she was on the research faculty at Emory School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, where she worked in the Human Genetics Laboratory taking part in a research team that focused on prenatal drug exposure and long-term developmental consequences thereof. 

Some of her research efforts have been with nonhuman primates at the Harvard School of Public Health’s Nutrition Laboratory, at Georgia State’s Language Research Center, and at Yerkes Primate Center. 

She was the first recipient of the DIR Lifetime Champion Award (2022).

Located in: Connecticut, United States

Co-Presenting: Teachers with Self-reported Lived Experiences of Anxiety with Strict, Cold Parents, had Higher Capacities for Emotional Awareness

Bio: Frances Poteet, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is a post-doctoral fellow at the UMass Chan School of Medicine. She obtained her Ph.D. in Infant & Early Childhood Development, with an emphasis on Infant Mental Health & Developmental Disorders, at Fielding Graduate University, her M.A. at West Chester University, M.S.S. (Social Services) at Bryn Mawr College, and B.S. (Psychology) at Chestnut Hill College. Frances has lectured on trauma, development, and interoception at Eastern Michigan University, Douglas College (BC), and University of Pretoria (SA). She has expertise providing bilingual/bicultural clinical services in therapeutic schools and outpatient clinics for children ages birth-21 years old.

Located in: Romania

Co-Presenting: Developing DIR Excellence Through Supervision, Mentorship and Intervision

Bio: Liliana is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Adlerian Psychotherapist in Romania with a Master of Arts (MA) in Clinical Psychology. In 2015, Liliana founded WeChange Center for Development and Psychotherapy to offer play-based therapy services and support for families of children with developmental differences, and in 2019, she started DIRFloortime training in Romania. She is a DIR Expert/Training leader and a Clinical Coordinator for 16 DIRFloortime Therapists at WeChange. She is passionate about Developmental Psychology, Neuropsychology, and Family Coaching and Counseling.

Located in: Pennsylvania, United States

Co-Presenting: The WONDERful World of Affordances in DIRFloortime: Zooming in on praxis

Bio: Shalyn Reed is a licensed occupational who graduated with a master’s degree from Gannon University located in the state of Pennsylvania. She has worked as a pediatric occupational therapist within a variety of settings surrounding the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area including: early intervention, preschools, daycares, homes, virtual platforms, the community, and a sensory integration clinic. She is currently working within the early intervention setting. Shalyn is a certified DIR Expert Training Leader and has been a training leader within the DIR certificate program since 2020. Shalyn’s certifications include caregiver coaching (FGRBI), SOS approach to feeding, MNRI Reflex Integration and Tactile integration, Handwriting Without Tears, Interactive Metronome, and Therapeutic Listening. She is currently pursuing a certification in Ayre’s Sensory Integration.

Located in: New York, United States

Co-Presenting: Wait For It: The importance of integrating processing time in students' daily learning

Bio: Lauren Rosato is a Head Teacher at the Rebecca School. She has her master’s degree in education and is a New York certified teacher in Special Education (Grades 1-6) and Childhood Education (Grades 1-6). She has been at the Rebecca School for 8 years. In 2017, Lauren started at the Rebecca School as a Teaching Assistant and became a Head Teacher in 2019. Lauren also has a minor in music and is passionate about music. She plays the guitar, piano and sings. Lauren uses music in her classroom to engage her students and support their learning differences. Lauren has her advanced level certification in DIRFloortime® from ICDL. She has a strong understanding of adapting developmentally based curriculum to meet each child’s sensory and individual needs.

Located in: New York, United States

Presenting: What Does It Mean To Be The Best Toy in The Room?

Co-Presenting: The WONDERful World of Affordances in DIRFloortime: Zooming in on praxis

Bio: Dr. Colette Ryan is a DIRFloortime expert and training leader for ICDL. She has a Ph.D. in Infant and Early Childhood Development and is an Infant Mental Health Fellow at Montclair State University. Her expertise is in DIR, development, and parental self-efficacy. Dr. Ryan supports families in around the world, teaches classes for ICDL, maintains a private practice, and provides mentoring and reflective supervision. Dr. Ryan has spoken at many conferences on topics including infant mental health, DIRFloortime, grief in the young child, discipline, play, and child development and in many locations in the US, and in Kyiv, Hong Kong, and Tokyo. She is originally from the Adirondack Mountains of New York State, but she has brought DIR to others around the world.

Located in: New York, United States

Co-Presenting: DIR and Communication: One child's communication development over 5 years as told through stories and videos by his parents and a DIRFloortime Speech Language Therapist

Bio: Megan and Mark Salvatore are parents to an eight-year-old boy with Autism. They have been working with DIRFloortime Expert Training Leader Bridget Palmer for over 5 years to implement the DIRFloortime model at home to enhance their relationship and communication skills with their son. They have always focused on total communication and their son is now able to communicate using spoken words, gestures, actions, facial expressions, and an AAC device (augmentative and alternative communication). They live in Western New York in the United States.

Located in: New York, United States

Co-Presenting: DIR and Communication: One child's communication development over 5 years as told through stories and videos by his parents and a DIRFloortime Speech Language Therapist

Bio: Megan and Mark Salvatore are parents to an eight-year-old boy with Autism. They have been working with DIRFloortime Expert Training Leader Bridget Palmer for over 5 years to implement the DIRFloortime model at home to enhance their relationship and communication skills with their son. They have always focused on total communication and their son is now able to communicate using spoken words, gestures, actions, facial expressions, and an AAC device (augmentative and alternative communication). They live in Western New York in the United States.

Located in: Massachusetts, United States

Co-Presenting: "It Just Looks Like Play": How to talk to parents about doing Floortime

Bio: Megan Selchan, MA, LMHC, CEIS, is a licensed mental health counselor with over 15 years of experience supporting young children and their families. She is the co-founder and Clinical Director of Puzzle Pieces, LLC, an outpatient pediatric therapy practice in Quincy, MA, providing neurodiversity-affirming, family-centered care for children 12 and under.

With a background in Dance/Movement Therapy and Counseling Psychology, Megan brings a whole-person, relationship-based approach to her work. She leads a multidisciplinary team and provides clinical supervision while maintaining a small caseload.

Megan is a certified Early Intervention Specialist and DIRFloortime®-trained clinician with a passion for caregiver collaboration and supporting parent-child connection. Her early research focused on mothers of children with autism, and she continues to advocate for therapeutic spaces where both children and parents feel supported.

She regularly presents on emotional development, early childhood mental health, and developmental, relationship-based care."

Located in: Latvia

Co-Presenting: Integrating DIRFloortime® into Paediatric Palliative Care: A five-year experience with neurodevelopmental disorders

Bio: I hold a Master’s degree in Psychology, specializing in clinical and counselling psychology. Since 2015, I’ve worked with children with special needs, starting with ABA therapy. While that gave me valuable structure, I longed for deeper emotional connection.

I first discovered the DIRFloortime approach as a mother of autistic children. That personal experience shifted my perspective — I saw how development can unfold through joyful, attuned interaction. Inspired, I began using Floortime professionally with children facing severe communication and cognitive challenges.

Today, I work with both children and adults, including neurodivergent clients. I provide individual counselling, lead therapeutic and supervision groups, and teach Floortime to parents and professionals. I’m also involved in developing the approach in Latvia.

For me, Floortime isn’t just a therapy technique — it’s a way of being with others that centers on curiosity, connection, and acceptance.

Located in: Greece

Co-Presenting: Language Individual Differences: Analytic and Gestalt processors through the lens of DIRFloortime

Bio: Vili was born in Athens, Greece. She studied Speech and Language Therapy in London, where she also worked in schools for a couple of years. She then moved back to Athens, where she worked in private clinics. Two years ago, she opened her own private clinic for children and teens.

Vili is a training leader of DIRFloortime in Greece and teaches DIR courses in Greek. At the same time, she is actively working to raise awareness of the model in the country. Her areas of expertise are AAC and selective mutism, and she approaches both through the lens of the DIR model.

Located in: Switzerland

Co-Presenting: Reimagining Education: Designing a DIRfloortime school for all children

Bio: Davina has worked in the field of special education for over 25 years.  A passionate advocate for respect for all young people, staff and families within the educational system, she coaches in schools, helps set up equity-based learning environments for her clients and works with individuals and their caregivers, always with DIRFloortime.  Davina has worked in the US, Jamaica and currently lives in Switzerland.  She has co-translated and taught DIR 101 and is presently working on translating 202 into French.

Located in: Georgia, United States

Presenting: Why Can't My Kid Have a Conversation?

Bio: Mary Beth Stark is a licensed speech and language pathologist specializing in social communication disorders in children. Major focus has been on working with autistic children and their families, utilizing the DIR model. Therapeutic care considers the unique communication patterns of this population, stresses the importance of verbal and nonverbal communication, and addresses the significance of human connection as it relates to developing communication

Located in: Romania

Presenting: Emotionally Connecting with the Child Beyond Physical Space - DIRFloortime Online

Bio: Miha Tătucu is a neurodiversity-affirming licensed psychopedagogue who integrates DIR®Floortime with AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) and speech-language strategies within a multidisciplinary approach. She offers therapy both in person and online, and is often amazed by how play can remain meaningful and joyful — even across many miles. Since childhood, Miha has shared beautiful moments playing with neurodivergent children, some of whom lived on her street. As an adult, she continues to support them and their families with the same curiosity, care, and commitment.

Located in: New York, United States

Presenting: 5 (or so) Things You Could Do Today to Make Your Floortime Effective!

Co-Presenting: Developing DIR Excellence Through Supervision, Mentorship and Intervision

Bio: Gil Tippy, PsyD is the former Clinical Director and one of the founders of the Rebecca School in New York City. He is the former Director, the Clinical Director Emeritus and one of the founders of Shub Oak International School in Westchester County, New York. He is the co-author, along with Stanley Greenspan, MD, of Respecting Autism, (Vantage Press, 2011.) He is the author of many articles and book chapters on the subjects of developmental support, and appropriate developmental education. Dr. Tippy consults internationally to schools, individuals and clinical programs, and has been a featured presenter at many national and international conferences. He has been a teacher, a psychologist or both for the last 45 years.

Located in: New Jersey, United States

Presenting: Coaching: An idealized premise. How can we actualize maximum potential from each individual family system and parental FEDCs?

Bio: Miriam Tirtza Katz holds an MS in Education and a Bachelor’s of Science in psychology. Tirtza has worked with individuals with disabilities as a certified Teacher of the Handicapped for over 20 years. She has been a DIRfloortime practitioner for more than 10. After certifying through the P.L.A.Y. Project, Tirtza continued her DIRFloortime certification through ICDL. Tirtza is passionate about supporting families in ways that are practical, supportive to all, and imbue a felt sense of safety. She is proud to have been published in Frontiers of Neuroscience on the renaissance of autism treatments after having worked for Dr. Elizabeth Torres through the NJ Autism Center for Excellence. Through MTKtherapy, Tirtza offers direct service for children and their parents, consultations, and professional workshops. Tirtza is a proud member of New Jersey’s Association for Infant Mental Health and an avid follower of infant mental health research. Tirtza strives to translate knowledge into action as she raises her five children in Lakewood, NJ.

Located in: New York, United States

Co-Presenting: "Greenspans" & The Aftermath

Bio: Toni Tortora has over 15 years of experience as an Occupational Therapist and a DIRFloortime® provider, consultant, and parent coach. Toni received her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from SUNY, Downstate Medical Center. She is the Clinical Director of the Rebecca School, where she has worked since 2008. Toni has extensive training in DIRFloortime®; she is an Expert level training leader and teaches courses for professionals and parents through ICDL (International Council on Development and Learning) about child development, DIRFloortime® in schools and DIRFloortime® across the lifespan. Toni also teaches courses and lectures in sensory integration, trauma, and learning in the classroom environment. She is an educator, consultant and parent coach located in NYC and Long Island, NY. Toni believes that parent and self-advocate choice are essential when supporting neurodiverse families.

Located in: New York, United States

Co-Presenting: Wait For It: The importance of integrating processing time in students' daily learning

Bio: Melissa Valente is a Head Teacher at the Rebecca School. She has a Bachelor of Arts and is pursuing a master's degree in special education. She has been at the Rebecca School for 7 years. In 2018, Melissa started at the Rebecca School as a Teaching Assistant and became a Head Teacher in 2022. Melissa also has a bachelors in dance studies and minor in art history. With a creative arts background, Melissa integrates her experiences in staging and storytelling into her teaching. She enjoys finding new and creative ways to adapt developmentally based curriculum to support her student’s growth and independence. Melissa has her proficient level certification in DIRFloortime® from ICDL.

Located in: South Carolina, United States

Co-Presenting: FEAS(t) Your Eyes: The launchpad for developmental practice

Bio: Laura Westbrook is a pediatric occupational therapist and DIRFloortime® Expert and Training Leader living in Charleston, South Carolina. Laura has her own practice, The Affective Collective, where she sees children in her play space and in their home environment. Laura has experience in early intervention, outpatient settings, the NICU, and pediatric acute care. No matter the setting, play is the leading occupation at the forefront of Laura’s work, supporting families in making meaning in their lives and of the world around them. Laura’s favorite part about work is when a caregiver finds the gleam in their eye when joyfully connecting with their child.

Located in: United Kingdom

Presenting: Sustained Shared Joy: Getting there and staying there in Floortime play

Bio: Denise Wilson has been working with children as an occupational therapist for 30 years. She has a Master’s degree in Psychological Research Methods. She is Director at Connecting Through Play in Oxfordshire, UK, where she uses the DIRFloortime Model in family homes, schools and at her therapy space. She mentors practitioners online both individually and in groups.

To deepen her practice, she has done further training in Play Therapy, Sensory Integration Therapy, Sensory Attachment Intervention, INPP Licentiate and a range of sound therapies. She has recently completed a post graduate qualification in Personalized Nutrition.

She has been teaching DIRFloortime with ICDL both online and face to face since 2013.

She is the mother of 3 young adults. She tries to share joyful experiences at home and at work on a daily basis.