Claudia Meyer-Smith
OTR, NMT
Occupational Therapist
"Children’s Fire is my intention and attention to be present with whomever is in that moment on my path. It means that I pause and listen. That I value. That I find a way to connect making amends, offering support, leaning into and onto. I take the wisdom being spoken to sanctify my journey and bless the journey of others. It is a joining with to encourage and support the good of all."
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Claudia has 45+ years of experience as an occupational therapist. She has a specific focus and specialty in sensory integration for children and adults who struggle with sensory processing supporting Autism, Neurocognitive Disorders, and Complex and Developmental Trauma.
As an occupational therapist (OT), she provides field instruction for Occupational Therapy interns and OT services to Victims of Crime. She co-instructs the HIRWI NM Seedling Collaborative class. As a survivor of violence and a clinician, she provides thoughtful, heartful, and innovative trauma-informed practices to our relatives and regularly trains occupational therapy interns, and offers professional development on the healing power of Occupational Therapies to all HIRWI healers.
She defines occupational therapy as creative healing, holistically viewing each person to facilitate their utmost potential and independence from a science and arts-based approach to live life to the fullest. This healing starts from a brain-based sensory approach to craft therapeutic interventions that support wellness, social engagement, participation in daily routines, and application of skills that support the integration of self, encouraging movement skills, coordination, processing, values/beliefs/volition, relationship/communication, and the environment in all aspects of daily living and daily living needs.
Claudia is a graduate of Mount Mary University. She is trained in the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT) and has served as the Board President of the American Association of Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD). She has provided ongoing sensory-based training, specifically how sensory supports mental and behavioral health for individuals. She has presented to AAIDD-WI, SEWTI, MCFI, UW-EX teacher's workshops, WI Crisis Conference, WOTA conferences, WI Psychological Conference, Southern Center of Milwaukee County Thank You workshops for caregivers. Claudia is trained in the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT) and has served as the Board President of the American Association Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities – WI Chapter (AAIDD-WI).