I grew up in the upper Midwest and earned my degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of North Dakota. After more than 20 years of snow, wind, and freezing temperatures, I decided I had experienced enough winters for a lifetime. Moving to Arizona brought me closer to my parents—and dramatically reduced my chances of ever shoveling snow again.

I spent the next decade working in both inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation at two major Phoenix-area hospitals. During that time, I witnessed firsthand the profound importance of independence, and the role mobility plays in quality of life. Recognizing the limited availability of driver rehabilitation services in Arizona, I founded Driving to Independence, an occupational therapy private practice dedicated exclusively to adaptive driver rehabilitation.

What began as a single practice has grown to serve clients throughout Arizona and New Mexico, helping thousands of individuals regain or maintain safe driving independence through comprehensive driver evaluations, adaptive equipment recommendations, and specialized driver training. I earned my Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialist (CDRS) credential in 2002 and have had the privilege of presenting at local universities and state, national, and international conferences on driver rehabilitation, adaptive driving, clinical best practices, and building a successful specialty practice. Despite those opportunities, my favorite audience will always be individuals and families learning about adaptive driving options and discovering possibilities they never knew existed.

I have also been honored to serve in numerous leadership roles with the Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists (ADED). Since joining the Board of Directors in 2011, I have chaired multiple committees, helped develop educational programs and professional standards, and served three terms as President. It has been incredibly rewarding to help advance the profession through education, leadership development, advocacy, and collaboration while supporting the next generation of driver rehabilitation professionals.

Outside of work, I try to keep life balanced by spending time with my two sons, who will always be my favorite people on earth, along with my parents and many wonderful friends. Whether I’m out for a run, traveling somewhere new, sailing, reading a good book, or simply enjoying whatever the day brings, I believe happiness comes from being fully present in the moment.

In 1995 I received my Bachelor of Science in Recreation Management and Leisure Studies with an emphasis in Therapeutic Recreation from Arizona State University.

My career has focused on brain and spinal cord injury rehabilitation and assisting clients in becoming as independent as possible.  While working within the acute rehabilitation settings I introduced patients to the possibility of returning to work and community activities through therapeutic community reintegration outings.   Adaptive driving is a key part of this community reintegration.

I was honored to be recognized as a spinal cord injury specialist by Banner Good Samaritan Rehabilitation Institute in 2006 and to be presented the Outstanding Professional award in 2009 by the Arizona State Therapeutic Recreation Association.

In May 2010 I made a leap by joining Driving To Independence to concentrate on independent and safe driving for individuals with disabilities.  I received the credential of a Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialist (CDRS) after successful completion of the required exam in 2011.  Driving assessments and training to become independent in the community is my passion for our clients.   I often say the process of identifying appropriate equipment for persons with physical differences is like putting a puzzle together and my job is to put the puzzle together without hammering in the corners.  I have connected with many professionals locally and around North America to raise our high-tech driving program to an advanced level.

I am a nearly lifelong resident of Mesa.  I enjoy swimming, photography, boating, fishing and time with my family and friends.

I received my Master of Science in Occupational Therapy with a Minor in Psychology in 2011 from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. After several years of working in inpatient and acute care hospital settings, I transitioned into the specialty field of driver rehabilitation in 2015 following a move to Arizona. In August 2017, I earned certification as a Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialist (CDRS) through the Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists (ADED). I currently serve as the Clinical Lead Therapist at Driving to Independence, where I work with clients of all ages and driving experience levels, addressing a wide range of medical and vision-related conditions. I am an active member of ADED and currently serve on the Professional Development Committee.

I have found a passion about the role of OT within the driver rehab field and the expertise, skills, and holistic approach that an OT can provide to clients as they work towards safe, independent mobility. As a client once shared with me, “You never know how much you appreciate being able to drive until the ability to do so is taken away from you.” Driving is deeply tied to one’s independence—whether it’s commuting to work or school, running errands, or visiting family and friends. Helping someone regain or achieve this independence is incredibly rewarding, and I am truly grateful to be part of that journey.

Outside of my professional work, I enjoy traveling and spending time with my family. I look forward to working with you and supporting you in reaching your driving goals.

For more than 40 years, I have provided occupational therapy services in inpatient, outpatient, and community-based settings. My work has focused on supporting clients who have experienced neurologic injuries and illnesses as they recover function, redefine meaning, and pursue their highest quality of life.

I earned my undergraduate degree in Occupational Therapy from San Jose State University in California and completed my post-professional degree in Occupational Therapy at the University of Florida.

I joined the Driving to Independence team and the Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists in 2023. In 2025, I earned the Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialist (CDRS) designation.

I am currently licensed by the Arizona and California Boards of Occupational Therapy Examiners and am certified by the Arizona Department of Transportation to provide Professional Driver Assessment and Training for individuals seeking to operate a standard or specially equipped motor vehicle.

I am a driver rehabilitation specialist and an Occupational Therapy Assistant with Driving To Independence. I have been in the field of occupational therapy for 13 years with 8 of these years being in the driver rehabilitation field. I have practiced occupational therapy at skilled nursing facilities and rehabilitation centers around New Mexico.

I received an Associates of Science degree and completed my Occupational Therapy Assistant program at Eastern New Mexico University of Roswell. I received a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Science degree from Eastern New Mexico University. It has always been my dream to become a driver rehabilitation specialist once I became an occupational therapy assistant.

I always had a passion for assisting individuals with disabilities and helping them overcome the challenges in their daily lives. The reason why I wanted to become a CDRS is because it would provide me an opportunity to assist individuals with disabilities with my other two passions of driving and automobiles. I feel that driving provides us with abundant amount of independence, and it is so fulfilling to assist my clients in becoming safe and competent drivers. When I am not assisting my clients I enjoy rock climbing, attending motorsports events, cars and coffee, and drinking coffee at local coffee shops. I can’t wait to assist you in becoming a safe and independent driver

I’m a seasoned occupational therapist with nearly three decades of experience helping people of all ages live as independently as possible. I began my career as an occupational therapy assistant in the school system, where I worked primarily with children on the autism spectrum and those with physical challenges. After earning my bachelor’s degree in OT from Colorado State University, I became an OTR and have since had the privilege of working with clients across the lifespan — from the NICU to end-of-life care. Every step of the way, I’ve found it deeply rewarding to be part of someone’s journey toward wellness and independence.

Life has taken me all over the U.S. (and even to Australia for a short while), but as a native of Albuquerque, I was happy to return home a few years ago. Since then, I’ve worked in both hospital and home health settings, and now I’m thrilled to be part of the Driving to Independence team.

I earned my Driver Rehab Professional credential through ADED and am fully licensed by the Traffic Safety Division of the New Mexico Department of Transportation. I also maintain my OTR/L license in New Mexico as well as my national certification through AOTA. Continuing to grow in my profession is very important to me, and I’m excited to bring both my knowledge and experience to the clients we serve here.