Dana Almond, MSP-CCC/SLP

Dana Almond is an ASHA certified Speech-Language Pathologist and also the director of the Children's Center for Therapy and Learning.  She received her Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Miami in 1993 and then went on to graduate from the University of South Carolina with her Master's of Speech Pathology in 1996.  Upon graduation she realized she wanted to focus her career on helping children and young adults with special needs.  She worked in various public and private schools in the Atlanta area where she gained extensive experience working with children with auditory and language processing disorders, articulation and fluency disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorders and Augmentative and Alternative Communication.  In 2002, she returned to Miami to open the Children's Center for Therapy and Learning.  Upon returning to South Florida she interviewed with many facilities and researched the services and programs offered in the area. She realized there was a great need for a multi-disciplinary center that focused on pediatrics with a specialization in quality individualized therapy.  From that, the Children's Center was created. Dana takes pride in focusing her career on helping children and learning new approaches that will continue to assist her clients in meeting their goals as quickly and effectively as possible.  She has advanced trainings in PROMPT, Beckman Oral Motor, SOS feeding program, The Listening Program, Masgutova Reflex Integration, MORE, REI (Rhythmic Entrainment Intervention), as well as many courses in Oral Motor, Apraxia treatments, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Language and Auditory Processing, Floortime/DIR and more.  She specializes in treating school age children with articulation, language and/or auditory processing disorders, and working with early intervention cases with developmental delays, language delays, apraxia and Autism Spectrum Disorders.  In her spare time she enjoys reading, boating, watching college football and most of all spending time with family and friends. 

Daniela Schmeichler

Tova Fund, MS, OTR/L

Tova Fund earned her BA in psychology at Touro College in 2006.  She graduated SUNY Downstate Medical Center in 2008 with a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, and was the recipient of the OT Service Award. 

After gaining clinical experience in New York City, Tova began practicing pediatric occupational therapy in South Florida in 2009.  She has worked with children wit a wide range of diagnoses including Autism Spectrum Disorders, Down Syndrome, Sensory Processing Disorder, ADHD, Muscular Dystrophy, motor incoordination, torticollis, Cerebral Palsy, Williams Syndrome, developmental delay, and mental retardation.  Tova has worked with children in the clinic setting, schools, day care centers, and homes. 

Prior to attending graduate school, Tova worked as a classroom shadow for children with Autism and learning disabilities.  She utilizes a variety of evidence based treatment approaches including Sensory Integration, Nuerodevelopmental Techniques, DIR/Floortime, and Applied Behavior Analysis, and she participates regularly in continuing education. 

Tova has lived in New York and Israel and is fluent in English and Hebrew. She currently lives in Miami with her husband and son.

Keiko Fernandez, PT, DPT

Keiko received her undergraduate degree from the University of Miami in 2003.  She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Health Science with a minor in Dance. She graduated with Honors from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2006.  She worked as a pediatric physical therapist in New York City for four years.  She provided bilingual physical therapy evaluation and treatment services in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx and the Queens for the Early Intervention Program for children ages 0-3.  Throughout her career Keiko has gained experience working with children with varying disabilities including Torticollis, Down Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorders, prematurity, developmental delays, coordination disorders and more.  In addition to pediatric physical therapy, Keiko is interested in Dance Medicine.  Keiko has presented dance medicine and injury prevention lectures to the students of the Joffrey Ballet School.  Keiko trained in classical ballet in Miami as well as in New York City.  She returned to her hometown of Miami in the fall of 2010.  In addition to her position as a pediatric physical therapist at the Children's Center, Keiko is currently a backstage therapist with the Miami City Ballet.