Amy Wagenfeld

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Amy Wagenfeld

Amy Wagenfeld, PhD, OTR/L, SCEM is the Research Coordinator at the Els Center of Excellence in Jupiter, FL and Assistant Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at Rush University. She received her BS in occupational therapy from Western Michigan University, an MA in human development from Loyola University Chicago, and a PhD in education from Walden University. Amy presents on and publishes widely in peer-reviewed and popular press journals, magazines, and books, on topics relating to occupational therapy, interprofessional collaboration with designers, and access to nature. She is co-author of Therapeutic Gardens: Design for Healing Spaces, published by Timber Press. The Els for Autism Foundation was established in 2009 by Liezl & Ernie Els shortly after their son Ben was diagnosed with autism. Els for Autism is committed to helping people on the autism spectrum fulfill their potential to lead positive, productive and rewarding lives. http://www.elsforautism.com/site/PageServer?pagename=Center_Excellence

The Remarkable Ways Sensory Gardens Can Help People With Autism

Experiencing nature improves physical, sensory, social, and emotional health and wellbeing and a garden is an ideal space to engage with nature. While research has and continues to demonstrate these benefits, little has looked at the impact on individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In time, we hope to fill the void and conduct some […]

LEGO® Therapy: How to Build Connections with Autism – One Brick at a Time

It All Comes Down to Play: Autism Play Therapy Play is an important activity of childhood and is understood to contribute to healthy development1. It is so important that the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights has identified play as the right of every child2. Through play, children have opportunities to move, be curious […]