Our Story

Hello! 

I am Kim Hazelton, OTR/L.  I founded Sense Able Academy in 2024 as the little sister-company to Sense Able Brain Pediatric Therapy.  Our classes are held in the sensory-rich therapy rooms and in our outdoor space.  

Why did I start Sense Able Academy?  To know the story of Sense Able Academy, you must first know the story of Sense Able Brain Pediatric Therapy.  

Sense Able Brain Pediatric Therapy was founded in 2010 to be a haven for the children who struggled to progress and thrive in the typical therapy and learning environments. The majority of the children we have helped over the years have initially come to us without any diagnosis, but with years of struggle under their belts. They were the children who were falling through the cracks between the Special Education services in the public schools and the therapy services in their community. They didn't seem to fit a typical "atypical" mold. They have often been mislabeled and misunderstood. Their parents felt lost and unprepared to help their child overcome their unique challenges.  These precious children and their beloved parents have been our mission ever since we started.

Do you have any classes or support for parents?  We have opportunities for parents and caregivers to participate in learning, support, and wellness services as well!

Why are you including Adult Classes for parents and caregivers?  Let's face it, in most traditional pediatric therapy practices and learning environments, the parents are often treated as the taxi driver and the at-home therapist (out of necessity).  We recognize that parents need more support and "intervention" to be able to inhale, exhale, and then be what their child needs. 

In addition, most parents are not taught to recognize the warning signs of challenges in infancy and toddlerhood that can lead to greater struggles later in childhood.  We want to help educate and support parents of infants and toddlers to help them prevent the challenges we see in older children! 

Why are you opening a Learning Center?  I thought it was finally time to heed the call of the families at Sense Able Brain Pediatric Therapy and start a learning center that is designed to help the children AND parents who find that traditional school settings and their own unique homeschool experiences needed a little more support and guidance to help their children reach their potential.

Is Sense Able Academy a private school?  Or a Homeschool Co-op?  Sense Able Academy is specifically designed to NOT be a school or a Homeschool Co-op, but to be a sensory-rich, experiential learning environment where we emphasize regulation BEFORE education, so a child has a greater chance to succeed at both, and so there is increased peace and harmony in the family. 

Who are YOU, Kim?  In addition to being a pediatric Occupational Therapist for over 30 years, I have been married to my high-school sweetheart for over 38 years, and we "graduated" our two beautifully unique homeschooled young adults who then went on to get college degrees and marry the loves of their lives.  We have 2 adorable Schnoodle pups (Josie and Coco), I have authored 2 books (Calm Down, Child and Neuro Roots:  A Neurodevelopmental Growth Appraoch to Foster Success with Children with Sensory Processing Disorder"), and I'm a public speaker.  My mission is to help parents understand neurodevelopment so, with our support and guidance, they can help their children grow and succeed. 

How do I know if you're a good fit for us?  If you wonder if Sense Able Academy would be a good fit for your unique family, the answer is probably yes, we would.  Your child does not need to have a diagnosis, or be experiencing any challenges in learning, to benefit from what we have to offer.  Many of our classes will support general educational goals and essential life skills (such as personal finance).  All children (and many adults!) could benefit from more multi-sensory input, more regulation, more relational interactions, more support, and more fun!

What should I do if I'm still not sure?  Give us a call at (813) 922-2544.

We hope to see you on campus soon!