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Heather Simpson, OTR/L

Heather Simpson graduated with a B.S. in Exercise and Sport Science with a minor in Early Education from the University of Florida in 2007. Following her Bachelor’s degree, Heather received a Master’s in Occupational Therapy, in 2009, from the University of Florida. Since completion of graduate school, she has worked in a variety of settings including outpatient neurology, inpatient physical rehabilitation and pediatric rehab. Currently, Heather splits her time between Shands Rehab at UF Center for Movement Disorders and Neurorestoration and Shands Rehab for Kids at Magnolia Parke.
Heather provides occupational therapy evaluations and treatment for patients seen in the Ataxia clinic and Muscular Dystrophy clinics. She also evaluates and treats a variety of other movement disorders diagnoses including Parkinson’s, Parkinsonisms, Dystonia, Essential Tremor and Tics/Tourette’s Syndrome.
Heather has received specialized training for LSVT BIG ® and Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT).

Parkinson’s Disease Dementia tips for caregivers

Tips and suggestions for encouraging success for persons with Parkinson’s Disease Dementia  (PDD). Prevent overstimulation Keep the environment simple and quiet Ensure that background noises are kept at a minimal level (TVs, talking, dishwasher, etc.) Keep frequently used rooms free of clutter and with minimal distracting photos Use simple words-do…

Safety Tips for Showering/Bathing

Avoiding falls and preventing secondary injuries are an important goal for both Occupational and Physical therapy.  The risk of a fall is increased and has the possibility of more severe injuries in the bathroom.  Therefore, it is important to take precautions while showering/bathing to ensure safety. Some recommendations include: 1)     …

Energy Conservation for Parkinson’s patients

Why is it that a decline in energy is common with the diagnosis of Parkinson’s?                 There are a variety of factors that can lead to an increase in fatigue with Parkinson’s, including: stress, muscle stiffness, impaired sleep, depression and even certain medications.  Parkinson’s symptoms create a decrease in efficiency…