Tara Buckman

OTR/L

Tara Buckman is a licensed occupational therapist with over 15 years of experience helping children develop the skills they need to thrive at home, in school, and in the community. She has worked extensively in clinical, school-based, and home settings, giving her a broad perspective on supporting a child’s growth across all environments.

Tara provides a full range of pediatric occupational therapy services, including sensory integration, reflex integration, postural control, motor planning, fine and gross motor skill development, emotional regulation strategies, and fostering independence with activities of daily living (ADLs). ADLs include self-care skills such as dressing, bathing, grooming, toileting, feeding, and other daily routines that support participation at home, school, and in the community. She is highly experienced in working with children with a wide variety of diagnoses, including those who are medically fragile, and she adapts every session to ensure safety, accessibility, and meaningful participation in all areas of life.

In addition to her general pediatric OT work, Tara has advanced training in feeding therapy with a specialization in oral sensory-motor skill development. She supports children with a range of feeding challenges, including extreme picky eating, oral aversions, difficulty transitioning to solids, chewing and swallowing difficulties, and feeding delays related to medical or developmental conditions. Her feeding therapy approach combines evidence-based techniques with a warm, playful, and supportive style to help children expand their diets, improve oral motor coordination, and build a positive relationship with food.

As a mom of two children, Tara understands the challenges and rewards of family life and values collaborating closely with caregivers to create strategies that fit naturally into daily routines. She believes therapy should be engaging, playful, and child-led while also grounded in research-based best practices.

Tara offers in-home, school-based, and community-based occupational therapy services. She provides comprehensive evaluations, individualized treatment plans, and family education, with a focus on functional skills that directly improve a child’s daily life. She also partners with teachers and other professionals to create a collaborative team approach that supports consistent progress across all settings.

Areas of Treatment:
  • Sensory integration and sensory processing support
  • Primitive reflex integration (including retained STNR, ATNR, and other reflexes)
  • Fine and gross motor skill development
  • Postural control and core strengthening
  • Self-regulation and emotional regulation strategies
  • Motor planning and coordination
  • Feeding therapy, including oral sensory-motor skill development and extreme picky eating
  • Independence with activities of daily living (ADLs) — dressing, bathing, grooming, toileting, feeding, and other daily routines