Our Staff
Angela R. Balmer OTR
Angie is the co-owner of KidVentures Therapy Services. She has over 25 years of experience as an occupational therapist in diverse therapeutic environments. She graduated from Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania with her Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Therapy. Angie has worked in the following settings: an acute inpatient psychiatric hospital, a state-funded school for children with social and emotional difficulties, and several private pediatric clinics. Angie has completed the Level 1 Intensive Mentorship through the SPD Foundation, taught by Dr. Lucy Jane Miller and Dr. Sarah Schoen. She is certified in the Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests (SIPT), The Print Tool by Handwriting Without Tears and the S.O.S Oral Sensory Approach to Feeding taught by Dr. Kay Toomey and Dr. Erin Ross. Angie and several colleagues at KidVentures have launched a Feeding Program and are providing both individual and group therapy work to children and their families. Angie’s approach to therapy is a product of her wide range of experience with children and families in both individual and group atmospheres. Her areas of expertise and special interest include helping children with sensory processing disorders, helping children with feeding disorders, improving functional skills/independence for children living with autism and working collaboratively with the various needs of children and families. Angie was one of the founders of the TOPSoccer program for children with special needs in Austin and is a former board member at the Capitol School of Austin.
Jennifer Thomas MS, OTR
Jen is the co-owner of KidVentures Therapy Services. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Kinesiology from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Jen has provided pediatric occupational therapy services for 18 years and has extensive knowledge in occupational therapy theory and intervention. Jen has completed the Level 1 Intensive Mentorship through the SPD Foundation, taught by Dr. Lucy Jane Miller and Dr. Sarah Schoen. She is certified in the Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests (SIPT). Jen works closely with the SPD Foundation in providing continuing education trainings to occupational therapy professionals. Her working environments include pediatric clinic-based and school-based environments. Jen specializes in providing intervention to children with sensory processing disorder, motor coordination difficulties, and functional skills difficulties such as handwriting and bike riding. Jen also enjoys presenting on various topics within the realm of occupational therapy in order to educate parent and teacher groups in the community. Jen is co-founder of the TOPSoccer program for children with special needs.
Brandi Gitcho MA, OTR
Brandi received a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Austin College in Sherman, Texas. After her undergraduate work, she volunteered for AmeriCorps for one year. She received her Master’s in Occupational Therapy from Texas Woman’s University in Dallas. Brandi worked in Dallas in a private practice sensory integration clinic as well as a private practice handwriting clinic. From Dallas, Brandi moved to Boston, where she worked as an occupational therapist at a school for children with behavior difficulties. Then she moved to New York, where she worked for a school for children with Autism. Brandi has over seven years experience working with pediatric patients in diverse populations across the country. She is certified in the Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests (SIPT).
Allison Martin MS, OTR
Allison joined the staff at KidVentures in August 2017. She earned her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Industrial Technology with a concentration in Technical Photography from Appalachian State University and a master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Shenandoah University. Before joining this practice, Allison worked in several private practice settings, providing occupational therapy services to children in the clinic and in their school setting. She also has experience working in the public schools and in early intervention for ages 0-3. Allison is a board certified occupational therapist in the states of Maryland, Texas and the District of Columbia, as well as a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association. She has over 14 years of experience working in various therapeutic and education roles with children with a variety of physical, developmental and learning abilities. Allison has taken additional continuing education courses in sensory integration, fine motor skills, Handwriting with out Tears, visual processing and ocular motor skills, social thinking, pediatric yoga, integrating NDT, SI and motor learning, oral placement therapy, and a variety of learning disorders. She is also certified in the Musgutova Method of Neuro-Sensory-Motor Reflex (MNRI). Additionally, she has provided instructional in-services to agencies and schools on fine motor, visual motor and sensory techniques. She has been involved in the development of therapeutic group programming that serves as an alternative to traditional weekly individual services such as social emotional regulation groups and month long intensive fine/sensory motor camps held during the summer. Allison is passionate about working with children of all ages and helping them achieve their goals. Allison is originally from Louisville, Ky. She has recently moved from Washington, DC to Austin, Texas with her son, daughter and husband!
Erin Vargo MOT, OTR
Erin graduated with her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Louisiana Tech University, and earned her Master of Occupational Therapy degree at LSU Health Sciences Center – Shreveport. She completed clinical rotations in a variety of settings across the lifespan, including the PICU/NICU, Neuro Day Program for Adults, Inpatient Rehabilitation on the Spinal Cord Injury Team, and working with children with Sensory Processing Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder here at KidVentures! Erin is excited to bring her knowledge of the most recent evidence-based practice and her passion for the field of Occupational Therapy to KidVentures. She is certified in the S.O.S. Approach to Feeding and has completed several continuing education courses for Sensory Integration, Fine Motor/Visual Motor/Graphomotor Skills, Executive Functioning, Social-Emotional Skills, Pediatric Mental Health, and a variety of Learning Disorders. Erin feels that working with children and collaborating with their support systems (family, caregivers, educators, and other health professionals) is a distinct honor, and strives to provide exceptional child-centered care with the goal of increased independence and improved quality of life.
Anne Dowd MA, CCC-SLP
Anne received her bachelor’s degree in Communication from DePaul University and her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Northern Illinois University. Anne worked as a school-based SLP in and around Chicago for 10 years before moving to Austin in 2017. She has experience treating children with a wide range of speech and language needs including articulation and phonological delay, expressive/receptive language disorders, pragmatic language disorder, stuttering, autism spectrum disorder and auditory processing disorder. She is passionate about making speech therapy functional for children across settings and stresses the importance of collaborating with teachers, parents and caregivers to treat the whole child. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her shih tzu, Walter, and getting to know this new city by trying new things. She joined a kickball league this fall but was reminded that she has absolutely no athletic ability. She is sticking with playing the guitar and performing improv comedy when she gets the chance. She is excited to join the Kidventures team and of course, go Bears!
Erin Silvert-Noftle MA, CF-SLP
Erin earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a focus on child development from Ohio State University. Before pursuing a Masters in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Texas at Austin, Erin taught elementary school for four years beginning as a member of Teach for America. She has experience providing intervention for children with delays and disorders in the areas of articulation, language, fluency, and voice in public school, outpatient hospital, and clinic-based settings. She has worked on transition planning for students aging out of public school services, parent training to promote social communication in children with autism, group therapy for children who stutter, literacy- and play-based language interventions, and social pragmatic group therapy. Erin recognizes the power of communication to impact quality of life. She is passionate about supporting clients and their families.
Erika Tatum MS, CCC-SLP
Erika received her bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders at the University of Florida, Gainesville and her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Erika has several years of extensive professional experience in different settings including a school for children with speech-language and learning disabilities, clinical pediatric outpatient services, adult rehab, and private practice. She has worked with both adults and children, but the bulk of her experience and clinical expertise is with children with a variety of disorders including speech-language disorders, autism spectrum disorders, cleft lip and palate, developmental delays and genetic disorders. She is PROMPT trained in a motor based technique used for children with moderate to severe speech disorders, such as childhood apraxia of speech.
Claire Wagner MS, CCC-SLP
Claire is a licensed and ASHA certified speech-language pathologist (SLP). She received her bachelor’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology at Texas Christian University and her master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Chapman University. Claire worked at a private practice in Orange County, California as well as a non-public school designed for students with developmental disabilities before moving back to Texas in 2019. Her clinical experience has been focused on a wide range of needs including articulation and phonological disorders, pragmatics/social groups, language and literacy, autism spectrum disorder, as well treating non-verbal clients utilizing alternative modes of communication. Claire loves working with children and making a difference in their lives every day! She is excited for this opportunity to join the Kidventures team and explore this new city in 2020!