Shawn Nowlin
Amy Higgs
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST GOES MOBILE WITH “OT ON THE GO” By Shawn Nowlin Salem Occupational Therapist takes her practice on the road. Her mission is also a personal one. Many people know someone with a child that has some sort of disability. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one of the most common disabilities in the United States is spina bifida, a condition that impacts the spine. Cerebral palsy, autism and down syndrome are also more common disabilities. A Salem woman whose child was born with autism eventually led Occupational Therapist Amy Higgs, OTR/L, CAPS, CLT to take her practice on the road. Born and raised in Connecticut, Higgs initially attended UCONN for a nursing degree, but changed her major after two years to pursue a bachelor’s degree in
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Occupational Therapy from American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts. Following graduation and passing the board exam, Higgs worked with adults in the physical disability setting. Higgs never dreamed she would be working with children until the birth of her son, Andrew, who was diagnosed with autism. “The experience of being a mom and not knowing how to help my son was overwhelming. I began a quest which led me right back to my field of Occupational Therapy. I met an occupational therapist in Roanoke who provided me with information on sensory integration – and that was the right fit for Andrew. I then knew my
