About Us

SPIRAL Foundation

The Sensory Processing Institute of Research and Learning – or SPIRAL – Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in 2001 by Dr. Jane Koomar and Anne Trecker, and our for-profit sister organization OTA the Koomar Center, then known as Occupational Therapy Associates – Watertown, P.C. Our mission, is to conduct research and provide professional and community education about sensory integration and sensory processing. The SPIRAL Foundation Research program promotes multi-disciplinary partnerships by forging relationships with nationally known researchers and leaders in the field of sensory processing and related disciplines. To ensure the ethical treatment of persons enrolled in studies all research is approved by the SPIRAL Foundation Institutional Review Board. Research findings are disseminated via our website, conference presentations, and peer-reviewed publications. The SPIRAL Foundation Education program strives to make information about sensory processing and sensory integration intervention as accessible as possible by providing free resources for individuals who have, or suspect they have, sensory processing dysfunctions and their families, and by offering professional continuing education opportunities in a variety of formats at competitive prices. Through collaboration with leading experts in the field of sensory integration and related disciplines, we assure that the quality of this information is among the very best.

Our Board

Sarah Sawyer, MA, OTR/L

Sarah is an occupational therapist with extensive clinical experience working with individuals experiencing sensory processing differences. Sarah began her career in the United Kingdom working with children, adolescents and adults with sensory processing challenges across home, school, community and clinic-based settings. In 2003 Sarah was awarded the Elizabeth Casson Trust Scholarship from Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK, to attend Tufts University to complete her post-professional masters. Sarah has broad experience evaluating and treating individuals with SPD and has specialized training in Ayres Sensory Integration®, listening therapies, feeding therapies and DIR® Floortime Approach. Sarah is also passionate in supporting individuals and families that have experienced trauma and has collaborated with several colleagues to support the development of the role of OT in mental health and specifically the intersection of sensory processing, trauma and attachment. In addition to her role with SPIRAL Sarah supports the development of new programs, research and clinical initiatives within OTA The Koomar Center and Cicero Therapies. Sarah also regularly shares her knowledge and experiences through mentoring and presentations.

Robert J. Hebert, MBA

Robert is the treasurer of SPIRAL Foundation and former co-owner and Chief Operating Officer at OTA The Koomar Center. He has extensive management, operations, and finance experience having occupied senior positions in organizations in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors. Bob earned his MBA from Bentley University and his BA from Wesleyan University.

Anne Trecker, MS, OTR/L

Anne is an occupational therapist who has worked extensively in both clinical and school settings. In 2001, she founded the SPIRAL Foundation with Dr. Jane Koomar and became the organization’s first director. She received a master’s degree in occupational therapy from Boston University, and previously received an MFA in dance from the University of Illinois. Most recently Anne was an occupational therapist and sensory integration specialist with the Boston Public Schools. In that position, she worked directly with students and teachers and provided mentoring to therapists in the area of sensory integration. She was also part of a district-wide team of professionals that worked with teachers to create sensory friendly classrooms for all students. Prior to working for the Boston Public Schools, Anne was a therapist, and clinical director of Occupational Therapy Associates-Watertown where she worked with children with a wide range of disabilities, with special emphasis on children with autism. In addition, Anne has lectured on sensory integration theory and intervention throughout the U.S. including presentations that were part of the certification program for the Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests. In addition, she has presented numerous workshops designed specifically for parents and teachers.

Ellen Cohn, ScD, OTR/L, FAOTA

Ellen is a Clinical Professor Emeritus at Boston University. She earned a BS degree in Occupational Therapy from Boston University, an Ed.M. degree in Counseling and Consulting Psychology from Harvard Graduate School of Education, and a ScD degree in Therapeutic Studies from Boston University. Elen has 40 years of experience in the academic setting serving as an academic fieldwork coordinator, faculty, and program director. Ellen was a co-editor of Willard and Spackman’s Occupational Therapy 10^th and 11^th editions, helped revise the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework, and was a member of the AJOT and OTJR Editorial Boards. In these roles she promoted best practices in fieldwork education, clinical reasoning and provided the professional with current resources that reflect the values and ideals of occupational therapy practice. She is the recipient of numerous awards.

Elizabeth Crampsey, Ed.D, M.S., OTR/L, BCPR

Elizabeth Crampsey is an innovative interprofessional and collaborative leader, interested in high-functioning teams. Currently she is an associate dean of academic affairs at the University of New England. As an occupational therapist, clinically Elizabeth has worked in public schools, private outpatient clinics, and hospital-based settings. Her most recent clinical experience includes acute care setting working with children and adults in critical care. Special interests include sensory integration and sensory processing, poly-trauma, early mobilization in the ICU, therapeutic use of self, leadership, and inter-professional education (IPE). Elizabeth is an active member of the occupational therapy and interprofessional education communities.

Mary Beth Kadlec, OT, ScD, OTR

Mary Beth is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy, MGH Institute for Health Professions (IHP) and an Adjunct Professor, Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center, UMass Chan Medical School. She is the former director of the Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders (CANDO), UMass Memorial Health. Dr. Kadlec established interdisciplinary training and clinical services with Massachusetts state agencies: Department of Children and Family (DCF), Department of Developmental Services (DDS), Department of Mental Health (DMH) and Department of Youth Services (DYS). Currently, she is a Team Leader on an ECHO Autism Project with the Shriver Center that provides training on autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities (ASD/IDD) to the Massachusetts Mobile Crisis Teams. Mary Beth has extensive experience in pediatrics and neurodevelopmental differences, focusing on the interplay between emotional regulation, sensory processing, cognition, communication, and physical abilities with activity engagement. She is refining the Occupational Performance Coding System (OPCS), a methodology that analyzes videos of occupational therapy to examine the communication and physical strategies used by clinicians and caregivers with youth and each other that support successful engagement. At MGH IHP, she provides clinical training experiences and engages occupational therapy doctoral students in her research. Her focus is on expanding occupational therapy’s impact through interprofessional clinical practice, education and research demonstrating how occupational therapy is uniquely positioned to advance the human condition in any environment by applying our knowledge to support individuals to be successful within the context of their lives.

Our Board Advisor

Stacey Reynolds, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA

Our Staff

Olivia Easterbooks-Dick, MS, OTR/L

Olivia is a practicing, licensed and certified occupational therapist. She earned her MS in occupational therapy, and BS in child development from Tufts University. Olivia has experience working with children and youth with varying abilities in a variety of settings. Olivia is experienced in providing sensory integration therapy and has training in Program of Essential Competencies of Sensory Integration (PECSI), Therapeutic Listening, FOCUS Program for Eating and Mealtime Success, and trauma-informed therapy. As the Research Coordinator for SPIRAL Foundation Olivia supports the development and execution of research projects that SPIRAL is involved in. She oversees collaboration with international colleagues on the translation and dissemination of the Adult Adolescent Sensory History (ASH) and guides and supports occupational therapy students completing doctoral or fieldwork experiences with SPIRAL. Olivia’s clinical perspectives enrich SPIRAL’s research initiatives aiming to enhance understanding, appreciation and awareness of sensory integration and processing within the broader community. Contact

Robyn A Carreras, MS, OTR/L

Robyn is a licensed and registered occupational therapist. She holds a master’s in occupational therapy from Boston University, where she also completed her undergraduate degree in therapeutic studies. Robyn has worked with children in a variety of settings including public/private schools, residential care, inpatient/outpatient hospital, and sensory integration clinics. Robyn’s extensive experience in sensory integration includes direct client and family-centered therapy, groups, intensive intervention, mentoring, consultations, parent coaching, research, and lectures for both parents and professionals. She has received advanced training in sensory integration (SIPT certification), listening therapy (Therapeutic Listening, iLs), feeding therapy (SOS), and infant massage (CIMI). Robyn’s clinical background is key to her role as education coordinator for the SPIRAL Foundation. She manages the planning and development of educational content, striving to deliver information to the SPD community that that is evidence-based, relevant, and impactful. She oversees the education faculty and serves as the continuing education administrator for the AOTA approved provider program. Contact

Alison Teasdale, BSc

Alison is the Administrative Coordinator and Senior Research Associate at the SPIRAL Foundation. With a degree in applied statistics from Sheffield Hallam University, Alison brings a wealth of experience from her research work in academia and business and is an integral member of the research team. Alison also provides administrative support for SPIRAL including all education activities, the Adult/Adolescent Sensory History, and the SPIRAL Foundation Institutional Review Board, ensuring the protection of human subjects in all SPIRAL research activities. Contact

Meaghan Sullivan, MS, OTR/L

Meaghan is our Social Media Coordinator and licensed and certified occupational therapist with a MS in occupational therapy from Tufts University and a BS in public health from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Meaghan’s passion lies in identifying what motivates each child and utilizing a holistic, strengths-based approach in her work. Through her clinical expertise and thoughtful social media posts, she shares valuable insights and knowledge.

Our Faculty

Teresa A May-Benson, ScD, OTR/L, FAOTA

Teresa is an expert occupational therapist renowned for her clinical research, mentoring and education related to related to sensory integration theory and intervention, praxis, and social competency. She is currently the owner/CEO of TMB Education, LLC and serves as President and practicing occupational therapist at OTR, Inc, a private occupational therapy practice specializing in sensory integration and social competency for children and adults across the lifespan, located near Philadelphia, PA. Dr. May-Benson has a diverse background as a clinical practitioner, having worked in private and public-school settings as well as private practice. She has authored numerous book chapters and articles on praxis and sensory integration and completed her doctoral dissertation on ideational praxis. Teresa is a past Executive Director of the SPIRAL Foundation and author of the Adult/Adolescent Sensory History (ASH). In her role of educator, she currently serves as adjunct faculty at Widener University and is past faculty at Tufts University and the University of Indianapolis. She has received the Virginia Scardinia Award of Excellence from AOTA for her work in ideational praxis and is the 2023 recipient of the AOTF A. Jean Ayres Award. Research and Education Faculty

Erin Flynn, MS, OTR/L

Erin is a certified and licensed occupational therapist and registered with NBCOT with a specialty in pediatrics. She received her MS in occupational therapy from Sacred Heart University and a BA in psychology from College of the Holy Cross. She has worked with children in a variety of settings including public/private schools and Boys & Girls Clubs and has run community-based parent/child sensory motor groups. She is certified in the Program of Essential Competencies in Sensory Integration. She is also trained in the SOS oral motor program, iLs: Integrated Listening Systems home programming, and trauma informed care. She completed the Infant Parent Mental Health Fellowship program at UMass Boston in 2019. She is on the IRB board of SPIRAL Foundation and is a former SPIRAL Foundation Education Coordinator. Being a parent herself, Erin is passionate about working with children and their parents to build positive relationships and understanding. Education Faculty

Jaymie Stadval MS, OTR/L

Jaymie earned her Master of Science degree in occupational therapy, graduating Summa Cum Laude and as Valedictorian of her class at the University at Buffalo in New York. As an occupational therapist, she specializes in sensory integration and has extensive training in trauma/attachment, sound therapies (Therapeutic Listening and Integrated Listening Systems), oral motor/feeding, and craniosacral therapy. She is also a practitioner in Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI). Jaymie has experience working with children and families in the home, school, and clinic setting, as well as running parent/child community-based sensory motor groups and summer camps. Education Faculty

Peg Ingolia, OTD, OTR/L

Dr. Ingolia is an occupational therapist with extensive experience in program development, evaluation, and intervention for clients and families within clinical, educational, hospital, and residential settings. She specializes in sensory processing disorders, trauma, and manual therapies in clinical practice. She has particular interest in the effects of trauma on families and her doctoral study explored the occupations of parents whose children experience complex trauma. Education Faculty

Cristin M Holland, PhD, OTR/L

Cristin received her doctorate from the University of Southern California Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy. Currently she is a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Columbia Irving Institute for Clinical and Translational Research. Prior to starting her doctorate Cristin worked at OTA The Koomar Center and completed her Level II fieldwork with SPIRAL Foundation and OTA. Research Faculty

Our Founder

Jane A. Koomar, PhD, OTR, FAOTA

Jane was the owner and co-founder of OTA-Watertown and the President of the Board of the Spiral Foundation. She completed her doctoral studies in developmental psychology at Boston University where she was formerly an assistant professor in occupational therapy. She taught at Tufts University, Boston School of Occupational Therapy in a one year Professor of Practice position. In 1984, she studied with Dr. Jean Ayres, who developed the theory of sensory integration. Dr. Koomar served as the chairperson of the Sensory Integration Special Interest Section and was a member of the Mental Health Special Interest Section, both part of the American Occupational Therapy Association. Jane seemed to get along with everyone, often navigating the many politics involved in sensory integration within and without OT with ease, a true feat among high-powered and opinionated professionals. Jane’s passion for her work was genuine filled with deep emotion. Her interests were often in those that were underserved and misunderstood by the world at large. She cared deeply about her family, her friends, her community, her profession, and the well-being of children and families. She made time to listen and to be present for them. Jane passed away from breast cancer on February 23, 2013 at the age of 59.

Jane’s Philosophy: There is nothing you can nor have a right to do. For those who are unwilling to explore, you cannot coerce, you cannot nudge forward, you cannot threaten, you can only offer. And if someone says a tentative yes, then move gently and sweetly towards them. Offer to abide with them on their journey. Do whatever it is in the movement that you are requesting them to do and be ready to have them withdraw or fly forward at any given moment.