Gretchen Ward 

Smart Beginnings Greater Prince William, Volunteer

Gretchen Ward is an occupational therapist with 10 years of experience working with children and families from birth to 21. She completed her BA at the University of Virginia in 2002 majoring in English and Biology. She her received a Master of Science In Occupational Therapy from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in 2009 and worked for the New York City Department of Education for 6 years following her graduation. During that time she also worked in Early Intervention and provided tutoring services through Huntington Learning Centers. Gretchen moved back to Northern Virginia from New York City in 2015 and has worked in multiple specialized school settings and private practice with children with autism. She was delighted to begin volunteering with Smart Beginnings in 2019 and has been contributing to the Facebook page by providing an OT perspective on Child Development and kindergarten readiness. She also presented at the recent Title One Parent Camp in Prince William County and has been a presenter at State, National and International occupational therapy conferences on topics from Mental Health, Autism, and Handwriting Instruction.