ABOUT

​

Dr. Carla Malcolm, OTD, MS, M.Ed, OTR/L

Founder/CEO

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

Blooming Kinetics Therapeutic Services Inc. was started by Dr. Carla Malcolm, OTD, MS, M.Ed., OTR/L.   Carla, a native of Greenwood, S.C., has worked with individuals with special needs since the 9th grade, when she served as a volunteer for the Special Olympics.  She attended Columbia College, where she majored in Sociology.  Throughout her undergraduate career, she worked as a Rehabilitation Support Staff for teens and adults with disabilities, Summer Rehabilitation Support Staff for school-aged children with disabilities, and also served as a caregiver for multiple families in the special needs community.  She has previously worked as an Activity Coordinator for Long-Term Nursing Care and later became an Early Interventionist.  Carla has over 25 years of combined experience in working with children and adults with disabilities and special needs.

   

Carla earned an Occupational Therapy Doctorate Degree from Barry University in Miami Shores, Florida.  Prior to that, she received a Master’s of Science Degree in Occupational Therapy from Barry University, a Master’s of Education Degree in Divergent Learning, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology with an emphasis in Deviant Behaviors from Columbia College.  

​

She has a passion for child development and family services, which led her to complete her first research project in 2008 titled, “The Effects of Parent Involvement on Early Intervention Services and Transition Readiness for the Preschool Special Needs Program.”  Her Doctoral Capstone, titled “Effectiveness of Sensory Integration Intervention for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder,” focused on the effects of Therapeutic Horseback Riding and Aquatics Therapy.

​

Carla is a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), New York State Occupational Therapy Association (NYSOTA), and New York State Black Occupational Therapy Caucus (NYSBOTC).  She is also a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated, where she was awarded “Most Valuable Zeta 2011” for providing outstanding service to the community.

 

Volunteering is also a very big part of her life.  Her present and past volunteer work include Zeta Phi Beta's Storks Nest initiative, Sweet P Homecare’s “Caregiving 101”  Project SWWAC (Sigma’s Waging War Against Cancer), March for Premature Babies (formally known as March of Dimes), Buddy Walk (for children with Down Syndrome), Warm-up Columbia, Salvation Army, Special Olympics, St. Lawrence for homeless families, Epworth Children’s Home, Dream Team Mentoring Program, and the Juvenile Diabetes Initiative.  She is happily married with three daughters.