About Us

Kids Can Shine is a warm and welcoming pediatric therapy clinic based in Elora, Ontario, supporting children from birth to 18 years of age. Founded and lead by Donna Legge-Nevett, an experienced Occupational Therapist with over 25 years in the field, our clinic is grounded in a deep commitment to helping children and families thrive.

Alongside our core therapy services, Kids Can Shine offers a variety of supportive programs designed to meet each child’s unique needs. We take a collaborative, family-centered approach—working closely with parents and caregivers to connect them with trusted community resources, complementary therapies, and specialized supports that extend care beyond our clinic.

As leaders in continuing education, we are passionate about contributing to the broader professional community. Kids Can Shine is proud to facilitate continuing education for therapists and professionals by hosting national and international speakers, bringing fresh perspectives and best practices to our region. Our ongoing mission is to enhance the quality of care and expand the resources available to families across Wellington County and across Canada.

Our Team

Donna Legge-Nevett, BScOT, Reg. (Ont.)
Occupational Therapist, Owner and Team Lead of Kids Can Shine

Donna Legge-Nevett is owner and therapist at Kids Can Shine. She brings 25 years of therapy experience to this dedicated pediatric therapy clinic in Elora, Ontario. Donna Legge-Nevett graduated from American International College in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy. Donna is a member of the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario, as well as the Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists. She was born and raised in Newfoundland, however her love of pediatrics brought her to Ontario many years ago, where she began her work as an Occupational Therapist for children.

Donna is committed to family-centred care, focusing on the child and family as a whole when determining appropriate programming and setting goals. She has worked with a wide variety of cultures and families, providing in-centre treatment as well as therapy in schools, homes, daycares, preschools, and a variety of community support settings. Early intervention is a key focus of Donna’s therapy practice.

Donna has gained extensive knowledge in the areas of feeding (infants and children), sensory and self regulation, fine motor and child development. She has worked with a wide range of diagnosis, needs and developmental levels over the years. Donna believes strongly in collaboration with community partners and has formed essential relationships with other practitioners, to help enhance client care and support. Her love of pediatrics, as well as her dedication to providing client focused service to the families of Wellington County and surrounding areas, has led to her commitment to pediatric practice in this community.

For more information or to make a referral please call 519-820-4113.

Katie George, OT Reg. (Ont.)
Pediatric Occupational Therapist

Having graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Health Sciences and a Master's Degree in Occupational Therapy from Western University, she began her career working in an Augmentative Communication Clinic, supporting children, youth and adults with diverse physical abilities with their writing needs and accessing their communication aids.

Katie later transitioned to supporting young children and their families, helping children realize their potential. She has specialized training in notable topics including Writing Skills, Sensory Processing, PECS, Therapeutic Listening, Solution-Focused Coaching and Neuro-Developmental Treatment.

Now that Katie has joined Kids Can Shine, she enjoys working with clients and their families to establish goals that are meaningful to them. Utilizing a family and client-centred approach, needs addressed include picky eating; self-care skill development; self regulation; attention; social skills; emotional-regulation; executive functioning and school-readiness skills. 

Katie looks forward to welcoming clients and their families to her practice to address their goals in a collaborative, client-centred manner.

Katy Hurst
Pediatric Occupational Therapist OT Reg. (Ont.)

Katy has 22 years of experience helping children thrive through play, self-care, fine motor and sensory skill development. She has worked with children with Autism, DCD, ADHD, sensory challenges, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and other developmental or physical diagnosis. Katy is an amazing asset to the Kids Can Shine team, offering an approach that is always family-centred, creating meaningful goals for her clients both in the community and clinic. Katy also brings expertise and experience in seating and mobility, including prescribing assistive devices, as an ADP authorizer.

Justin Small, MSW, RSW
Registered Social Worker (Youth and Adult)

Justin Small is a dedicated registered Social Worker with over 20 years of experience supporting children, youth and adults. He specializes in working with children and youth with exceptional needs, helping families and caregivers navigate parenting challenges, adjust to a child's diagnosis, and manage the complexities of raising a child with special needs. Clients appreciate not only his therapeutic expertise but also his warmth and his sense of humour.

Beyond his work with families, Justin provides compassionate support to adults facing grief and loss, relationship challenges, anxiety, depression, chronic stress, and burnout. He takes a trauma-informed approach, tailoring therapy to each client's unique needs and integrating evidence-based modalities such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Brief Solution-Focused Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR).

Grounded in empathy and a strength-based perspective, Justin is committed to empowering individuals and families to build resilience, find balance, and navigate life's challenges with confidence.

*Evening and Saturday appointments available.

Dr. Garcia Thibodeau, MD, FRCPC
Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist

Her clinical experience spans across a range of hospital and community settings, including SickKids Hospital, CAMH, Women's College Hospital and SickKids Centre for Community Mental Health. She previously served as Chief Resident at St. Joseph's Hospital and Junior Chief Resident at SickKids, and she completed the Teacher Scholars Program at SickKids. Dr. Garcia Thibodeau aims to provide families with clear, practical guidance in managing mental health concerns. She is excited to be part of the team at Kids Can Shine/ Shine Family Wellness, where she looks forward to supporting children and families on their mental health journey.

Michelle Chimienti
Registered Speech-Language Pathologist

Michelle Chimienti is a Registered Speech-Language Pathologist with more than 25 years of working with preschool and school age children. She is a registered member of the College of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists of Ontario (CASLPO) and a member of Speech-Language and Audiology Canada (SAC). She has worked in many environments, from private practice to schools. Michelle supports many areas for children, including articulation/motor speech difficulties, language disorders and literacy development. She has received Orton-Gillingham training (Classroom Educator Level) and has been trained in Hanen® It Takes Two to Talk® and Target Word®, TalkAbility TM, Learning Language and Loving It™ and ABC and Beyond T™. Michelle is also skilled in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) while supporting a total communication approach. We are thrilled to have her on our Kids Can Shine Team to support children and families!

Pamela Ringrose
Physiotherapist, Certified Neurodevelopmental Therapist (Pediatrics)

Pamela Ringrose is a dedicated Physiotherapist with 28 years of experience working with the pediatric population! She has extensive knowledge and specialized training in such areas as neurodevelopmental treatment, dynamic core, primitive reflexes, gross motor, coordination, tone and motor challenges, to name a few. Pam brings a wealth of experience working with infants through to teens in various settings from NICU to schools to community, supporting such diagnosis as Cerebral Palsy, Torticollis and Plagiocephaly, Traumatic Brain Injury, Brachial Plexus Injury, Down Syndrome, Muscular Dystrophy, Rare Genetic Disorders, Post Injury Rehab, Autism, Toe Walking, Developmental Milestone Support + much more. She is also an ADP Authorizer for Orthotics and Mobility Devices such as standers and walkers. Her ongoing passion and dedication to children and families make her an amazing fit for our Kids Can Shine team!

Our Space

Kids Can Shine provides therapy service to children and families of Wellington County and surrounding areas. We provide a specific skill set dedicated in the areas of feeding, sensory, fine motor and early child development. Our children's therapy clinic offers dedicated pediatric therapy services for children in the form of direct treatment, group programming, consultation, education to parents and teachers, as well as local connections to a wide range of therapy services for clients and families. Located in an easy to access location in Elora, clients are greeted in a bright and spacious therapy clinic space, specifically designed to meet the needs of children and their families. This clinic offers an inviting therapy room with lots of tools for learning, as well as a separate waiting area before or after appointments. A consultation area offers privacy for parent feedback and training before and after therapy, important for effective communication and parent support.

As a client of Kids Can Shine, your therapist will provide a comprehensive assessment for your child, consisting of information gathered in a variety of environments (home, school, clinic settings). Collaboration and connections with other community supports and services for children, is a benefit of the many years of established relationships in the community. Consultation with parents, school personnel, physicians or other treating therapists, as well as options for observation in a variety of environments can help provide the most relevant and timely goals related to your child's development. Offering assessment and treatment times with children and caregivers, so families can receive the most valuable care for early intervention.

If needed, direct treatment can also be provided in collaboration with other therapists as required, making appointments and scheduling accessible and convenient for families. 

Kids Can Shine believes that collaboration for client care is invaluable and is committed to work with the necessary resources to treat, consult and guide therapy services for optimal care for each child and family.

FAQS

How do I get started?

Fill out the contact form or phone or email us directly.

Do I need a doctor's referral for Occupational Therapy?

Parents can make a direct referral for their child to Kids Can Shine, no doctor's referral is needed.

Are your services covered by insurance?

Many extended health care policies do provide Occupational Therapy coverage. However, we always recommend that you contact your provider to determine whetheror not you are covered and the amount which your provider will cover.

What can I expect when setting up therapy services for my child?

When setting up therapy support for your child, you will speak directly to the Occupational Therapist. Areas of need will be identified, to ensure this is the right therapy service for you to explore. The OT will set up an appropriate assessment (either in the clinic, school or natural environment), to gain the most relative and valuable information for setting up your child's treatment plan.

What if my child requires other therapy services?

When contacting Kids Can Shine, the therapist can help determine the most appropriate services to support your child needs. Donna Legge-Nevett collaborates with an extensive community of supports in and around Wellington County, and can help establish important connections and resources to service your child's needs and developmental status. Collaboration with Speech and Language Pathologists, Physiotherapists, Social Workers, Dietitians (just to name a few), are able to be coordinated with the support of Kids Can Shine.

How many Occupaional Therapy sessions do I start with?

OT Treatments can vary in frequency and number, depending on the goal
areas and support needed.

We recommend starting with 6 treatment sessions for OT support, so that appropriate
strategies, trial and feedback can be implemented for support. Of course, we work with families to find a plan that works best for you.

Do you have a cancellation policy?

Yes, we do have a cancellation policy.

No show or cancellations with less than 24 hours notice will be billed for 50% of the session. (special consideration applies with certain circumstances beyond parent control).