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Our Staff
 Melissa Chaikin Kahn, MS, OTR/L Owner and Executive Director
As a registered occupational therapist and owner of Sensory Kids, Melissa is dedicated to helping children improve self-awareness, self-confidence and self-esteem
through the medium of play. She is known for captivating children with her magic while stimulating mind, body and soul.
Drawing from an extensive knowledge of pediatric occupational therapy, Melissa develops stimulating treatment programs that empower and teach children and their families to use therapeutic strategies in their daily lives. As a result, children build a strong foundation on which to learn and grow.
A graduate of Columbia University where she earned a Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy, Melissa brings a variety of sensory techniques into her individualized sessions and groups. For example, she has extensive training and experience in the Tomatis method, using Dynamic Listening System and Advanced Brain Technologies (ABT). As a faculty member of ABT, she trains—and consults to—other occupational therapists on a national level. Melissa also has completed many advanced sensory-integration courses and has been educated in Oral Motor Therapy, Cranial Sacral Therapy, Brain Gym and Neurodevelopmental techniques.
Deborah Sternberg Beloff, M.B.A.
Office Manager
Deborah, the Sensory Kids office manager, handles appointments and billing. The mother of a special-needs child, she is a wealth of information on local schools, area health and service providers, and parent advocacy for exceptional children.
Before she became a mom, Deborah was senior vice president for a technology company and a management consultant in financial services. She earned her master’s degree in business administration from New York University and her bachelor’s from Bryn Mawr College.
 Annie Accomando, B.S.
Senior Occupational Therapist
Annie is a Sensory Kids staff therapist who works with children of all ages. She became interested in occupational therapy during her high-school years when a little boy with autism came to live with her family. After witnessing the difference sensory-based therapy made in his life, she decided to become a licensed and registered occupational therapist.
Prior to joining the staff here, Annie worked in public schools, where she focused on children with autism. She holds a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from Quinnipiac University.
 Pepper Franchina-Gallagher, M.S.
Senior Occupational Therapist
Pepper became an OT because of her 10 years of work with a special young girl who, despite her Rett Syndrome, showed Pepper the joy in accomplishing life’s littlest challenges and transformed her into the caring and loving therapist she is today.
Following her passion, Pepper came to Sensory Kids in 2005 to help children reach their highest potential in a one-on-one, fun environment and to hone her sensory-integration treatment techniques. She works with clients with cerebral palsy, ADD/ADHD, Rett, Asperger’s, and Down syndromes, and CAPD, to name a few.
Prior to joining Sensory Kids, Pepper worked with clients of all ages in different therapeutic settings such as hospitals, neonatal intensive-care units, home settings and school districts. Her therapeutic treatment experience includes sensory integration, postural and core training techniques, oral, visual and fine motor strengthening programs, hippotherapy and hydrotherapy.
She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Occupational Therapy from Dominican College in Blauvelt, N.Y.
 Jane Erbe, B.S.
Senior Occupational Therapist
Jane Erbe returns to CT after working in NYC as the Department Head of Occupational Therapy at a private school for children with special needs and as the Clinical Director of a pediatric Sensory Integration clinic. She has been working with children for the last 15 years, focusing on SI within both the home and school environment. Prior to working in NY Jane worked in both the Greenwich and Darien school systems.
Jane graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Therapy. She has taken extensive coursework and is certified in administering the Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT). She also has experience in feeding disorders, yoga for children, and a holistic treatment approach with children with special needs.
 Kim Piro, B.S.
Staff Occupational Therapist
Kim is an entry-level therapist for Sensory Kids. Kim has been involved in working with kids and young adults with and without disabilities for many years. She has volunteered for the Greenwich Public School's Special Education Summer School, and worked in a local preschool for many summers. She has volunteered the past 10 summers with a local theater company "The Off-Beat Player" that incorporates young adults of all abilities to perform a musical every summer.
Kim graduated Summa Cum Laude from Western New England College in 2008 with a Bachelor's degree in Communication and a minor in Psychology. She recently graduated from Sacred Heart University with Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy. Kim was a member of Pi Theta Epsilon, the OT honors society while at SHU.
Kim completed a 3-month fieldwork at Sensory Kids last fall when she was able to familiarize herself with SI therapy, the facility, as well as the clients and families. During her fieldwork she created a sensory program for a local preschool which was a great learning experience to expand SI strategies into a classroom setting.
 Elizabeth DeSiena
Listening Manager and Handwriting Coach
Elizabeth is a 2011 Graduate from Fairfield University, holding a Bachelors degree in Music and a Minor in Psychology. She has worked with children and young adults for many years, spending several summers working for a YMCA sleep-away camp. Elizabeth also participated in a semester-long internship at the Jamie A. Hulley Childcare Center in Bridgeport, CT where she acted as a student teacher for a Pre-school aged classroom. Most recently, Elizabeth has done an Independent Study researching and observing Music Therapy, involving working with esteemed Music Therapists, children of all ages with special-needs, and several adult patients as well.
Elizabeth is the technician for our audio programs, supervising therapeutic auditory sessions and keeping listeners involved in appropriate, beneficial activities during the course of their therapy. She works closely and collaboratively with our Occupational Therapists and parents to help ensure that each child’s listening protocol is designed around his or her specific needs. Elizabeth is currently doing a 2-month fieldwork and training program in order to familiarize herself with the Sensory Kids facility, clients, and auditory programs.
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