Big Leaps-Pediatric Physical & Occupational Therapy in Stamford, CT

Who We Are

Dr. Sneha Gosalia, PT DPT CKTP CPMT is a pediatric physical therapist licensed in New York and Connecticut. She has worked in a variety of settings including hospitals, pediatric rehab centers, outpatient clinics, schools, daycare centers and early intervention in the homes since 2008. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Stony Brook University and Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy from New York University.

Sneha has treated numerous children with gross motor delays due to congenital, developmental, neuromuscular, & skeletal conditions such as Torticollis, Down syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Scoliosis, Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Muscular Dystrophy, Juvenile Arthritis, Autism Spectrum disorders, Hemiplegia, Polymicrogyria, Tuberous Sclerosis, Noonan syndrome, and many other identified and unidentified conditions.

Sneha is a certified Kinesio Tape Practitioner & Pediatric Massage Therapist. She has been using Kinesio Tape in the treatment of children with alignment issues and neurological involvement. She incorporates massage into her therapy sessions to help with high muscle tone, low muscle tone, joint mobility and to help with babies that have difficulty gaining weight or have constipation. Sneha has extensive training in neurodevelopmental techniques, sensory integration, vestibular rehabilitation, pediatric yoga/pilates, kinesio tape, massage, developmental coordination disorder, and torticollis. She is also trained in Dr. Greenspan's DIR/Floor time approach, which helps a child improve their communication, curiousity, and creativity by meeting them at their developmental level.

Sneha is dedicated to providing individualized sessions to help improve a child's overall strength, endurance, balance, coordination, motor planning, body awareness and gross motor skills.

Danielle Diglio, MOT OTR/L is a pediatric occupational therapist licensed in New York and Connecticut. She has worked in various settings including outpatient clinics, homes, preschools and school districts since 2009. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Health Science and Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Quinnipiac University.

Danielle has treated children with a variety of disabilities including Autism spectrum disorder, Cerebral Palsy, Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, Hashimoto’s disease, Hemiplegia, Sensory Processing disorders and visual processing difficulties.

Danielle is trained in Therapeutic Listening and PuzzleArt Therapy™. She has extensive training in sensory integration, sensory motor, visual processing and graphomotor skills. Danielle works with families to put together a comprehensive sensory diet to help the child perform better in the home and community environment. She is also trained in Dr. Greenspan's DIR/Floor time approach, which helps a child improve their communication, curiousity, and creativity by meeting them at their developmental level.

Danielle’s mission is to provide personalized occupational therapy services to help unlock children’s hidden skills. She focuses on the child’s “occupation” of play to improve fine motor skills, sensory processing skills, motor planning, bilateral coordination difficulties, and graphomotor skills. Danielle uses Handwriting Without Tears® interventions as a multi sensory approach to improve handwriting skills for children of various ages. She also uses brain gym exercises to enhance a child's visual, auditory, and kinesthetic skills for easier and more optimal learning.

Ava Fracassini MOT OTR/L is a pediatric occupational therapist licensed in Connecticut. She has experience providing treatment in multiple settings including preschools and elementary schools as well as outpatient clinics. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Sacred Heart University.

Ava has treated children with developmental delays and various disabilities/ conditions including Autism spectrum disorder, Cerebral Palsy, Down syndrome, Hemiplegia, Sensory Processing disorders, motor planning difficulties and visual processing difficulties. Ava is dedicated to providing individualized family centered care to children and families. She enhances children’s learning abilities through the use of a multi-sensory approach during interventions. Ava also utilizes strength and coordination activities during sessions for increased fine motor skills.

Sneha is dedicated to providing individualized sessions to help improve a child's overall strength, endurance, balance, coordination, motor planning, body awareness and gross motor skills.

Danielle McKay, MOT OTR/L is a pediatric occupational therapist licensed in New York and Connecticut. She has worked in various settings including outpatient clinics, homes, preschools and school districts since 2009. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Health Science and Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Quinnipiac University.

Dr. Giovanna Cadella, OTD, OTR/L, is an occupational therapist licensed in Connecticut and New York. She has experience working in a variety of settings, including pediatric outpatient (ages 9 months – 21 years), early intervention, and schools (ages 3 – 8th grade). She received her Bachelor’s degree in Health Science and Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. Giovanna completed her capstone in teaching self-regulation skills in the classroom.

Giovanna has experience treating children with difficulties in gross and fine motor coordination, sensory processing disorders, visual processing difficulties, developmental delays, Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADD/ADHD, learning disabilities, executive functioning, and genetic conditions. She enjoys collaborating with each child and family to provide individualized and comprehensive occupational therapy. Giovanna is passionate about supporting each child to reach their maximum potential with a fun, multisensory approach.

Dr. Alyssa Ingmanson, PT, DPT, EMT is a pediatric physical therapist licensed in Connecticut. She graduated from Sacred Heart University with her Bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training and Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy. She has experience in the pediatric outpatient, birth-to-three, and aquatic therapy settings. Alyssa has additionally completed a service trip to Guatemala where she helped build wheelchairs for children in need and administered gross motor assessments for primary-school students.

Alyssa has treated children with a wide range of conditions including Torticollis, Plagiocephaly, Developmental Delay, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Cerebral Palsy, Genetic conditions, Idiopathic Toe Walking, Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Developmental Coordination Disorder, Down Syndrome, and seizure disorders.

Alyssa is passionate about providing the best quality of care to the children she works with and is determined to help each child reach their highest potential. She works with the entire family unit to create salient goals and treatment programs for each child.

Alison McDonald, MOT OTR/L is a pediatric occupational therapist licensed in Connecticut. She graduated from Sacred Heart University with both her Bachelor’s degree in Health Science with a minor in Psychology and her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy. She has prior experience working with pediatrics in the clinic, mental health practice, and school-based settings (K-8).

She has worked with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, neurological impairments, Down Syndrome, developmental delays, emotional dysregulation disorders, ADD/ADHD, sensory processing disorder, and learning disabilities.

Her favorite aspect of working in pediatrics is helping children learn, grow and increase independence through their main occupation of play! She takes pride in getting to know each child’s interests in order to create an engaging and fun environment to work on skills. It is a main priority of Alison’s to always incorporate caregivers into both goal and treatment planning in order to give the child the most top-notch, collaborative care they deserve. Continuous learning is very important to her and she is always looking for ways to enhance her knowledge and implement new, evidence- based practice into treatment!

Rebecca Kass, M.S., CCC-SLP is a Speech-Language Pathologist licensed in the states of Connecticut and New York. She holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), a Professional Educator certificate from CT, and a Teacher of Students with Speech-Language Disability (TSSLD) certificate from NY. Rebecca achieved a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University at Buffalo and a Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Nova Southeastern University.

Rebecca has experience working with clients ranging from infancy to geriatric populations. She has treated clients with developmental and acquired communication disorders, including expressive/receptive language, articulation/phonology errors, feeding and swallowing disorders, craniofacial abnormalities, Aphasia, Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI), fluency, Autism Spectrum Disorders, motor speech disorders, Down Syndrome, and Cerebral Palsy. Rebecca has provided communication services across multiple settings, including public and private schools (preschool through high school), hospitals, private clinics, and homes. She has expertise in conducting comprehensive evaluations to school-age populations incorporating standardized and informal assessment measures.

She prides herself on delivering communication services that support and educate the client and their families. It is her mission to enhance a client's quality of life, striving them to become lifetime communicators and contributors to society.

Michelle Makarian, M.S., CCC-SLP is a bilingual Speech-Language Pathologist who is fluent in Spanish. She is licensed in the states of Connecticut and New Jersey. She holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and a Professional Educator certificate from CT. Michelle received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech Language Pathology and Audiology at Loyola University Maryland and her Master of Science degree in Communication Disorders at Southern Connecticut State University.

Michelle has experience working in different settings with a variety of populations. She has provided services in public and private schools, private clinics, teletherapy, and specialized education programs for students with multiple developmental disabilities and complex medical needs. Michelle has experience working preschool through high school students as well as young adults and the geriatric population. She has experience working with the following: expressive/receptive language delays, articulation/phonology, auditory processing, Aphasia, fluency, Autism Spectrum Disorders, motor speech disorders, Down Syndrome, and Cerebral Palsy. In addition to therapy, Michelle is proficient in conducting comprehensive evaluations to preschool and school-age populations by incorporating standardized assessments and informal assessments.

Michelle strongly believes in a client-centered collaborative approach to therapy. Through this model clients and their families can be supported, educated, and communication can continue to be enhanced across settings.

Mary is a Speech Language Pathologist licensed in Connecticut. She holds her Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA) and a Professional Educator certificate from CT. Mary obtained her bachelors degree in Speech Language Pathology and Audiology at Loyola University Maryland and her Masters of Science in Speech Language Pathology at Sacred Heart University.

Mary has worked in a variety of settings with a wide range of populations. She has provided services in schools, private clinics, skilled nursing facilities, social skills groups, and via telepractice. She’s worked with pre school through high school students as well as adults. Some disorders she has experience with include, expressive/receptive language, articulation/phonology, fluency, voice, Down syndrome, apraxia, Autism Spectrum, auditory processing, aphasia, traumatic brain injury and Parkinson’s disease. In addition to therapy, she is well versed in completing comprehensive evaluations for those ages 3-70.

Mary strongly supports interprofessional collaboration including family members to enhance communication skills on an individualized basis.