Ruth graduated from Indiana University with a Master’s degree and has completed many additional trainings in early childhood education – including sign language. Ruth has worked as a developmental therapist for many years and is typically referred to, in a loving way, as the grandma of the team. She has worked with children that have had delays in speech. Fine motor and gross motor, behavior problems, prematurity, hearing loss, vision problems, cognitive delays, autism, etc. Ruth believes strongly in the benefits of early intervention and working closely with the families to achieve goals. Ruth provides a very individualized session with a lot of activities designed specifically for the child.

Tiffane graduated from Taylor University with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and went on to work on her Master’s at Concordia University where she received a Master degree in early childhood. She has been working with children of all ages since 2000. Tiffane continues gain knowledge through additional trainings and certifications, such as High Scope. Tiffane has three children who assist her in growing and learning everyday. She enjoys volunteering at her children’s school and through Girl Scouts.

Sarah Crupe graduated from Ashford University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and a Master’s Degree in Education with a focus on Special Education. Sarah has worked with children of all ages and abilities. She worked for nine years with Head Start and in the school system working with K-12th grade students. Sarah enjoys working with children and their families. Her motivation is watching the light in a child’s eyes when they discover something new in their world. When Sarah is not helping families she spends time with her husband and two children outdoors and on rainy days she likes to cozy up with a book or write short stories.

I graduated From Ball State University with a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education and minor in Special Education. I believe in child-led experiences and have participated in multiple Montessori trainings to help guide my practices. I have worked with a variety of ages over the years, but I have found the 0-3 population to be my absolute favorite! It’s so exciting to watch them discover new things and figure out what they’re capable of! I love seeing how proud they are when they figure out a new skill or use a new word, and I am grateful to be part of some of the most impactful years of their lives! In my free time, I love cooking and spending time with family and friends!

Arielle received her Bachelor’s of Science in General Studies from Indiana University-Purdue University of Fort Wayne as well as her associates in Early Childhood education in May 2013. Since then, she had worked at a childcare for 6 years, and worked at an autism center. She has since become a developmental therapist since March 2020. Throughout her life, she has loved every minute of helping children. The smiles she receives are priceless. She loves being crucial to a child’s development.

Sara has a degree in Elementary and Special Education. Prior to serving young children through First Steps, she has had unique opportunities to teach special education, life skills, and English as a second language in various settings. Sara taught children with moderate disabilities on the Navajo Indian Reservation in Arizona for 3 years, and spent seven years in Argentina doing volunteer mission work. She is fluent in Spanish and enjoys working with various multi-cultural settings. Sara is passionate about working with young children and their families to creatively assist them in achieving what they never thought possible.

Born and raised in Alaska, Stephanie received her BA in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Oregon and her MS in Developmental Psychology from Grand Canyon University. She worked for 9 years as a school-based speech therapist before moving to First Steps. Stephanie loves being able to use a team approach toward therapy, collaborating with families to create the best environment for children’s success. When she is not working, you’ll find Stephanie participating in volunteer outreach programs.

Jaclyn graduated from Ball State University with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and development with a concentration in Early Intervention. Jaclyn has a passion for working with young kids. She enjoys helping them learn new ways to navigate around obstacles that hold them back from everyday life activities. Ranging from learning new ways to communicate with others, overcoming developmental delays, or embracing a disability. She strives to make a connection with each child and family she serves as well as pushing them to be their best through set therapeutic goals. She knows how crucial the early ages are to a child’s future and wants to leave a remembering and helpful impact. Outside of work, Jaclyn loves spending time with family, friends, and dog. Her hobbies include golfing, shopping, and spending time at the lake.

Mallory Lowe attended Purdue Fort Wayne University for an undergraduate degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She also pursued two minors in Psychology and Linguistics as well as a certificate in Gerontology. She is passionate about loving families. This position goes way beyond teaching children to talk and learn how to play. Instead, she sees it as a valuable way to build lasting relationships and spur on parents to understand the young mind to effectively care for their child. She is a lover of Jesus and volunteers in the children’s ministry at her church. In Mallory’s free time, she loves to read the Bible, go on walks, bake new treats, and play the piano. She is eager to meet and serve you!

Brad graduated from Concordia University Wisconsin where he received his Masters of Occupational Therapy and Bachelors in Rehabilitation Science. He has a passion for working with children and their families. He strives to provide fun and creative interventions while supporting and encouraging the child’s growth towards their goals. Brad enjoys hiking, playing games, taking his puppy (Koda) for walks, and spending time with friends and family.

” Hi, I am Cara Dodane. I am an occupational therapist with Hand In Hand Comprehensive Therapy Specialists, Inc. working within the Fort Wayne community as a First Steps provider. In August 2020, I received my doctorate of Occupational Therapy from Huntington University. I have been working with HIH since June of 2021, I love my job and working with the kids- it is a setting I always dreamed of being in. I have a current additional certification in Infant massage (CPMT), and one day, I hope to acquire a specialization in aquatic therapy. What I love most about my job is building relationships with the families and kids and how I am getting to provide them with a service that improves their daily lives and routines in a fun way! “

Alex graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University with her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy. Previously, she attended Manchester University where she received her Bachelors in Exercise Science. Alex has a passion for working with children and their families to help reach all their goals and for each child to reach its fullest potential. In her free time, Alex enjoys being outdoors, spending time with friends and family, playing with her cats, reading a good book, and playing slow pitch softball.

Nicole earned her Bachelors of Science in Child Development from Ball State University in 2018. She completed her degree with an internship at Hand In Hand. At the clinic she worked side by side with all realms of therapy. Following graduation Nicole join our team as a Development Therapist working to help families and children who are experiencing delays in fine motor, gross motor, speech, cognitive and adaptive domains. Nicoles experiences include working with children with special needs through volunteering in classrooms, working with Riley Hospital, and being a camp counselor for children with muscular dystrophy. These experiences have inspired her to further her education and she will be completing the Occupational Therapy Doctorate program at Huntington University. Her future goals are to focus on pediatrics in a clinic based setting. In her free time, Nicole enjoys spending time with friends and family and volunteering her summers at a camp for children with muscular dystrophy.

Andrea received her Doctorate of Occupational Therapy from Huntington University. She has a passion for working with children and serves in both the clinic and First Steps settings where she values helping families learn to navigate challenges with hope and creativity. She also loves being able to connect with families and work together towards improvements that positively impact everyone involved. Andrea enjoys serving in various capacities both in and out of work but also enjoys being active through the gym, bouldering, hiking, kayaking, and spending time with friends and family.

Graduating in 2007 as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA), I bring over 17 years of diverse experience across multiple care settings, including long-term care, rehabilitation, home health, and pediatrics. My background has equipped me with a comprehensive understanding of patient needs across the lifespan. I have a passion for providing individualized care to help patients regain independence and improve their quality of life. On a personal note, I am a proud mother of two children. My 10-year-old daughter brings energy and joy into our home, while my 23-year-old son, who has special needs, has taught me invaluable lessons about perseverance, compassion, and adaptability. These experiences have profoundly influenced my approach to therapy, enabling me to connect with and support families and patients on a deeper level.

Kristen has been board certified clinical specialist in pediatric physical therapy since 2011. She graduated with her Master’s degree in physical therapy in 2006 from Grand Valley State University. She has been working with infants and children of all ages as a physical therapist for over 12 years in a variety of settings. She feels her experience in each different setting adds much value to working with families in First Steps. Kristen truly loves empowering each family and individual to be able to do all the things they desire.
Casey Harper

Nicole Edmonds earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Grand Valley State University and has been a First Steps provider for the past 3 years. In addition to First Steps, Nicole is a Certified Educator of Infant Massage and teaches the pediatrics courses at Trine University in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program. She has always had a passion for pediatrics and continuing education. Helping families to develop skills to play with, get to know, and explore their environment with a kiddo that may need a different approach to meeting the world is something that Nicole finds to be incredibly rewarding. She aspires to find the “Just Right” challenge for each child and their family by learning about each person’s goals, strengths, and challenges and what is most important to them.

Kayla received her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne in 2014. Since graduation she has gained experience with the pediatric population working as a registered behavioral technician. She earned her Master’s of Arts degree in Speech Language Pathology from the University of Cincinnati in 2019. Kayla enjoys helping children learn language and has taken a special interest in Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC). Her passion is helping children, especially those with complex communication needs, find their voice. She has knowledge and experience working with children on the autism spectrum and other complex communication needs during her graduate school internships. She strives help each family become more comfortable with facilitating language and communication in their everyday activities. In her free time she enjoys taking jeep rides with her husband and hanging out with her friends and family.

Most families and children fondly refer to Beth as “Miss Beth”. Miss Beth has been a full-time First Steps practitioner for over 15 years. Beth graduated from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She believes that in order to best serve her families she needs to have knowledge of a diverse range of topics including eating/swallowing disorders, nutrition, sensory based disorders, discipline practices, toilet training, play therapy, emotional development, and hearing disorders in addition to speech/language. So, Beth regularly attends classes, reads books, and attends seminars. Miss Beth’s promise to the parents is to be truthful, informative and work diligently to bring relief to the frustration and worry that may sometimes be present. Her goal is to replace those emotions with JOY.

Karen Koch received her Master’s Degree in Audiology and Speech Sciences from Michigan State University. She has been a licensed First Steps provider for 10 years. She specializes in feeding disorders for preterm infants. Karen believes strongly in a family-centered approach to therapy and establishing trust with each family she works with and working toward goals together.

Tina is a Speech Language Pathologist. She received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications Sciences and Disorders at Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne. She received a Master’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Cincinnati. Tina is a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) with a Certificate of Clinical Competence in speech-language pathology. Tina enjoys working with children ages 0-3 as they progress and grow in their language development to be the best communicators possible. She not only finds passion in working with children but loves working with the entire family.

Amy Yoder holds her Bachelors of Science, Speech and Hearing Sciences – Indiana/Purdue University, Fort Wayne and obtained her Masters of Arts, Speech Language Pathology- Indiana University, Bloomington. She has been working as an ASHA certified Speech Language Pathologist for the past 20 years. Four of those years, Amy worked in the school system providing services to preschool-fifth grade students. For the last 17 years, she has worked as an early intervention service provider through First Steps. Amy’s love or working with the little ones demonstrated through her passion in her work. She loves seeing little voices come alive. Amy is a mother of three and believes her children have made her a better therapist through patience, perseverance, problem solving, and much more.

Alexandra graduated with her Bachelors of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a minor in Linguistics from Purdue University Fort Wayne in 2019. While in school, she participated in the Speech and Hearing Club, ASL Pah! club and sign choir. She is thrilled to be working with the birth to three population, where she hopes to make a meaningful impact for each of her clients. Outside of work, Alexandra enjoys baking, quilting and reading