The Center for LifeSkills

About Us

Stefanie Orkin
Speech-Language Pathologist

Ms. Orkin, M.A. CCC-SLP, is a graduate of Ithaca College and earned her Master’s degree at Case Western Reserve University.

Ms. Orkin began her career at The Rainbow School, a preschool for children with special needs, in New York City. Her caseload consisted of children with developmental speech and language delays among a diverse population. She worked with children in individual sessions as well as in the classroom running small groups.

In 2001, Ms. Orkin joined the Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital for Rehabilitation, where she worked with children with a variety of disorders including Cerebral Palsy, Apraxia, Autism, and developmental language delays.

Ms. Orkin is certified in Debra Beckman Oral Motor intervention techniques and has taken the Level 1 PROMPT course. She also supervises graduate students in her field.

Ms. Orkin joined The Center for LifeSkills in 2003 to experience a smaller, more specialized and family-centered environment. She also works at The Agnon School, in Beachwood, Ohio, where she evaluates and treats children in preschool through eighth grade.

Brenda Richards
Occupational Therapist

Ms. Richards, OTR/L, holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Elizabethtown College and is a registered (certified) and licensed occupational therapist.

She has worked with clients with a range of diagnoses, throughout the lifespan from pediatrics to geriatrics. Ms. Richards is trained in Greenspan's D.I.R. model and has lectured extensively on this subject.

Ms. Richards began her career at Harborside Healthcare of Beachwood, completing evaluations, screening and treatment for long-term care and skilled care units from 1995-1998. She worked closely with physical therapists and speech-language pathologists to maximize clients’ progress. It was at this point that she learned the importance of a team approach to therapy.

In 1998, Ms. Richards joined Barrie Galvin and Associates, LTD. She treated children with a variety of diagnoses, including PDD, Autism, Regulatory and Multisystem Developmental Disorders, ADD, Sensory Integration Dysfunction and hand function disorders.

Additionally, while with Barrie Galvin, Ms. Richards developed the Floor Time lecture and coaching series, which included three nights of lecture and parent/caregiver coaching sessions. She also lectured at the Ohio Occupational Therapy Association (OOTA) State Conference, for schools throughout the state of Ohio and for Physical Therapy Associates of Chambersburg, Inc. in Chambersburg, PA.

A co-founder of The Center for LifeSkills in 2002, Ms. Richards has helped create a dynamic cooperative style of therapy for children with a variety of needs.

Quick Links to Services