MILDRED PANGILINAN-FLORES – DEPARTMENT SUPERVISOR ext. 280, milly@laurensinstitute.org                         

Mildred (Milly) Pangilinan-Flores, OTR/L, has always been passionate about helping and caring for others wishing to be like Mother Teresa since she was a child. Growing up in the Philippines, Milly was raised and encouraged to help and care for the less fortunate. When she moved to the United States at the age of 16, in her efforts to make sense of her new life in a new country, she started volunteering at the nearby hospital. It was here that she learned about occupational therapy. Her desire to become an occupational therapist was further solidified when she found out that two of her passions could be fulfilled by entering this profession: teaching and caring for the sick. Despite her challenges with learning, Milly received her Bachelors degree in Occupational Therapy from California State University, Dominguez Hills, graduating at the top of her class and with honors in 2002.

Milly was very fortunate to have had such great internships while an occupational therapy student but it was while interning at the Children’s Center at Simi Valley Hospital in California and working with children with Autism and other developmental disabilities that she found her calling. She felt an undeniable connection with these kids and found her niche working in this setting. It was here that Milly started her new life as a pediatric occupational therapist.

 Milly has been working as a pediatric therapist for the last 9 years and has worked in a variety of pediatric settings: as an outpatient pediatric therapist for Simi Valley Hospital, as a clinician and school therapist for the Children’s Center for Neurodevelopmental Center (CCNS), and as a home and clinic therapist for Horizon Pediatric Therapy before finally finding her way to L.I.F.E in 2007. Milly’s interest and specialty in the field has always been in sensory integration (SI).  She received most of her training in SI from the late Lorna Jean King when she worked at CCNS. From then on, Milly has continued to hone her skills in SI and has taken several courses in this treatment technique, learning about sensory diets, sensory regulation, the Wilbarger Protocol and getting certified in the SIPT (Sensory Integration and Praxis Test). In addition, Milly has also been a clinical supervisor and a mentor to new occupational therapists since 2004 and is now the occupational therapy supervisor at L.I.F.E. Milly continues to take courses in sensory integration but she is also working on becoming a feeding therapist having recently taken the Beckman Oral-motor course. She is keeping herself busy learning about feeding and  plans on getting certified in Neurodevelopmental Treatment in the near future.

Milly lives with her husband in Maricopa, Arizona. She enjoys reading, cycling, and playing the guitar. She hopes to start a family someday, write a book, and start her own practice in the distant future.

 

ANGELA OLSEN – OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST ext. 298,             angela@laurensinstitute.org

Angela Olson “Miss Angie” graduated from the University of North Dakota in 2007 with her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy. Angela volunteered at Lauren’s Institute for Education for a short time, while completing her final intership for Occupational Therapy at the State Hospital in Phoenix Arizona, and fell in love with the “family-like” atmosphere at LIFE. Angela has since been employed with LIFE  for over three years and feels “blessed”  to be a part of the LIFE family. While at LIFE, Angela has furthered her education to better meet the needs of the kids and young adults she provides services to through attending inservices and workshops. She is  certified in using aquatics and hippotherapy as a treatment intervention to reach functional occupational outcomes and also utilizes the sport of gymnastics to teach life skills such as: safety awareness, self regulation,coping skills, impulse control, and social skills as well as building overall body strength and coordination. While in college, Angela was employed through Easter Seals Goodwill and worked as a tutor  for children with autism. She worked under supervision of psychologist , Hanna C. Rue, Ph.D., BCBA-D, and learned  to utilize (ABA) Applied Behavior Analysis principles to reduce problematic behaviors and teach life skills to children with developmetal disabilities. Angela has a special place in her heart for children and families who have been touched by individuals who have a developmental disability. Her younger brother, now 24, was diagnosed with autism at 2 yrs of age. Angela is passionate about teaching youth with developmental disabilities life skills, especially social and play skills. Outside of LIFE, Angela coaches gymnastics and cheerleading classes for individuals with and without special needs. She enjoys being active and participating in recreational sports such as: dance, swimming, volleyball, softball, soccer and of course still likes to “tumble and flip” at the gym. Outside of sports, Angela enjoys playing video games, board games and cards, spending time with family and friends, and attending church.

WANDA KASEL – OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST ext. 290, wanda@laurensinstitute.org                       

Wanda Kasel, OTR/L is an Occupational Therapist at Laurens Institute for Education. Wanda received her degree in Occupational Therapy from St. Catherine’s University, in St Paul, MN in 1992. Wanda started her career working with adults in the hospital. Her experience with adults ranged from intensive care, to acute care, rehabilitation units, out-patient care, and home health care. Wanda started to work with the pediatric population in 1998 doing home health. She started working at Lauren’s Institute for Education in 2007. Wanda really enjoys working with a variety of diagnosis at LIFE.

Wanda has had extra training in (PNF) Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation, (NDT) Neuro-Developmental Treatment, and (SI) Sensory Integration. Wanda is certified in the use of Interactive Metronome and in Hippotherapy as well.

Wanda is married with 3 girls. She is kept busy taking care of 3 busy girls. When she has free time, she enjoys reading and hanging out with her family.

 

KRISTEL CROFFOOT – OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST ext. 233,     kristelc@laurensinstitute.org

 Kristel Croffoot, OTR/L, joined the L.I.F.E. team in July 2011. She graduated in 2011 from A.T. Still University in Mesa, Arizona with a Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy. Kristel has been working with children since her early teens. From babysitting side jobs, to working in a daycare and teaching preschool, volunteering at the Child Crisis Center, and working as a Habilitator Provider with children who have Autism. She enjoys working with the families and helping each child fulfill their full potential. She has experience working with therapy dogs and plans on becoming certified in Animal Assisted Therapy and Hippotherapy in the very near future. Outside L.I.F.E., Kristel coaches kickboxing and enjoys going to concerts of all genres and riding 4-wheelers. She also enjoys playing kickball and volleyball on intramural leagues.

TASHA WILES - OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST ext. 237, tashe@laurensinstitute.org