Occupational Therapists

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Dana is a lifelong Alaskan, who has been working with children in Anchorage and across the state for over 25 years. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Therapy from San Jose State University in 1991 and has enjoyed continued education in evidence based pediatric occupational therapy approaches. Her clinical experiences include early intervention, in patient acute care, outpatient clinics and outreach to infants and children in remote communities of Alaska. Dana uses the following approaches in treatment: D.I.R. Floortime, Oral Motor Treatments, Ayers Sensory Integration, Neurodevelopmental Treatment, Perception-Action Approach, trainings in ocular motor and visual perceptual skills, Integrated Listening Systems, treatments for Dyslexia, Yoga, Lindamood-Bell’s LIPS program, and Aquatic Therapy, to name a few.

Dana enjoys spending her free time with her family and dogs, gardening, doing home improvement projects, traveling, volunteering, and being creative.

I'm an Occupational Therapist from New York City with 8 years of experience working in public schools, guiding students through skill-building and growth. I spent four years supporting young learners in elementary school (ages 4–10) and another four years with middle and high schoolers (ages 10–18). After a year-long break from work to travel and recharge, I’m excited to make Anchorage my next adventure! I'm drawn to Anchorage for its balance of thrilling outdoor experiences and peaceful cozy moments—exactly the mix I was looking for. 

 Irene is originally from upstate New York. She graduated with her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from The Sage Colleges in Troy, New York in 2018. Irene's experience includes treating children with outpatient orthopedic injuries, spinal cord injuries, developmental delays, bowel/bladder dysfunctions, and those on the autism spectrum. Irene has extensive education in pelvic health rehabilitation through The Herman and Wallace Rehabilitation Continuing Education Courses and loves to help kids with bowel/bladder dysfunctions. When not at work, Irene enjoys snowboarding, hiking, running, and drawing.  

Ariel Rice is a bilingual English-Spanish Speech-Language Pathologist who specializes in early intervention and feeding therapy. She has a B.S. in Speech-Language Pathology and a minor in Spanish from Grand Valley State University and received her M.A. in Communication Disorders and Sciences from University of Oregon. She loves traveling, cooking, and really any outdoor activities. When she is not working, she spends her time with her husband and their two huskies.

Laurel grew up in South Carolina and graduated from Clemson University in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in Special Education. Laurel taught for four years, including two years as the Life Skills teacher at Goldenview Middle School in Anchorage. While teaching, Laurel gained experience working with a diverse population and became passionate about communication. In 2020, Laurel left the classroom to pursue a career as a Speech-Language Pathologist. She completed her master’s degree in Communicative Sciences and Disorders through New York University in January 2023. Laurel has worked here at Achievement Therapy Center since graduation! Some of Laurel’s passions including working with autistic individuals, incorporating sensory based play into therapy, and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). Laurel is a neurodiversity affirming therapist who enjoys learning about your child and incorporating their interests into their sessions together! 
Outside of the clinic, Laurel enjoys spending time with her family and her two dogs. Some of her favorite activities include running, reading, hiking, camping, and playing games!  

Kate James grew up outside of Philadelphia before moving to the mountain west to complete her undergraduate degree at Colorado College and her Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology at the University of Wyoming. She and her husband moved to Anchorage in 2014 and enjoy skiing, hiking, backpacking, and raising their two daughters. She specializes in working with children with autism, language intervention, treatment of articulation and phonological impairments, and reading/writing intervention. She is trained in the Wilson Reading Program, DIR Floortime, and the PROMPT technique. 

Hannah Smith is the office manager at Achievement Therapy Center. She used to teach math at Clark Middle School until becoming a mom in 2022. She loves that she can apply her passion for mathematics and problem-solving in the business side of Achievement Therapy Center while also having flexibility to care for her children. The best of both worlds!

Outside of welcoming smiling faces in the clinic, Hannah enjoys playing volleyball, trying new recipes, having bonfires and barbeques with friends and family, and spending quality time with her family.

 Brittanee is a customer service professional with a background is Hospitality and Operations. She has an associates degree in Early Childhood Education and is currently working on her Business Administration degree. She moved to Anchorage in September 2024 with her husband, son, and pup. In their free time, they are exploring the new-to-them city, playing board games, and enjoying the wildlife.