Meet the Team

Charity Higgins, MOT, OTR/L, ASDCS

Occupational Therapist, Owner

Charity has been working in the pediatric OT field since 2007. Since getting her Masters in Occupational Therapy from Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, she has worked in a variety of pediatric settings including private practice, daycare’s, public and private schools, and homes. Puttential, Inc. was created in 2009 with the vision of integrating Occupational Therapy and the game of golf. Later, in 2013, Kidz Therapy Zone was established to better serve clients sensory and developmental needs. The therapy clinic allows for greater Sensory Integration interventions and co treating with Speech and Language therapists. KTZ offers services in a warm, friendly, and positive environment. With continuing education in Sensory Processing and Regulation, Therapeutic Listening, Interactive Metronome, Handwriting Without Tears, Vision Therapy and Reflex Integration principles, Charity and her colleagues treat children of all ages and skill levels with a holistic approach to maximize learning and development. Charity and her staff have a passion for helping children reach their highest potential.

Outside of KTZ, Charity enjoys watching her son play baseball, and helping her daughter make slime (she is a slime guru!).

Mariela Rivera, COTA/L

Mariela completed her studies at Keiser University and became a COTA/L in 2011. Since earning her certification, she has worked solely with the pediatric population, providing services in outpatient clinics, home health and in school settings. Mariela has been an integral part of Kidz Therapy Zone since 2012 and was promoted to Clinical Supervisor in 2022. She is trained in Interactive Metronome, and the Handwriting Without Tears programs. Other continuing education courses have focused on Sensory Processing Disorders and Sensory Integration.

She has a passion for the profession and for helping children make improvements that will undoubtedly change their life. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and the outdoors.

Caroline Miller, OTR/L

Caroline graduated from AdventHealth University with a Masters in Occupational Therapy in 2022. Since earning her license, she has had experience treating patients with developmental delays and sensory and feeding challenges. She is dedicated to implementing evidenced-based practices, developing individualized treatment plans, and providing compassionate patient-centered care.

Outside of her professional pursuits, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, serving in church, dancing, and traveling.

Ashley Beauford, COTA/L

Ashley earned a B.A. in Allied Health Science from Florida A&M University before completing her studies at Keiser University, where she became a COTA/L in 2021.

With experience in various aspects of the field, including clinic, outpatient, home health, and school-based settings, she has worked with clients of all ages, though her primary focus has been on the pediatric population. Ashley has a deep respect for the profession and is honored to be part of a field that serves and helps others.

Josh Cammarn, M.S., CCC-SLP

Josh is a licensed and certified speech and language therapist with a passion for empowering neurodivergent individuals to develop communication skills aligned with their own self-determined goals. He earned his bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and disorders from the University of Central Florida and a master’s degree in communication disorders from Emerson College.

Josh is dedicated to enhancing communication through Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and employs a strengths-based, neurodiversity-affirming approach in his practice. He integrates natural language acquisition within a family-centered framework, emphasizing collaboration to support each client’s unique goals. Josh continually refines his therapy style to ensure a comprehensive, learner-centered approach that aligns with the diverse needs of his clients.

Beyond his clinical work, Josh is passionate about working alongside other practitioners to expand their understanding of neurodiversity-affirming practices. He believes that growth comes from embracing new perspectives and learning in partnership with clients. Josh fosters a collaborative environment where therapists and families work together toward achieving meaningful communication and connection.

Outside of work, Josh enjoys immersing himself in great books, is an avid Swiftie, cat lover, and cherishes time with his family.

Riley Devlin, M.S., CF-SLP

Riley is a licensed speech-language pathologist clinical fellow. She graduated from the University of Central Florida with a bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Riley then completed her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology at Boston University.

Riley is committed to a neurodiversity-affirming, strengths-based approach to developing children’s independence and communication skills. She strives to collaborate with families to maximize progress inside and outside of the therapy setting.

Outside of KTZ, Riley enjoys spending days at Disney and adding to her plant collection!

Christina DiLuigi, M.S., CCC-SLP

Christina is a licensed and certified speech and language therapist dedicated to making communication—a human right—accessible to all. Her focus is on helping children communicate authentically by utilizing best practice in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) along with a neurodiversity-affirming, strengths-based approach. She holds a bachelor's degree in communication sciences and disorders and a master’s degree in speech-language pathology from Nova Southeastern University.

Before beginning her clinical career, Christina worked in childcare with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. She then transitioned to working as an assistant teacher in a preschool supporting autistic students, where her passion for working with neuro-divergent individuals was first sparked. She continued as an assistant teacher in a joint parent-child early intervention program for autistic children aged one-and-a-half to three years, where her commitment to AAC deepened as she began introducing more robust communication systems to the program to better support her students' communication.

Since completing her graduate studies, Christina has worked as a pediatric speech and language therapist in specialized schools with children aged three to twelve with a variety of neurotypes, but primarily autism. She enjoys working with AAC in all its forms, creating customized AAC systems to meet each communicator's needs, and encouraging authentic, autonomous communication. In a nutshell (and to adapt Gayle Porter’s original quote), Christina seeks to empower individuals to express WHAT they want, to WHOEVER they want, WHENEVER they want, and HOWEVER they want.

Outside of work, Christina enjoys yoga, dancing, art, going to see musicals, and spending time with her loved ones. When she’s not at home or work, you’ll likely find her at one of her happy places: Barnes and Noble or Disney World!

Carly Elworthy, B.A. SLPA

Carly is a licensed Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) with a bachelor's degree from the University of Central Florida, earned in 2020. During her studies, she gained valuable experience as a teaching assistant at a private sensory-based school for neurodivergent students. After graduating, Carly obtained her teaching certification and led a classroom for four years, specializing in special education. She is also certified in the Orton-Gillingham approach, helping children overcome reading and writing challenges.

Carly is excited to bring her classroom expertise to the field of speech therapy and continue growing alongside her clients.

In her free time, she enjoys painting, thrifting, crafting, reading, and spending time with friends and family.

Briana Savastano, B.A. C-SLPA

My name is Briana Savastano, and I am a licensed Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA). I graduated with a bachelor's degree in communication sciences and Disorders from the University of Central Florida. I have been a proud and dedicated SLPA for four years, working in pediatric private practice settings. These opportunities have allowed me to work with a variety of disorders, such as Receptive and Expressive Language Disorders, Speech Sound Disorders, Stuttering/Fluency Disorders, Pragmatic Language Disorders, and Feeding/Swallowing Disorders. I am continuing my education to earn my Clinical certification for ASHA Assistant Certification, which will award me my C-SLPA.

I am dedicated and humbled to be in a field as rewarding as this one, where I can build relationships with my patients and their families. I strive to work towards reaching goals and achieving success together for the best outcomes for my patients. I am passionate about helping my patients find their voice and the ability to advocate for themselves, their wants, and their needs.

In my free time, I enjoy going to yoga, spending time with my family and two cats, playing golf, traveling, and dedicating my Sundays to church.

Susan Mayton, ITDS

Susan is a certified Infant Toddler Developmental Specialist (ITDS), with 25+ years’ experience in Early Childhood service. She has served as Social Worker, Home & Center Based Teacher/Lead Teacher, Program Director, COO, and Independent Contractor. Her favorite role has always been Early Educator/Family Mentor. She considers it an honor to be invited into a home and trusted to support the family as their child’s best teacher, developing interventions that will shape a young child’s love for learning.

Susan has a BSW degree in Clinical Social Work from SUNY Albany; and, a special certificate Masters in Early Education Visual Impairment from FSU. She has worked with children experiencing a range of DD, such as Cerebral Palsy, ASD, Down Syndrome, Communications Disorder, Cognitive Delay, Motor Delay, Medical Fragility with Delay, Vision Impairment & Blindness. She believes that the best teaching begins with the best evaluation, and so has pursued extra training in this. Together with a team, she published a family friendly process for evaluating young children with DD, and trained this process to teachers and evaluators throughout Florida under contract with the Florida Department of Education. This has led to her special passion for working with children who are coping with highly unique challenges, calling for innovative teaching strategies.

Susan is inspired and humbled on a daily basis by her very own superhero, her son Joshua who lives joyfully, while coping with Tuberous Sclerosis!