FAMILY STORIES

"  Marlen sees all three of our children ages 7, 3, & 1 for occupational therapy. There was life before Marlen and life after. Our family has changed significantly since she began treating our children. Not only does she equip them with tools to function day to day, she supports my husband and I as we endeavor to raise our children who have sensory processing challenges. We cannot imagine our lives without her and feel so blessed to have her support. Without her, everyday life would be too much for our little ones. We were just together with friends who have children similar ages with similar difficulties to our own. Unlike our children, theirs have not been evaluated or had occupational therapy. It was difficult to watch their children struggle through the vacation and yet at the same time watch our children thrive. Our children can eat a large variety of foods, handle the presentation of new foods, tolerate large/noisy venues, have their teeth brushed and flossed, have lotion/sunscreen applied, and have fewer meltdowns. The difference was stark. My children truly enjoyed that spring break trip to an indoor water park and as the parents we did too! Marlene’s role is imperative to our children’s ability to navigate everyday struggles as they grow and develop. Every session she reinforces strategies to help our kiddos navigate obstacles their diagnosis presents day to day. Their brains are learning how to adapt and change and rise above the flight/fight/freeze response. We’re confident our children will successfully navigate the world on their own one day. They are thriving and will continue to and there will never be a moment where I do not greatly remember Marlene’s impact on their lives. "

" Our therapist is amazing.  Smart moves has helped my son tremendously.  My therapist has gone above and beyond to help my son.  When we started, my son was having a tough time in school.  He was unable to sit through class and not in the general classroom.  My therapist has worked with him and taught him skills to regulate himself.  We recently started music therapy; this has helped him so much.  He enjoys it, and we have had great strides in the last few weeks.  He has moved to the general class for a few hours, which is a huge step for us.  Thank you, Smart Moves (Linda), for supporting our family!!!  Smart Moves does care!!! "

"We call Miss Debbie 'the child whisperer.' She is the perfect mix of nurturing and firmness, which lets our son know she wants him to succeed and will help him along the way. Her play-based strategies and individualized sessions helped my son with various issues, and she always adjusts to whatever need is most pressing for him when he arrives. He adores her and her team. The entire practice is a tightly knit community, which we are thankful to be part of."

"My family has found a home with Smart Moves, and they have changed my children's life for the better. They have provided us with the needed tools for my entire family. This journey they're on has been emotional but more fulfilling than any other in my life. Although the dreams that I had for my children have changed, I see a bright and fulfilling future for them both. I am grateful to Smart Moves for everything that they have done not only for my children but for my entire family."

"My twin daughters, Lindsay and Hannah (who both have special needs) and I had the pleasure of first meeting and working with Debbie Haymon, Founder and Director of Smart Moves Pediatrics. Seventeen years ago, when I met Debbie, she was a fairly new OT working at another local clinic. Debbie worked with Hannah, age 2 when Hannah needed therapy to address her sensory issues, fine motor tasks, and executive functioning skills. We were very pleased and impressed with Hannah's strides during that time. Years later, I sought Debbie out, and she began working with Lindsay, who has severe cerebral palsy, is non-verbal, has uncontrolled seizures, and overall developmental delays. Debbie's extensive knowledge of sensory integration and various methods used to treat global developmental delays were unlike any other Occupational Therapist (OT) we had experienced. Not only that, but Debbie has a spirit of fun, great perception, develops wonderful relationships with her clients, along with being a great resource for parents. These are all prevalent qualities within the clinic that Debbie Haymon developed. Smart Moves Pediatrics is a clinic I frequently recommend because of its location, knowledge, and experience of the therapists and staff, affordability while offering a wide variety of activities that kids and young adults enjoy. Big fan of Smart Moves Pediatrics!"

"I wanted to share my experience as a mother of a 6-year-old who began to receive occupational therapy in October of 2015. I was having complaints about him being overly tired at school and his behaviors. I didn't feel like my child fit all the criteria for an ADHD diagnosis, so when I heard about OT, I immediately wanted him to get an evaluation. I want to share that this was the best thing I have done for my child. Since he began OT once a week at Smart Moves Pediatrics, he has improved so much. He looks forward to it every week, and his teacher reports that his behaviors are so much better. He has also improved his ability to self-regulate his emotions.

I would've never been able to identify that he needed services, although I did observe some odd behaviors from him. My child never had any developmental problems as an infant or toddler, but when the teacher shared her concerns, I began to observe his behaviors at home.

Since my child began receiving services, he has improved so much. His frustrations with writing have decreased, and his handwriting has improved. He can also sit up during circle time at school for more extended periods. His behavior at school has improved so much, and he has bonded with his OT therapist."

"These comments are from both of us. We, the grandparents, babysit our two granddaughters, now ages six and three, each Monday, and so we have brought them often to Smart Moves Pediatrics for Occupational therapy. We have observed their OT exercises and activities and have met with the therapists.

We are both former school social workers who worked extensively with elementary school children, Special Education teams, and related specialists. We've never seen better services than those provided to our granddaughters at Smart Moves Pediatrics. The girls love to come to OT and are eager to engage in even challenging exercises and activities. We have been incredibly impressed at the superb skills shown by the therapists in bonding with the girls, using innovative and enjoyable activities and strategies, encouraging and motivating the girls, and providing specific but varied tasks each session. The therapists also describe both broad and specific goals for each child based upon their needs.

Our granddaughters immensely enjoy their sessions, but they have also made real progress and growth that we can see in self-confidence, core strength, and related physical and social skills. As grandparents and professionals, we could not be more impressed or pleased by the OT services our granddaughters have received."

"We have had the pleasure of receiving OT services at Smart Moves Pediatrics for over a year now, and I must say it has been more of a blessing. My daughters have made significant improvements, and they both adore their therapists. Both Marlen and Lizette treat my daughters with care and always take the time to listen to my concerns. We have also worked with Debbie, who is just as amazing as a therapist and a person. Thank you so much, Smart Moves!"

"We are a family who is so fortunate to have had Debbie Haymon in our lives over the past five years. She began working with our son just as he transitioned out of EI. We knew that there was still a great deal of work ahead, and she helped ease that transition. Her experience and gentle, loving manner were instantly the combinations that helped build rapport with our son and us as parents.

We followed Debbie when she said she was opening her clinic. We were excited to see her follow her dreams. Her clinic reflected how important it was for her to have all the necessary equipment, space, and multisensory games to address the varying needs of all the children. In addition, Debbie was a critical member of a larger therapy team for our son. Debbie not only tailored each OT session to address what body issues were going on that day, but she also was able to keep in mind larger goals and worked collaboratively with other disciplines.

We called upon Debbie in a variety of ways. She was a strong voice in IEP meetings if needed, she led sessions at preschool if required, and she worked with our younger son as it became apparent that he, too, required some assistance. She has worked with each of our sons individually as well as together. But, most importantly, she is not afraid of trying new ideas, and she always has time to listen to family concerns. We don't know where we would be without Debbie. She is a very gifted therapist, a wonderfully kind person, and a hard worker. We would recommend her without hesitation to any family. She is exceptional."

 “Smart moves is a clean and fun place for kids. They tailor their program to meet the needs of the child. Miss Lizette is very nice, caring, and welcoming. She has lots of patience and is great at meeting my son’s sensory needs. My son looks forward to coming every week.”