Michelle Hand and Keiri Porter, the owners of Butterfly Paediatric Therapy Inc., are Physiotherapists with a combined 20 years experience in paediatrics, primarily at Children’s Treatment Centres, but also privately in the community. While their focus and education have gone in slightly different directions, their treatment philosophies, passions and goals are similar. Butterfly’s vision is to provide another option for families who have children with special needs, orthopaedic injuries, sensory processing difficulties, fine motor delays and handwriting difficulties, feeding issues, challenges with school performance and communication disorders. Butterfly’s goal is to increase access to care, provide a convenient location for families and offer multidisciplinary services in one central location. Butterfly is an environment designed specifically for children to be fun and motivating while also being therapeutic.
Therapists
Michelle Hand
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Keiri Porter
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Adrienne Walker
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Kathleen Lynch
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Sandy Tung
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Jacqueline Martin
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Laura Howson-Strong
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Denitsa Getsova
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Michelle’s educational background includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology from the University of Western Ontario in 1998 and a Master’s Degree in Physiotherapy from McMaster University in 2002. Michelle has completed a number of post-graduate courses including Cuevas MEDEK Exercises (CME III) with Ramon Cuevas, Introductory and Intermediate Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT), Introductory and Advanced Kinesiotaping as well as Functional Exercise and Gait Training courses for children with special needs. Michelle also has experience with an orthopaedic population of all ages.
Keiri graduated from Physiotherapy at McMaster University in 1998, and also has a Kinesiology degree from the University of Waterloo. Keiri has completed the eight week Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT) course, as well as Introductory and Baby courses with an NDT focus. She recently completed her CME III with Ramon Cuevas. Keiri also draws on Functional Strength Training, Introductory and Advanced Kinesiotaping, Motor Control, and Gait Training courses for children of all ages. Keiri has experience with orthopaedic issues affecting children.
Adrienne graduated from Physiotherapy at the University of Toronto in 1998. Prior to that, she graduated with honours degrees in Kinesiology and Geography from Queen’s University. Adrienne has worked exclusively with children and has practiced in a variety of paediatric settings – hospitals, rehabilitation centres, schools and family’s homes. She has completed the Introductory and Intermediate Paediatric Neurodevelopmental Technique (NDT) Courses , CME levels I and II and Kinesiotaping along with many other courses related to physiotherapy practice within the paediactric population.
Kathleen graduated from Dalhousie University in 2009 with a Masters degree in Physiotherapy after previously graduating from McGill University with a Bachelors of Arts degree in International Development Studies in 2005. Kathleen has worked in paediatrics throughout her career, in both the home and school environments and at a children’s treatment centre. Kathleen has completed the Introductory Paediatric Neurodevelopmental Technique (NDT) course, and is currently completeing the 8-week NDT course. She has also done many courses on a variety of subjects including early intervention, core strengthening, Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) and orthopaedic management of foot deformities. Kathleen has experience working with children of all ages but specifically with children under the age of 2 years, with orthopaedic, neurological and developmental challenges. Kathleen is passionate about helping all children achieve their full potential.
Sandy hails from Cape Town, South Africa. She graduated from the University of Cape Town with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Physiotherapy. Sandy has worked abroad in Cape Town, South Africa and Cambridge, United Kingdom with the pediatric population in private, hospital and community settings. She has completed a number of pediatric courses, some of which include Introductory, Intermediate and Baby Pediatric NDT as well as Cuevas Medek Exercises (CME I). Sandy has a particular interest in children with neurological and developmental challenges. She enjoys helping and working with children to reach their full potential.
Jacqueline’s educational background includes Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Kinesiology from the University of Western Ontario and a Masters Degree in Occupational Therapy from McMaster University in 2004. Jacqueline has worked exclusively with children and their families both in the community and in rehabilitation centres. Jacqueline stays current with practice knowledge and skills through ongoing post-graduate courses including: The Get Permission Approach to Sensory Mealtime Challenges, Feeding and Nutrition for Children with Special Needs, Integrating Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT) and Sensory Integration Therapy, Cognitive Orientation to Occupational Performance (CO-OP), Handwriting Without Tears and Introductory Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT) for children. Jacqueline strives to partner with families to promote the full potential of children to be able to participate in their daily activities for self-care, school, and leisure/play.
Laura’s educational background includes a Masters degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Toronto and a Bachelors degree with Honours in Early Childhood Education from Ryerson University. Laura has completed a number of post-graduate pediatric courses including Handwriting without Tears, The Get Permission Approach to Sensory Mealtime Challenges and Integrating NDT and Sensory Processing Intervention, as well as other training experiences with a focus on pediatric assessments, handling, and family centered care. Laura has experience working in community and hospital settings and is passionate about working with families and children who have neurological, developmental and sensory challenges. Laura also has experience with program development and enjoys implementing a variety of life skill and fine motor based groups.
Denitsa graduated from the Master’s program in Speech-Language Pathology at Sofia University, Bulgaria. In her practice, she has worked with preschool and school-aged children with a wide range of communication difficulties – speech (articulation, phonology, motor speech), fluency (stuttering), language, preliteracy and literacy skills, cognitive-communication (social communication, executive functions). Denitsa has completed the It Takes Two to Talk®and More Than Words®family-focused intervention programs designed for parents of children with language delays and social communication difficulties/Autism Spetrum Disoders(ASD). Additionally, Denitsa has received training in the PROMPT system(for motor speech disorders), DIR®Floortime Model(child-centered approach for children with ASD) and PECS(augmentative/alternative communication program for nonverbal or minimally verbal children). Denitsa incorporates new technology and uses an iPad in her sessions both as a way to support her clients’ communication needs and a tool for language learning. She provides assistance to parents in the process of selection of educational iPad applications for home practice.
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