Pediatric Occupational Therapist, Melisa Kaye, founded the Firefly Center 7 years ago. The Center is located in Downtown San Mateo, CA, and is easily accessed by clients from both the Peninsula and San Francisco areas.

Services at the Center are provided by licensed, highly experienced and talented OTs, who pride themselves on the quality and effectiveness of their work with children. Firefly Center is also pleased to offer music therapy services with board certified music therapist, Beth Robinson.

Director and Occupational Therapist, Melisa Kaye has been an OT for over 12 years. Melisa has worked with children with a wide variety of needs in home, school and clinic settings. In addition to her direct work with children, Melisa is an instructor in the Occupational Therapy Department at Dominican University in Marin County, CA. She also provides consultation and education services to the City College of San Francisco Preschool centers and the Child Development and Family Studies Program. She has lectured locally and nationally on OT and developmentally related topics, and is the co-author of a book on kindergarten readiness. Her work also includes the management of OT services for several local school districts.

Melisa’s education includes a post-professional Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy from San Jose State University, as well as a Bachelor’s of Science in Occupational Therapy from San Jose State University, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. Melisa also received a Certificate in Early Childhood Education for Infants and Preschoolers with Disabilities. Melisa’s post-professional training includes certification in the administration, scoring and interpretation of the Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests (SIPT)—the “gold standard” of Sensory Integration praxis and the cornerstone of ©Ayres Sensory Integration intervention. Melisa has also completed the Perceptual Enrichment Program training, Listening with the Whole Body certification, training in the Wilbarger Protocol for Sensory Defensiveness, handwriting training using Handwriting Without Tears and the Loops and Other Groups programs, training in the Brain Gym method, certification in the Sensory Oral Sequential approach to feeding difficulties, Neurodevelopmental/therapeutic handling training, and coursework to screen for visual issues in children.