Erna Imperatore
Erna Imperatore Blanche, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA, is Co-Founder and Co-Director of Therapy West, Inc., a pediatric clinic specializing in children with neurodevelopmental disorders, and Clinical Professor of Occupational Therapy at the University of Southern California - Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy. Her teaching, clinical, and research efforts have concentrated on the impact of sensory processing on participation, including identifying and evaluating sensory processing challenges, areas on which she has authored and co-authored multiple publications in English and Spanish. Dr. Blanche has lectured extensively around the globe, becoming internationally recognized as an expert on these topics. In her multiple roles as professor, international lecturer, and clinician, Erna crosses the borders between clinical practice and academic research. Her work has received multiple state, national, and international awards.
Gustavo Reinoso
Dr. Gustavo Reinoso, Ph.D., OTR/L, serves as an Associate Professor in the Occupational Therapy Department at Drake University. With over 25 years of experience, he has worked with children and youth with disabilities across government, private, educational, and community settings. Dr. Reinoso has co-authored numerous scientific publications in textbooks and professional journals. He regularly provides education and services to families and professionals across Europe, North America, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Dr. Reinoso co-authored two standardized assessments in the USA: the Structured Observations of Sensory Integration Motor (SOSI-M) and the Comprehensive Observations of Proprioception (COP-R). As an adjunct professor at the University of Southern California (USC), he contributes to the USC Chan Sensory Integration Continuing Education (CE) Certificate Program. His research interests include sensory integration and processing, autism, handwriting, measurement and statistics, disability studies, and the development of assessment tools.
Dominique Kiefer
Dominique Blanche Kiefer is a co-owner of Therapy West, Inc. in Los Angeles, CA, and Therapy West 2, LLC in Orlando, FL. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Brown University and also holds a master’s degree and an Occupational Therapy Doctorate from the USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy. She has been a clinician for almost 20 years, providing treatment to children in school, home, and clinic settings. She lectures extensively in Spanish and English and has co-authored several publications. She is recognized as an expert in assessing and treating sensory processing and sensory integration from a school-based and clinic-based perspective. She was one of the original authors/directors of the video “A. Jean Ayres: the pioneer behind sensory integration,” and a co-author of the SOSI-M and COP-R. Her interests focus on sensory integration, sensory processing, and the development of assessment tools.
