Gwen Olicker has been providing occupational therapy for kids and adults for over thirty years.

She has been a champion in the lives of thousands of children (and adults) throughout the years in her roles as owner/operator of Gwennie’s Kids and Like One of the Family (Los Angeles), Occupational Therapy Consultant and Therapist for public and charter schools throughout California and across Colorado, Kansas and Oklahoma, Regional Director of Rehabilitation (Five Star Quality Care, Inc), Director of Occupational Therapy Assistant Program (Housatonic Community College), Adjunct Instructor (Colorado State University) and owner/operator and pediatric OT for Estes Park Rehabilitation Center in Estes Park, CO.

She has been providing VIRTUAL OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY for children who are unable to come to her clinic or who don’t go to school since 2017.

“Several years ago, a school psychologist friend asked me if I wanted to do virtual occupational therapy with some of her students. Having provided hands-on OT for kids for 30+ years, I had trouble imagining virtual therapy since occupational therapy is so...well…”hands on”. When my friend explained to me how kids in remote areas weren’t getting any services at all, I decided to think outside the box and figure out how to do what I do inside a box (i.e.: screen). I looked over all the equipment and supplies in my clinic, reviewed my previous evaluations and individual education plans (IEPs), and mentally inventoried all the toys and materials that most children and families already have, and realized that, not only could it be done, but it could be lots of fun for children and parents and for me. With simple instructions and recommendations for equipment and supplies for parents (mostly items they already had), I began providing Internet-based occupational therapy and found that the children benefited tremendously and enjoyed our sessions as much as they would in person.”

— Gwen