Julie Billett, MSN, NP
Founder: Integrative Educational Partners, LLC
Julie Billett is the founder of Integrative Educational Partners, a Nurse Practitioner, Educational Therapist and Consultant. Her focus is assisting parents in understanding their child, interpreting test results, understanding the school environment, assisting with the IEP vs. 504 designation, and offering advice for further testing or accommodations needed in the school environment. Since 2003 she has worked collaboratively with physicians at Forest View Hospital, an inpatient and outpatient setting, in the management and care of mental illness in a diverse population. She specializes in solving the puzzle of why some gifted kids are unable to achieve their potential.

She is a member of various organzations, including GT Resource Network, Michigan Psychological Association, Michigan Alliance of Gifted Education, Legal Nurse Consultants Organization, Midwest Nursing Research Society, Michigan Nurses Association, and the American Nurses Association. She lectures on variety of topics, including Dysgraphia, Time Management for Gifted Youth, and Pervasive Developmental Disorders. She is also the author of a useful publication entitled, Resource Guide for Gifted/ Learning Disabled Children.

She has attended California State University in Chico, Grand Valley State University, Missouri State University, and performed coursework for a PhD in Psychology at Walden University. She has also been a group leader for the Young Adult Network, a group devoted to those on the autism spectrum age 17 and up.

 

Marta Andrews-Suttorp

Executive Director, IEP Instructor

Marta brings to IEP more than 25 years of experience in executive and law office administration as well as elementary and adult education. In addition to her role at IEP, Marta owns two businesses: SelectSolutions, LLC and Learn2Sign.  Through her businesses, Marta teaches English as a Second Language, workforce preparedness, and computer classes; writes professional resumes; and is a Certified SIGN with your BABY® Presenter.

 

Prior to working at IEP, Marta managed the Junior Kumon Program at Kumon Grand Rapids’ North location and served as a Paraprofessional in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program in the Northview School District.  She has extensive experience working with children and adults of all ages.

 

Marta has been extensively trained in IEP’s methods for working with individuals struggling with learning differences, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Sensory Integration Dysfunction, ADD/ADHD, dyspraxia, dysgraphia, and visual and auditory processing disorders.  Marta is also trained in Jeffrey Freed’s techniques for visual learning and is qualified to administer Dr. Mel Levine’s Neurodevelopmental Assessment Tests.

 

Marta is a member of the Interpreter Training Program Advisory Committee at Grand Rapids Community College.  She continues her studies in American Sign Language with the goal of bringing awareness of educational therapy to the deaf community.  Marta is married with three boys ages 11, 14, and 16.

 

 
Kay Cleary, M.S., OT-R
Founder: Integrative Therapeutic Services
Kay is an occupational therapist who specializes in working with children and adults with varying abilities related to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Sensory Processing Disorder, Neurological, Genetic, and Emotional Challenges. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences and a Master’s of Science in Occupational Therapy from Grand Valley State University. Kay has owned and operated her own business, Integrative Therapeutic Services, LLC, since 2002. Aside from working with children and adults in 1:1 sessions, she consults with school districts, clinics, residential treatment programs and works in a birth to 6 year old program. Kay designs affordable sensory centers within homes for families. Kay has also conducted research on the impact of sound stimulation on motor skill development. She has extensive training in a variety of sound therapies – Berard Auditory Integration Therapy, Therapeutic Listening, SAMONAS, and the Kirby Method of Auditory Integration Training. She has participated at Camp Avanti, an intensive summer camp for children with ASD, Sensory Processing Disorder and/or Learning Differences. Kay is Vice-President of the Autism Society of Kent County and has volunteered her time since 2002.  In addition, Kay is affiliated with: The World Federation of Occupational Therapy, The American Occupational Therapy Association, The Michigan Occupational Therapy Association and Autism Society of America. 
 
Tamara Youmans, MA, CC-SLP
Speech and Language Pathologist
 
Sarah Rubingh, BA Psychology & Special Education 
Education Director, IEP Instructor 
Sarah is a Michigan certified Special Education Teacher. Her endorsements include Cognitiviely Impaired and Hearing Impaired. She has worked in middle school special education classrooms and directs our homeschool program, the Integrative Learning Center. She is fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) and has worked with d/Deaf students at Bay Cliff Health Camp in the Upper Peninsula for several summers.
 

Kara Flemming

IEP Instructor

Kara is attending Aquinas College where she is majoring in Language Arts and Elementary Education and minoring in Social Studies. She is a 2002 graduate of East Grand Rapids High School. Kara has done her student teaching for a 3rd grade classroom at Immaculate Heart of Mary. She also coaches 5th and 6th grade volleyball. Kara's experience of growing up with an autistic brother has taught her patience, understanding and to think outside of the box.

 

Wendy DeMaet

COTA, IEP Instructor

Wendy DeMaet is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant. She works at IEP as an Educational Therapy Instructor and is on staff at Forest View Hospital as an Activity Therapist. At Forest View, Wendy specializes in facilitating groups of adolescents and adults in areas of social skills, interpersonal communication, and anger management, At IEP Wendy works one-on-one with clients to improve gross and fine motor skills, visual and auditory processing, hand-eye coordination, cognitive functioning, and sensory dysfunction. She also provides assistance with academics.

 
Julie Anderson
Marketing Specialist, IEP Instructor

IEP’s first Educational Therapy Instructor, Julie has a wealth of knowledge in occupational therapy.  The daughter of a Registered Occupational Therapist, Julie grew up in a sensory environment much like the one at IEP.  From the time she was in pre-school, Julie would accompany her mom to work where she observed occupational therapy methods in use and often assisted with activities.  Using exercise balls, barrels, balance beams, and doing fine motor activities for OT therapy was commonplace as part of Julie’s everyday activities growing up—activities that have become second nature to her.  Moreover, Julie’s extensive training at IEP and her exposure to people of all ages with autism spectrum disorders and learning disabilities (her sister is dyslexic) has provided Julie with invaluable skills.

 

Julie is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing at Davenport University.
 

Becky Tasma

IEP Instructor

Becky has her masters Degree in Early Childhood Education from Western Michigan University. She also has a Bachelor’s of Science degree from Calvin College and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Cornerstone University. Becky has been an elementary teacher, substitute teacher, day care provider and tutor. Her proudest role has been being a mother to four children.