Our Team
Director of Operations
Lizette Alexander OT Reg. (Ont) is a registered Occupational Therapist who has been working in community paediatrics since 1997. She graduated from the University of Toronto in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy and also holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Western Ontario. Her scope of practice includes assessment and treatment of children with learning disabilities, attention deficit disorders, autism, developmental delays and physical disabilities. Prior experience includes consultation within schools and community based therapy with children ages 0 to 2 years. She has completed the Level 1 certification course for the Handwriting Without Tears (HWT) program and trained in the Pre-K through Grade 5 curriculum and Print Tool ™ assessment.
Clinical Director
Stacy Kramer OT Reg. (Ont) has been working as a pediatric Occupational Therapist for over 15 years. Originally trained in the US, she has worked in Toronto for the past five years, both privately and in the public sector. She is certified in sensory integration and has received extensive training in the use of sensory processing as a framework when working with children. Stacy has the experience necessary to work with children of all ages and functional levels. She is currently on staff at the Child Development Centre at Toronto East General Hospital.
Occupational Therapy Team
Hand Skills for Children includes our Pediatric Occupational Therapists who are independently contracted. They are members in good standing and registered with the College of Occupational Therapist of Ontario. They share Hand Skills for Children’s vision, mission, and philosophy. Our Occupational Therapists are known for their professionalism, energy and ability to teach new skills in a fun and creative manner. Each Occupational Therapist is provided with training and support through Hand Skills for Children. In addition, our Occupational Therapists participate in on-going education in order to better serve their community and remain informed on recent research and techniques.
Writing Coach Program - Your Child's Tutor & Occupational Therapy Team
For some students, their Occupational Therapist may recommend The Writing Coach Program. Following an Occupational Therapy assessment, or after a block of treatment, it may be determined that a child only requires additional practice to consolidate a new physical skill. The Writing Coach program consists of one to one work with a Tutor and consultation from an Occupational Therapist to the family and Tutor. The Writing Coach program offers a cost effective approach to meeting your child's various OT and academic needs simultaneously. Hand Skills for Children offers this program in affiliation with Helping Hands Tutors. Helping Hands Tutors are Ontario Certified Teachers with Special Education Qualifications.
Our History
2000-2009
Hand Skills for Children was founded by Lizette Alexander and Paula Cappadocia in 2000. Both Occupational Therapists had been working in the community and identified the need for dedicated support services for children with writing and fine motor difficulties. Paula has since moved from Toronto with her family. Lizette continues to work with Hand Skills for Children and their friendship remains.
2010 to present
Hand Skills for Children continues to provide services addressing printing and fine motor skills. We are also excited to have developed new relationships in the community with two complementary service providers in order to better serve the educational and developmental needs of our community:
Beach-Riverdale Kids Services was founded by Jody Levenbach, licensed clinical psychologist and Stacy Kramer, Occupational Therapist. BRKS provides psychological assessments and consultation services. Stacy Kramer is certified in sensory integration and works with children with a variety of diagnoses providing assessment, consultation, and treatment.
Helping Hands Tutors provides Tutoring services for students from Preschool to Secondary School in Toronto and York Region. All Helping Hands Tutors are Ontario Certified Teachers with Special Education additional qualifications. Many of our students require a combination of Tutoring and Occupational Therapy in order to narrow academic gaps and strengthen various skills at school. Hand Skills for Children Occupational Therapists can provide consultation to the Tutors when needed. We are the first, to work as a team with Occupational Therapists and together with the Hand Skills for Children we are proud to offer a Writing Coach program.