Mary B. Pengelley, PT, DPT, ATP
Director of Education and Research PPT4ED.org
I have been a pediatric physical therapist since 1983 and currently am the Director of Education and Research at Progressive Pediatric Therapy in West Palm Beach, Florida. I have worked with children of all ages and young adults who have grown up with a variety of developmental disabilities, including cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, autism spectrum disorder, genetic disorders, muscular dystrophies, spinal muscular atrophy, brachial plexus injury, and spinal cord injury. I became certified as an Assistive Technology Practitioner in 2007, and have taught DPT students, continuing education webinars and live classes for therapists. But what I enjoy most is helping family members and caregivers learn how to successfully navigate life with their own unique child and family’s needs.
My career began as a Peace Corps volunteer in rural Jamaica, working at a school for children with hearing and physical impairments, and on a team that worked with families in their homes using available resources. I learned to work with local craftsmen to design and build adjustable adaptive chairs, walkers, adaptive footwear, and standing frames. This early experience taught me to use adaptive equipment to carry over therapy goals, align for function, and decrease potential for deformity in growing children. I later worked at a charter school in Florida for children who were non-ambulatory and non-verbal, where we implemented the MOVE™ program throughout the day at school. My personal observations demonstrate that adaptive equipment is often more important than the hands-on therapy we can provide. Why? Because the best therapy is often negated if a child is placed in a poorly fitted wheelchair, or they lack the support of adaptive equipment to function safely and independently at home or school.
