Brett DeVore
MS, OTR/L

Brett R. DeVore has been working to better the lives of children with a wide range of disabilities as a practicing occupational therapist for over 10 years. Brett’s focus has been work with kiddos from birth to age 21 and his passion is working with patients to improve quality of life, increase physical and emotional capabilities and strive for greater independence for parents and children. Brett also sees mentoring other therapists as part of his service to the kiddos and their families.

Brett’s past experience as a practicing occupational therapist includes 2 years at Memorial University Hospital in Savannah, Georgia and 1 year at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta in Alpharetta, Georgia. In 2001, Brett started TOTS, Inc., a traveling occupational therapy service, where he has provided care for over 30 kiddos a week in their homes.

Frustrated by his physical limitations for additional case load and in recognition of families in need of quality care, Brett decided to bring a number of experienced therapists together to extend his services, building on the success of TOTS, Inc. Brett opened Kiddos’ Clubhouse in June 2005 to extend his bandwidth and provide exceptional care to more children and families.

Brett earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh in 1995 and his Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy from Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia in 1998. He is a Registered Occupational Therapist with National Board Certification. He received his license to practice occupational therapy in Georgia in 1998 and is certified to administer and interpret the Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT). Brett is also trained in Advanced Therapeutic Listening. He has presented his research work on movement differences in persons with autism on the state and national level. His areas of focus in treatment continue to be children with sensory integrative difficulties and children who utilize augmentative/alternative communication.

Brett has been married to his wife Nell, a fellow occupational therapist, since 2002.  They have a 6-year old son, Hayden and another son, Parker, who is 4.  Brett enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf, photography, gardening, Star Wars, watching the Steelers, Penguins and the Red Sox! back to top

Nell DeVore
MHS, OTR/L

While at Backus Children's Hospital as well as Scottish Rite, Nell provided assessment and treatment in the NICU, PICU, and general pediatric inpatient units. She also worked in the outpatient clinic, and was a member of the Therapeutic Feeding Team. The team provided assessment and treatment for feeding and swallowing disorders. While a member of this team, Nell conducted oral-pharyngeal motility studies for both inpatient and outpatient cases. In September 2002, Nell began working at Northside Hospital as a member of the Neonatal Developmental Team. She provided assessment and treatment to patients in the Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and served on the NICU Follow-Up Clinic team in conjunction with Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Nell is a Certified Infant Massage Instructor through the International Association of Infant Massage.

She is married to Brett and has two children, Hayden and Parker. She enjoys playing tennis, walking, & spending time with her family and friends. back to top

Dawn Smith
MS, CCC-SLP

Jerri Hickman Temple
MEd, CCC-SLP

Jerri Hickman Temple specializes in working with children from birth to age 21 to improve disorders related to receptive/expressive language, articulation, oral-sensory motor skills, feeding/swallowing and apraxia of speech. In the past Jerri has worked for Backus Children's Hospital in Savannah, GA, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite, and Northside Hospital.  During her time at those institutions, Jerri was part of therapeutic feeding teams and performed feeding/swallowing evaluations as well as radiological swallowing examinations on infants and children in the neonatal intensive care unit, pediatric intensive care unit, inpatients and outpatients.  She as well worked with children with various disorders of communication on an outpatient basis.  

Jerri has been a practicing speech therapist for 9 years. She is licensed in Georgia by the state board of examiners in Speech and Language Pathology. She also holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence awarded by the Amercian Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

In addition to receiving her Bachelors Degree in Education/Speech Pathology from Miami University in 1994 and a Masters of Education in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Georgia in 1996, Jerri has participated in extensive continuing education study on various topics. Jerri has participated in Debra Beckman's Oral Motor Assessment and Intervention course and received P.R.O.M.P.T. (Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets) training in September 2005.  Other subjects of continuing education courses Jerri has attended are infant and pediatric feeding/swallowing, neuro-developmental treatment, respiratory function in children with neuromuscular disorders, behavior modification and communication skills in children on the autism spectrum. Jerri has also been trained in the SOS Approach to Feeding. Jerri has also attended two courses on the Kaufmann speech praxis method.

Jerri was born on the West Coast, but has lived in many areas of the United States as her father was a Navy Pilot.  Jerri and her husband Elliot have a daughter, Addison, who is 3 years old and Emily who is 1 year old.  Jerri enjoys spending her free time with friends and family. back to top

Tia Denkinger began her career as a speech pathologist in Tustin, California. She left sunny California to enjoy the southern hospitality of Alpharetta, Georgia. Tia has worked with children who have been diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS), Down syndrome, traumatic brain injury, hearing impairment, speech delay, feeding and/or swallowing disorders, language disorders, and articulation disorders. Tia truly enjoys working with children of all ages.

Tia has been a practicing pediatric speech and language therapist for 8 years. Tia completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Florida, where she earned a Bachelor’s of Arts in Communication Disorders.  During her undergraduate studies, she became interested in neurological communication disorders. Tia’s interests lead her to graduate school, away from her native Florida, at the University of Arizona.  Tia earned her Master’s of Science in Speech Pathology, in May of 2002. 

In order to further her learning, Tia has participated in continuing education programs to expand her knowledge.  These programs have included information regarding oral motor evaluation and treatment, teaching children with ASD, and the diagnosis and treatment of CAS. Tia received P.R.O.M.P.T. (Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets) training in October 2006. Tia has also been trained in the SOS Approach to Feeding. Tia has also attended a course on the Kaufmann speech praxis method.

Tia has spent most of her life in the pursuit of sunshine; bouncing from Florida, to Arizona, to California, and finally landing here in Georgia.  Tia and her husband Brad were married in August 2008. In her free time, she loves visiting with friends and family throughout the country. back to top

Lindsey Mueller Hall
MS, CCC-SLP

Lindsey Hall began her career as a speech language pathologist in Boston, Massachusetts after receiving her Bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders from the University of Georgia and a Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology from Boston University. After practicing in Boston at Franciscan Hospital for Children in both subacute and outpatient settings for several years, this Roswell native moved back to the area with her husband to be closer to family and joined the Kiddos’ Clubhouse team in 2006.  

In her career, Lindsey has helped a diverse group of children reach their fullest potential through speech-language therapy. She has extensive experience with children with feeding and swallowing disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Childhood Apraxia of Speech, Down syndrome, auditory processing disorders, language disorders and delays, articulation disorders, and global developmental delay among others. Lindsey enjoys collaborating with families, professionals and therapists to provide a holistic approach to therapy and child development. Lindsey has received a variety of continuing education certifications including P.R.O.M.P.T. (Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets), and SOS Approach to Feeding. Lindsey has attended two courses on the Kaufmann speech praxis method.

Lindsey enjoys traveling, reading, exploring new restaurants and UGA football. She is certified by the American Speech Language Hearing Association and is licensed in the state of Georgia. back to top

Christin Smith
MEd, CCC-SLP

Christin has been working with young children since the age of 15.  It began with summer jobs and has eventually led to becoming a licensed Speech Language Pathologist.   Her love of children and their innocence is what fuels her passion to make a difference in the lives of special needs populations. 

She has worked in the public school system and within a private clinical setting.  During that time, she has gained valuable experience with diagnoses of autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, hearing loss, as well as working with developmental speech and language delays, feeding/swallowing disorders, apraxia, and articulation disorders. She enjoys working closely within a collaborative team setting in order to learn from others, and maximize the potential of the children she works with.

Christin obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from Auburn University in 1999, and then continued on to Valdosta State University, where she received a Master’s of Education in Communication Disorders in 2000.  Upon graduation, she became clinically certified by the state of Georgia and through the American Speech and Language Association.

In addition to learning from other disciplines such as occupational therapists and physical therapists, Christin has also attended continuing education courses related to feeding aversions and disorders, Asperger’s Syndrome, apraxia, and sign language. Christin received P.R.O.M.P.T. (Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets) training in August 2007. Christin has also attended two courses on the Kaufmann speech praxis method.

Christin was born and raised in Roswell, Georgia and currently lives nearby.  She enjoys spending time with family and friends, cycling, running, college football, golf, and being outdoors. back to top

Andrea Cottos' life has been enriched by the presence of children ever since she was a young girl babysitting for family friends and neighbors. During her undergraduate studies at Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, GA she experienced the joy of facilitating the growth of children with special needs while working an ABA home program for a child with autism. After earning a B.A. in Psychology and returning to the Atlanta area, her work as a nanny with children with special needs led her to where she is today. 

Andrea graduated from Brenau University with a Master's of Science in Occupational Therapy. During school she gained practice with individuals across the life span but knew that pediatrics was her passion. She has experience with children with various diagnosis including Autism, Fragile X, Sensory Processing Disorders, ADHD, Developmental Delays, and Learning Disabilities. Andrea is intrigued by the impact of various modalities used to facilitate development as evident by her graduate research, carried out in Albuquerque, NM,  entitled: "Working with the Dogs: Participant and Caregiver Perspectives of Animal Assisted Therapy as an Occupational Therapy Intervention". Andrea is trained in Therapeutic Listening.

Andrea married her husband Chris in 2004 and they currently live in Woodstock with their chocolate lab Dublin. She is happy to be living near Marietta, GA where she grew up and is now able to spend time with her family and the wonderful friends she has made over the years. Andrea enjoys traveling, photography, camping, attending & watching sporting events, and is hoping to complete a triathlon in the coming year. back to top

Sandi Rivers, MEd, BCBA

Sandi Rivers has been working in the field for over 14 years with experience as a teacher of PreKindergarten-12th grade special needs, a district autism consultant, and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with 5 years experience in home based behavioral therapy and school consultation.  She began her professional career as a Pre-K special needs teacher for 2 years in Fayette County, GA.  She then moved to Wisconsin teaching Kindergarten through 6th grade special needs students, later working for the Wisconsin Early Autism Project as a lead home based behavioral therapist.  Upon returning to the Georgia Mountains, Sandi worked in Towns County, GA as a Pre-K special needs teacher and an autism consultant for the county.  As the autism consultant, she conducted staff trainings, functional behavior assessments to assist teachers in reducing challenging behaviors as well as running social skills groups for all ages of students with autism.  When Sandi decided to return to the Atlanta area, she worked as a director and consultant for a nationally known non-profit behavioral company working with some of the country’s leading behavior analysts and psychologists. 

She is skilled in developing and implementing behavioral programs for kids with varieties of disabilities to teach and maintain social, play & leisure, communication, and adaptive skills. Sandi strives to continuously implement empirically-based teaching strategies and to educate others on the strategies.   Sandi also enjoys working closely with families and other therapists in developing proactive behavior support plans to assist in reducing challenging behaviors as well as collaborating as a team to educate each child.  A large part of Sandi’s behavioral program consists of family training regarding Applied Behavior Analysis and Best Practice for Handling Challenging Behaviors.  As part of Sandi’s ongoing professional development, she attends international ABA conferences as well as remains up to date on literature.  Sandi is also trained in the TEACCH educational approach utilizing systematic visual prompts and cues.   

Sandi received her Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education from the State University of West Georgia in 1997.  She earned her Master’s of Education in Behavior Disorders and Autism in 1999 from Georgia State University.  In August 2006, she passed the exam to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.  Annually, Sandi participates in extensive continuing education regarding Applied Behavior Analysis to maintain her certification. 

Sandi was born and raised in Roswell, GA. She is married to her husband Mike, and they have a 3-year old son, Hayden and Hampton who is born in November of 2009.  Some of her hobbies are camping, hiking, traveling, reading, knitting, and exercising.   back to top

Tara Wilson, DPT

Tara Wilson graduated from the University of Miami with her Doctorate in Physical Therapy. She stayed to work in south Florida after graduation providing physical therapy services both in a pediatric outpatient therapy clinic and at a developmental preschool for children with special needs. Tara is passionate about working with children with special needs to achieve the highest level of function and independence possible for each individual child. Whether it is basic skills such as rolling and sitting, to more advanced skills like walking, running, jumping, Tara enjoys creating therapeutic activities that allow each child to reach his or her greatest potential while having fun at the same time! Tara has experience treating children of all ages with a wide variety of diagnoses including torticollis, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, spina bifida, autism, and other various developmental gross motor delays.

One of Tara’s favorite things about her profession is that there is always more to learn; she is continually trying to grow in her knowledge and skills as the field of physical therapy continues to change and expand.  Over the past year, she has taken advanced continuing education courses in Torticollis Treatment and Neuro-Developmental Treatment (NDT) of the baby and young child.

Tara was born and raised in New Jersey. She moved to Florida to attend both undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of Miami. Tara and her husband Greg were married in February 2009 on the beautiful island of St. Lucia. Tara enjoys yoga, scrapbooking, playing with her dog Jet, visiting family and friends, and traveling.. back to top

Lori Mikesell, MS, OTR/L

Lori Mikesell graduated with a Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy from Washington University in St. Louis in May 2008. Through her multiple pediatric internships as a student, Lori has gained experience treating children with a wide variety of diagnoses, including autism spectrum disorder, sensory processing disorder, cerebral palsy, fine/visual motor dysfunction, Down syndrome, learning disabilities, and other developmental disorders. She began her career as an inpatient and outpatient Occupational Therapist at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Scottish Rite, working to rebuild everyday skills of children with diagnoses ranging from traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and other varying conditions.

Lori believes that play is an important piece in a child’s life and she continually works to incorporate this aspect into her treatments while strengthening the everyday skills each child needs to fully succeed. Lori enjoys many aspects of being a pediatric therapist, including the opportunity to develop relationships with families. Her passion for pediatrics continues to grow each day as she is given the opportunity to make a positive impact in the life of each child. She looks forward to strengthening her skills as a pediatric Occupational Therapist through varying educational opportunities. Lori is trained in Therapeutic Listening.

Lori was born in Jacksonville, FL, but grew up in Richmond, Indiana. After graduate school, Lori decided to head back down south to enjoy the warm weather. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors with her two dogs, visiting with friends and family, and experiencing all there is to offer here in Atlanta. back to top

Stacy Lyons first developed a special affection for special needs children during her undergraduate studies at Furman University during a 120-hour internship at a local outpatient pediatric center, Kidnetics of Greenville, SC.  There, she was able to gain experience working with children diagnosed with a variety of conditions and disorders including Down syndrome, sensory integration disorders, fragile X, autism spectrum, learning disabilities, and other developmental disorders.  She graduated from Furman with a B.S. in Health and Exercise Science, and completed her master’s education at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in Charleston, SC.  During her stay in Charleston she continued to develop her skills related to pediatric therapy by completing various fieldwork experience s in pediatric arenas culminating in an 8 week experience at one of the largest outpatient centers in Charleston well known for its specialty of treating children on the autism spectrum.  In her free time during her graduate education, Stacy was an assistant coach for Charleston Miracle League, a special needs baseball league, and a volunteer with the Charleston Special Olympics soccer program.   After attending a week-long mission trip to the Caribbean Center for the Deaf in Jamaica, an area of special interest for Stacy is working with children with hearing impairments, and in the future, she hopes to obtain a certification in American Sign Language.

While in graduate school, Stacy collaborated with her pediatrics professor at MUSC to complete a research study regarding the perceived benefits of participation in community recreation for children with special needs.  The article related to the project was presented at the national AOTA conference and was accepted for publication in a quarterly edition of The Journal of Therapeutic Recreation.

Stacy was raised in Columbia, SC and her husband, Tim, is from Marietta.  They were married in January of 2007 and currently live in Smyrna. back to top

Joseph Andretta is 18 years old and in his senior school year at The Cottage School. Joseph has Asperger’s Syndrome, one of the brain disorders that the Kiddos’ Clubhouse is trying to help its patients overcome. He takes things literally, and he talks to himself, usually under his breath.

Joseph was born in Houston, Texas, but came to Woodstock, Georgia, his current home, when he was two. He attended Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta in 2000, where he met Brett DeVore. When Joseph started home school, Brett came to his house and did therapy with him there, teaching him how to do things like write in cursive and paying for things at stores. When Brett opened the Clubhouse, Joseph was one of the first patients to attend, moving towards working on his attitude and life skills. In the summer of 2008, Brett hired him to work at the Clubhouse to prepare him for the jobs in life he will have. He does things like load prizes, clean plates and utensils and observing other therapists with their patients while being a role model as well. This is his first actual job in his life.

 When Joseph isn’t occupied with anything, he enjoys watching television and playing on the computer. He is one of the biggest Star Wars fans, he likes comedy shows like Seinfeld, Psych, and Whose Line Is It Anyway? He like music and artists whom he considers the best singing /dancing artists ever, which are: The Temptations, Michael Jackson, Steps, A*Teens, and other songs from Motown. He is a big Batman batfan, making him enjoy Batman: The Animated Series, Batman Beyond, and the Christopher Nolan Batman sequels. He has a great admiration for famous actors from his favorite movies and TV shows, like Ewan McGregor and Emma Watson. back to top

Lisa Broussard
Insurance Coordinator

Kristin Heinz
Medicaid Coordinator

Kristin Heinz has been active in the health care community for several years, and came to work for Kiddos’ Clubhouse in May 2008.  Kristin enjoys being a front office coordinator as it allows her to interact with the families while she helps them with their Medicaid questions and authorizations.

Kristin graduated from Kennesaw State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise and Health Science in 2006.  She is currently expanding her education and is attending night classes in the area of Massage Therapy.

In her free time, Kristin likes to spend time with her husband Dave and their two dogs.  She also enjoys reading, watching movies, playing outdoor sports, spending time with family and friends and shopping! back to top