Elizabeth Neish

Welcome to Open Minds! We are so glad you’re here. 

I work behind the scenes to help things run smoothly at the centre. I assist with many tasks, including referrals, connecting new families with our services, and scheduling. I'm also excited to be coordinating groups, workshops, and conferences. 

I graduated from Algoma University in 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts, double majoring in Law & Justice and Political Science. My role at the Centre is an excellent fit for my past experience in office and health care administration, along with my passion for making a difference in the lives of children and families.

My role at Open Minds has allowed me to assist our service providers and families with tasks related to navigating the school system. My passion for helping in this way has led me to expand my role in a volunteer capacity, working together with advocates, educators, and parents on a national education framework. 

 I look forward to working with you and your family to help you access the supports and services you need. 

I've had the great privilege of serving our community for more than 25 years as a pediatric speech-language pathologist and consultant. I started The Speech Path in 2009 with the goal of connecting children, teens, and families with customized supports that address their unique needs and goals. In 2016, I pursued training to become a Certified RDI® Consultant, enabling me to better serve the neurodivergent children and youth in my care.

Through evidence-based, respectful, and meaningful interventions, my commitment is to help children and families build on their strengths so that relationships and skills can flourish.

I look forward to knowing, growing, and working with you and your child! 

In collaboration with other professionals and community organizations, I continue to develop and lead workshops and trainings for parents and service providers. 

I'm grateful to be collaborating with an incredible team of like-minded professionals at Open Minds, and for our families to have access to multiple services and supports at our shared location. 

Retired since June 2019, I now have the privilege of working one to one with children and teens in a wonderful, nurturing setting. As a special education teacher for 32 years, I was afforded many opportunities to learn the most effective ways to help children learn to read and write.

I helped parents and students navigate the school system, that at times can be overwhelming with its numerous program options and pathways. The latter half of my career focus was literacy which became a true passion for me! In 2012, I wrote a children's book titled, The Lonely Sock Box. Find my book here https://www.amazon.ca/Lonely-Sock-Box-Perri-Nantais/dp/147715115X or contact me directly to purchase a copy at nantaisper@gmail.com.

I have had the opportunity to train in three different reading and writing intervention programs. Using a systematic, structured literacy approach, I am able to customize sessions and supports to meet the needs of each individual child. It is rewarding to bring my professional training and experience in education to my current role as an SLP Therapy Assistant. I look forward to the opportunity to work with your child and witness their success.

Hello. My name is Taylor, and I look forward to getting to know you and your child! Since graduating with my Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from McMaster University, I have worked as an Occupational Therapist with a variety of populations; however, children and their families have always been my greatest passion. 

It is this passion that led me to start T. Corelli OT Consulting in 2021.

I love working with children, teens, and families, and strongly believe that a caring, nurturing, and collaborative approach is essential. I value approaches that are respectful, responsive, and grounded in connection.

My work supports regulation, sensory processing, and motor development through meaningful activities and everyday routines. I am focused on maximizing independence and participation in all aspects of life, and I aim to adapt tasks and environments by working closely with families to help children feel safe, confident, supported, and capable as they grow.

I am an occupational therapist with a passion for supporting children and families in building the skills they need to thrive in everyday life. I have been practicing as an occupational therapist since 2010 across a variety of settings, and I have focused my work in pediatrics since 2018. 

I hold a BSc with Honours in Neuroscience from Dalhousie University and a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from McMaster University. Born and raised in Sault Ste. Marie, I feel incredibly grateful to be raising my own family here and to be serving the community that shaped me. 

As a practice within Open Minds, I’m proud to collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of professionals who are as passionate as I am about providing meaningful, individualized care for children and youth.

I believe in respectful, relationship-based therapy that empowers children and the adults in their lives. My goal is to meet each child where they are and to support the development of foundational skills in a way that honours their unique strengths and needs. I have a particular interest in approaches that promote emotional regulation, sensory processing, and motor development. Whether through direct treatment sessions, caregiver consultation, or collaborating with educators and team members, I am committed to helping children participate more fully in the activities that matter most to them.

Hello! My name is Kelsey and I am a Clinical Social Worker who has been serving Sault Ste. Marie and the Algoma District for the past ten years. I was born and raised in Sault Ste. Marie, and have spent my entire career working with children and their families. I have a well-established private practice and am thrilled to be adding something new to my work experience with Open Minds. 

My work has led me into a variety of public service and educational roles in the community, including Thrive Child Development Centre, Algoma District School Board, Children's Aid Society, and Sault College where I currently teach in the Social Service Worker Program. 

I have a background in Psychology as well as a Master’s Degree in Social Work. Many of my studies specifically focused on the Queer Community which inspires my work with this population.

Over the years, my love for working with children and their families has only continued to grow. I am grateful to be supporting each and every child and family in my care. 

I am a developmental specialist and consultant with 30 years experience supporting neurodivergent children and youth, particularly those with complex needs. I work collaboratively with families, educators, and multidisciplinary care teams to support emotional development, flexible thinking, and interpersonal engagement with the children and youth in their care. My focus is on ‘guiding the guide’ to support their child’s development during everyday interactions. My work is a unique integration of my education and certifications as an RDI® Consultant and DIRFloortime® Practitioner.

My professional background spans the public sector, private practice, and consultation with families and professionals across Canada and internationally. My work is based on developmental and neurodevelopmental research, and informed by my ICDL-based PhD training in Infant and Early Childhood Development with a Mental Health specialization. My doctoral program was designed by Dr. Stanley Greenspan and leaders in the Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders.

Currently based in British Columbia, I am originally from Sault Ste. Marie and maintain deep personal and professional roots in the Sault area. I value ongoing connection with local families and professionals, and I regularly return to the community.

I am excited to be partnering with the multidisciplinary team at Open Minds to provide professional mentorship, case consultation, and education for clinicians, and to work with families to support developmental growth through strong, connected relationships. My focus as a mentor is on supporting reflective clinical practice and helping both therapists and caregivers to integrate developmental frameworks into everyday work in practical, meaningful ways.