Blake Bennett, OTD, OTR/L, has been a part of the ACCESS Academy team since 2022 and is currently the occupational therapist for the Upper One classroom. Blake is passionate about helping her students gain independence through functional tasks, meeting them where they are and providing the support they need to succeed. Growing up in the therapy world, with two brothers who have disabilities and a mother who is a physical therapist (and also on the ACCESS team), Blake developed into the therapist she is today.
Before joining ACCESS, Blake worked as a medical teaching assistant in the Upper Two classroom at ACCESS Academy and then pursued graduate studies in occupational therapy at the University of Central Arkansas. She completed two specialized internships before earning her doctorate from UCA in August 2022. One of these internships took place at Arkansas Children's Hospital, focusing on the NICU and rehab units, while the other was a specialized hand therapy rotation at OrthoArkansas.
Blake has further specialized her career by becoming certified in the SOS Feeding Protocol in April 2024. She also completed an advanced course in the SOS Feeding Approach, enabling her to treat a broader range of ages in need of feeding therapy assistance.
Blake’s favorite part of working at ACCESS is the family culture and seeing the smiles on her students' faces every day. She brightens their days with high-fives, hugs, jokes, and nicknames. When she is not serving the ACCESS mission, Blake enjoys spending time with her friends, family, and her Maltese, Lincoln. She also loves reading, painting, being active, playing pickleball, watching sports (especially basketball), and enjoying great food.
