Meet our awesome Occupational therapists who keep Early Bird Thriving!

AMANDA DEEL HUFFMAN

Amanda Deel is a Full Time Occupational Therapist with Early Bird.  She is originally from Michigan. She moved to Charlotte, NC in 2019 where she joined the Early Bird team.  She received her Bachelors of Science from Michigan State University in 2017 and her Masters in Occupational Therapy from Grand Valley State University in 2019.  Amanda is passionate about working with pediatrics and loves to be playful and fun during therapy.  Amanda specializes in early intervention, sensory processing disorders, self-regulation difficulties, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and fine motor delays.  She loves working with families in their home and community environments where she can support the child in their natural environment in order to have the most success in their daily life.  In her spare time, Amanda loves to hike, camp, read, and play board games and cards with her friends and family.

CHARLOTTE YOST

COURTNEY STANLEY

Courtney received a BA in Psychology (2006) and Master’s in Occupational Therapy (2008) from East Carolina University. She’s one of rare locals, and is from Matthews. She has 9 years of experience as a pediatric Occupational therapist, and 8 years in clinic based practice. She has certifications in Early Intervention, Handwriting Without Tears®, Sequential Oral Sensory Approach to Feeding™ (SOS). She has experience treating and especially enjoys working with children with Autism and other developmental delays, Down Syndrome, sensory processing disorders, feeding difficulties, motor planning difficulties, handwriting difficulties, fine motor and visual perceptual delays or difficulties. She has 2 young girls, and enjoys empowering parents and families to help their children thrive. She also enjoys music, and incorporates it into her sessions as often as she can.

DEVIN HARRISON

DANA SHEPHERD

Dana is from Buffalo, NY and received her Bachelor of Science degree in Health Science from Stony Brook University in Long Island, NY in 2003. After volunteering with the Stony Brook University Medical Center Occupational Therapy Department and UCP Children’s Learning Center of Cheektowaga, NY, Dana fell in love with the field of occupational therapy. She graduated from the New York Institute of Technology in Long Island, NY with her Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy in 2006. Following graduation, she worked as a school-based therapist with the New York City Department of Education until October 2012. Additionally, Dana has worked in sensory based clinics and performed home care visits for the New York City Early Intervention program. Dana has experience and training in Handwriting Without Tears, Therapeutic Listening, Astronaut Training, Interactive Metronome, the SOS Approach to Feeding, and is working towards completing her certification in the administration of the Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests. Dana’s outlook on home-based therapy has changed since recently becoming a mother of two. She strives to fully understand the challenges her families face and collaboratively works to develop effective, sensible and fun ways to support her clients’ participation in their daily activities. Dana enjoys spending time with her husband, son and daughter, and relaxes with arts and crafts in her spare time.

JENNY BEN-HAIL

JENNIFER HOWELL

Jennifer is originally from Baltimore MD. Graduated with a Bachelor of Science in OT from Towson University in 1996. She has lived in Waxhaw, NC for 18 years and worked for EBDS since 2009. She has a Level I certification in Hippotherapy. She has worked in pediatrics since 1998. She is married with two children, and spends most of her free time watching her children play softball and baseball. She enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking and enjoys exploring nature. She loves being part of a team with families and helping parents become empowered to lead their children toward independence.

RACHEL ANDRUS

Rachel was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Rachel moved to North
Carolina to attend school and play volleyball at Wingate University.
Rachel graduated from Wingate University with an undergraduate degree
in Exercise Science, followed by her Doctoral Degree in Occupational
Therapy.  Following graduation, Rachel worked as a school-based
therapist with Charlotte Mecklenburg School system. Rachel is
passionate about working with pediatrics and specializes in early
intervention, sensory processing disorders, self-regulation, and fine
motor delays. Rachel loves the opportunity to be a part of a team and
collaborate with children and caregivers to promote independence in
their daily lives. Rachel loves spending free time with her husband
and enjoys playing pickle-ball, camping, reading, and traveling with
family.

JESSICA JENNINGS

Jessica Jennings is a full time Occupational Therapist with Early Bird who covers the Steele Creek and surrounding South Charlotte areas.  She is a born and raised Florida girl who has lived in the Charlotte area since 2014.  She graduated in 2006 with a Bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training from Florida Gulf Coast University and in 2010 with a Master’s of Occupational Therapy degree from University of St Augustine for Health Sciences.  Jessica has a passion for pediatrics with experience in hospital based, outpatient based, NICU and home health settings.  Her certifications and areas of interest include Interactive Metronome, Astronaut Training, Therasuit Method, behavior and self-regulation strategies, sensory-behavioral feeding, sensory integration, visual and fine motor difficulties, handwriting, self-care and most of all improving play skills with children who have a wide range of developmental delays.  Jessica also treats children ages birth to three through the Early Intervention program with the Children’s Developmental Services Agency of Mecklenburg County as well as working on her Master Coach training in coaching interaction styles and natural learning environment practices through The Family, Infant and Preschool Program.  The most enjoyable part of her job is getting the opportunity to work within her community and not being bound to the four walls of a clinic.   In her spare time, Jessica enjoys travelling with her family and friends, spending time outdoors with her 2 dogs and practicing yoga.

KAITLYN (GREENBERG) CARDONA

Kaitlyn received her Bachelors Degree in Psychology with a minor in Child & Family Development from UNC Charlotte and her Masters Degree in Occupational Therapy from Emory & Henry School of Health Sciences. She has years of experience working with children from birth to three in a wide variety of roles prior to becoming an Occupational Therapist. Kaitlyn specializes in working with infants with feeding difficulties with training in tethered oral tissues (TOTs) as well as helping them meet developmental milestones. In addition she loves working with children with other feeding difficulties such as picky eating. She also enjoys treating children who have neurological and genetic diagnoses such as Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome and Rett Syndrome. Kaitlyn lives in the Lake Norman area with her husband and their sweet Golden Doodle, Theo. They enjoy spending time on the lake as well as traveling to the mountains for skiing in the winter.

KEIRA GATHERS

Keira Gathers, originally from Idaho, graduated with her master’s degree in occupational therapy from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington in 2005.  Her specialty areas of practice and certifications include early intervention, pediatric feeding, Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) approach to feeding, Therapeutic Listening, and certification to administer and interpret the Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests (SIPT). She has experience treating children with developmental delays, feeding issues, sensory processing disorders, autism spectrum disorders, Down syndrome, and fine motor delays. Keira’s passion is living life to the fullest and working with clients to do the same.  She enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter, traveling, hiking, tennis, music, and spending time in the sun.

LISA GRIFFITH

MEGAN BRAUNINGER 

Megan was born and raised in Waynesboro, Virginia.  She graduated from Lenoir Rhyne College in 2005 with a degree in Occupational Therapy and began working in an outpatient pediatric clinic and has worked in several other pediatric clinics in the state of North Carolina over her 18 years in practice.  Megan joined Early Bird in November 2022 when she and her family relocated to Charlotte. Her specialty areas of practice and certifications include early intervention, Handwriting Without Tears®, Beckman Oral Motor Protocol, Sequential Oral Sensory Approach to Feeding™ (SOS) and pediatric feeding, Kinesiotaping, Craniosacral Therapy, pediatric Neurodevelopmental training (NDT), Executive Functioning, and the Astronaut Program. Megan has experience working with the  birth to 3 population, home/community based clients, sensory processing disorders, feeding difficulties, developmental delays, motor planning difficulties, handwriting difficulties, and self care challenges. Megan enjoys the flexibility of working within the clinic or community to help children and their families flourish and grow.