About the Author

A 1977 Summa Cum Laude graduate of the Medical College of Georgia, Ileana has 40 years of experience in the field of Occupational Therapy. She is nationally board certified/registered and licensed to practice in Georgia. Specialty certifications in Sensory Integration, Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialist and therapeutic use of Interactive Metronome. Ileana has served as an expert witness for cases involving infants and children. She is a published author of 6 books to date for children's issues primarily, including the SCALE OF SENSORY STRATEGIES TOOLKIT. AUTISM SLEEPS: Sensory Strategies to Help Restless Minds Sleep is a prior book that is also available on Amazon. Ileana is an experienced speaker from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to pediatric concerns in the home, school and community. Since 2010 she has been presenting a series of seminars across the U.S. on developing an evidence-based Sensory Strategy Plan to treat sensory-based problem behaviors. Ileana was honored at the Medical College of Georgia when given the 2005 Barbara S. Grant Award from the GA O.T. Association for her dedication and lifetime of outstanding service to the field of occupational therapy. She received the 1977 Maddak Award in the area of Physical Disability for the design of the S.K.A.T.E. (Skateboard for Kinesthetic Arm Therapeutic Exercises). Among her most meaningful accomplishments, she is credited with implementing the first Neonatal ICU Occupational Therapy program in Georgia at DeKalb Medical Center in 1979. She was also the first Occupational Therapist to develop and implement services at Scottish Rite Children's hospital in 1981, and established the first private practice Disabled Driver Rehabilitation program in Georgia in 1982. Ileana retired from the Gwinnett County Public Schools after twenty years of service in 2015. She continued her work in school systems with Barrow County public schools, serving elementary, middle and high schools in the Special Education Department for the next school year. She provided Related Services for direct and consultative support to teachers and special needs students to help meet their Individualized Education Plan objectives. Since 2016 she has worked in two private pediatric clinics and in cyber school based services, providing home and community-based treatments as needed. As a wellness consultant and holistic therapist, she also incorporates alternative treatments as appropriate.