BRIGITTE CARIDAD DESPORT, MS, OTR/L

Founder

Brigitte Caridad Desport, a Licensed Occupational Therapist, is the founder Mind & Body Occupational Therapy, P.C., a resource-based organization that empowers individuals with the tools needed to help the children in their lives. She earned her Master of Science from Touro College School of Health Sciences. Brigitte Caridad is a pediatric occupational therapist, who provides services for children who require early intervention and she also works with school-aged children. Additionally, she consults with numerous families, as well as with agencies and organizations in the New York metropolitan area. Some of the agencies and organizations include Los Niños Services, Inc., New York Center for Infants & Toddlers, Inc., and RCDS, Inc. 

The Founder

In 1991, I was in a motor vehicle accident that left me with a hand injury. I had to have extensive surgery to repair the fractured bones; I was not sure my hand would ever be the same. For two months, I was not able to work and received services from a physical therapy facility. My aunt, a retired occupational therapy assistant, asked why I was not seeing an occupational therapist. Instantly, I became intrigued as she educated me on the profession and what it had to offer. Occupational therapy was exactly what I was looking for'a career that afforded me the opportunity to give back to the community, especially the children that live in them. Since discovering the world of occupational therapy, my life has changed. The ideal of occupation therapy has fueled my drive and need of giving back to the community.

Mind and Body Occupational Therapy, P.C. grew out of my desire to not only provide services for children with special needs, but to provide the communities I serve with additional resource information such as legal, counseling, recreation, and wellness. Having practiced occupational therapy since 1999, my vision for Mind and Body OT is to be a conduit for healing, both physically and mentally, in addition to providing information not typically known by the communities I serve. By working with MBOT, clients can expect a holistic approach to therapy, which will help them understand their bodies while developing the appropriate strategies, which aids clients in overcoming difficulties.

Throughout my experience, I have helped others desiring a career in occupational therapy. I have worked with the Department of Education for more than nine years. During this time, I have supervised and mentored a number of interns completing their graduate studies. I also serve as evaluator and trainer for the Center for Assistive Technology, a special division of the Department of Education that assesses students with difficulties in handwriting, visual and/or auditory processing problems, or physical limitations, while matching them with the appropriate technological devices. Further, I have experience in working with children with birth defects, developmental disabilities, learning problems, autism, and visual and hearing impairments. For more than three years, I volunteered as a coach for children competing in the Empire State Games for the Physically Challenged. Further, I have participated in various walk-a-thons including the Revlon Walk for Breast Cancer and MS Walk.

I continue to consult with numerous agencies in the New York metropolitan area, conducting evaluations for children ages birth to three, who may require early intervention services. In addition, I provide a variety of workshops, specifically tailored around the need of an organization. 

My experience is complemented with both a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Sciences and a Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy from Touro College School of Health Sciences. Moreover, I also hold a Master of Arts degree in Communication Arts from New York Institute of Technology. And in order to provide my clients with the best possible care, I continue to enhance my professional skills by attending health-related conferences and completing courses yearly. Some of these include Evaluation and Treatment of Sensory Processing Disorders, Yoga for the Special Child, Understanding and Managing Visual Deficits, Assessing and Treating Children with Mild to Moderate Hand Skill Problems, The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) Training Workshop, and Using Nutrition to Improve Clinical Outcomes.

By working with Mind and Body, you can expect to feel empowered, as you will be informed to make the appropriate decisions, specific for the child in your life. The journey to a life of mental and physical healing lie ahead . . . becoming one with Mind and Body.