From the moment Stacey Brand saw an occupational therapist working with a child, she knew that’s what she wanted to do. At the time, she was in college and going to school to be a special education teacher, but from that instance on, she knew she wanted to do occupational therapy in a school setting.

Now, Stacey is realizing that dream as a certified occupational therapist assistant at Heartspring. Every day she works with children to help them gain more independence at different tasks through a variety of activities. In her years here, she has expanded her role and her impact at Heartspring.  Stacey was also an integral part in the creation of our Girls Night Out Club for our students. The group lets our students participate in activities and go on different outings with their typically developing peers from the community. The goal is to help build their self-esteem and allow them to learn valuable social skills. Stacey also works collaboratively with therapists from other disciplines to get a better perspective on a student’s needs.  

Prior to coming to Heartspring, Stacey spent time at the Wesley Rehabilitation Hospital where she saw mostly adults who had a variety of diagnoses including brain injury and stroke. There she learned how to work with the patient as well as the family. Stacey is also trained in handwriting without tears, which gives her the tools she needs to make students more independent in their handwriting. Stacey has a certification in SAEBO, an elbow, wrist and finger orthotic which assists the wearer in grasp and release. She received an associate’s degree in occupational therapy and a bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology from Newman University in Wichita.

In her free time, Stacey likes to knit, practice yoga, cook and take care of her three-year-old. She also has a degree in photography.