Denise graduated Magna Cum Laude from New York University in 1991 with her degree in physical therapy. In 1993 Denise began her specialty in pediatrics in her own practice in New York. In 1994 Denise and her family relocated to the Atlanta area and Special Needs Pediatric Physical Therapy was established. Denise has attained extensive continuing education in the area of pediatrics including her NDT certification in the treatment of infants and children with cerebral palsy. Her treatment experience includes infants as young as 6 weeks to adolescents, and she has practiced in out patient rehab and school system settings as well as in private practice. As the owner of Special Needs Pediatric Physical Therapy, Denise strives to provide only the highest quality of care possible to the children in her practice.

Ms. Schultheiss graduated Cum Laude from Georgia State University in 1982 with a degree in physical therapy. She did graduate work at New York University and Old Dominion University as well. Ms. Schultheiss has 21 years experience treating the pediatric population and is certified in Neuro-Developmental Treatment (NDT). She has done extensive continuing education in the area of pediatrics including advanced courses in NDT. Ms. Schultheiss has treated children in a variety of setting ranging from a Children’s Hospital (including the neonatal intensive care unit) to outpatient clinics, early intervention and the school system. She has lectured throughout the United States on the Management of the Pediatric Foot and Ankle and the Treatment of Children with Cerebral Palsy. Ms. Schultheiss is the author of several articles on Normal Development and has written a home study course on Therapeutic Management of the Lower Extremity in the Neurologically Involved Child. Ms. Schultheiss has been treating children with Special Needs Pediatric Physical Therapy for the last eight years providing superior quality of care to the children in the practice.

Lorissa graduated from the University of Tennessee in 2003 with a B. A. in Audiology and Speech Pathology and from the University of Memphis in 2005 with a M. A. in Speech-Language Pathology. She completed her Clinical Fellowship Year and began her career in Chattanooga, TN where she gained experience working in a variety of settings, including clinic, school (elementary, middle, and high school), and long-term care facility. Lorissa has primarily worked in a private practice/clinic setting. Lorissa is a certified ASHA member and is licensed to practice in the state of Georgia.

Lorissa has extensive experience working with the pediatric population and because of her interest in apraxia/motor planning disorders, has been recognized as one of only five qualified professionals in Georgia to be included in the esteemed CASANA professional directory. She is PROMPT trained and has attended continuing education courses with an emphasis on motor speech disorders, diagnostic, and treatment techniques. Lorissa has also attended multiple continuing education courses in feeding, language development, and AAC usage, including: Kaufman Apraxia assessment and treatment, Language Acquisition through Motor Planning (LAMP), DIR Floor Time Approach to Feeding, Sequential Oral Sensory (S.O.S.) Approach, and Progressive and Systematic Speech and Language Training for Children on the Autism Spectrum. She is also adept with using American Sign Language (ASL) as part of a Total Communication approach. Lorissa is excited to be part of the SNPT team and is looking forward to working with you and your child!

Jenny graduated from the University of South Alabama in 1998 with a B. S. in Speech and Hearing Sciences and in 2000 with a M. S. in Speech-Language Pathology. She completed her Clinical Fellowship Year and began her career in Gastonia, NC where she gained experience working in a variety of settings including home health, school environment, vocational rehab center and long-term care facility. In 2001 Jenny moved to Georgia and has worked in both private practice/clinic settings as well as public-school settings. Since relocating to Georgia, Jenny’s sole focus has been to help children improve their communication skills. She has taken extensive continuing education classes in motor planning disorders/Apraxia and is Level 1 PROMPT trained. Jenny also has concentrated her continuing education in the areas of childhood language development, sensory feeding techniques and emotional regulation strategies. Jenny is a certified ASHA member and holds a license to practice in the state of Georgia.

Michelle graduated from the University of Florida in 1993 with a B.A. and in 1995 with a M.A. in Communication Processes and Disorders.  She completed her Clinical Fellowship Year in Marion County, FL public schools before she relocated to GA in 1996.  Michelle has over 20 years experience working in the public schools and with families in their homes providing early intervention speech therapy.  She is passionate about literacy as a part of a child’s communication skills and has received continuing education and training in Orton-Gillingham reading instruction and using literacy-based therapy to target speech/language goals.  Her other areas of interest and special training include LAMP (Language Acquisition through Motor Planning), Lindamood Bell Visualizing and Verbalizing for language comprehension and thinking, collaborative language-motor therapy, early intervention, articulation, language, and social skills in children.  Michelle is a certified ASHA member and has a state license as well as a teaching certificate for Speech-Language Pathology in GA.

Amparo graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Physiology in 2006 and a Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy from Nova Southeastern University in 2010. Amparo began working at a local Children’s hospital outpatient center for evaluation and treatment of kids with special needs in 2011. She worked there for almost 10 years before relocating from South Florida to Georgia in 2021. In addition to the outpatient center, Amparo worked part time in a local charter school for 3 years. Her entire OT career has been dedicated to children. She is passionate about providing client-centered and evidenced based practice treatments with the goal of improved independence and better quality of life. Amparo believes that building rapport with families and being able to positively impact a child’s development is the most rewarding part of being a pediatric OT. 

Jennifer graduated from Medical College of Georgia in 1989 with her degree in occupational therapy. With over 15 years of pediatric experience Jennifer has practiced in a variety of settings including inpatient and outpatient clinics, school-based settings, private practice, and home-based early intervention settings. Jennifer also has taken extensive continuing education in the areas of sensory integrative therapy, pediatric feeding and swallowing including Beckman Oral Motor Assessment, and advanced handling and facilitation. Jennifer’s experience includes treating children with a wide variety of diagnoses from birth through age twenty one.