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Heather Clare, MA OTR/L
Director of Special Programs
Heather has worked with special needs children for more than 17 years. For the last eight years Heather has worked at the Carousel Nonpublic School where she is a clinician and Director of Special Programs. In these roles, Heather works individually and in groups with children in need of Occupational Therapy, and she has developed and implemented programs to assist the students in their education, communication and vocational goals. She developed and implements at Carousel School the Informative Pointing Method (IPM), which is a classroom model that teaches non-verbal students with autism how to communicate through pointing and typing using an academic curriculum. Heather also leads the students in making craft items, soap, candles, fleece blankets and other items. Heather coordinates the Carousel School swimming program. Heather came to Carousel School with much experience working with children and adolescents in school and community-based settings. She has worked as a behavior therapist, Special Ed teacher, Special Ed assistant and she managed her own swim program for children with special needs.
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Heather earned her BS in Psychology from Florida State University. She earned her MS in Occupational Therapy from the University of Southern California. Heather is also a member of the CCNIA (Characterizing Cognition in Non-verbal Individuals with Autism) research group. This group of scientists, researchers, and clinicians are researching new interventions for individuals who are severely affected by autism. Heather also provides lectures and IPM workshops to families, teachers, and therapists across the United States and internationally.
