Department of Special Education Needs Services Gets First Occupational Therapist

Occupational Therapist Milah Behlmaier

 The Department of Special Education Needs Services (DSENS) within the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports, and Culture has announced the onboarding of Milah Behlmaier, its first Occupational Therapist, to its expanding clinical team.

Ms. Behlmaier brings over five years of pediatric clinical experience to the Turks and Caicos Islands. No stranger to the country, she is a proud graduate of British West Indies Collegiate. She later pursued higher education at Pepperdine University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and later completed her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy at the University of Southern California.

Her professional journey reflects both local roots and international impact. Ms. Behlmaier previously completed a two-week externship in the Turks and Caicos, where she assessed the growing need for occupational therapy services. She also spent six months at a pediatric clinic in Haiti, advocating for children with special needs and providing essential family support.

Ms. Behlmaier specialises in sensory integration, feeding therapy, and early intervention, and has worked in a variety of clinical settings. She is deeply passionate about empowering children to reach their fullest potential and ensuring families receive inclusive, compassionate support. Her commitment to advocacy and her desire to promote equity for individuals of all abilities make her a welcomed addition to the department.

Dr. Anya Malcolm, DSENS Director shared “With Ms. Behlmaier’s appointment, the DSENS clinical team is now more robust than ever. She joins our in-country team of behavioral and speech-language pathologists, and behavioural consultant Oasis ABA. The department also continues to benefit from its partnerships with international visiting teams such as 1 World Foundation and Therapy Abroad, which provide speech therapy camps, multidisciplinary assessments, and audiology assessments, as well as neuropsychological evaluations with BTConcepts throughout the year.”

Commenting on Ms. Behlmaier’s appointment, the Minister of Education, Hon. Rachel M. Taylor noted, “I am pleased to officially welcome Ms. Behlmaier to our education family. Her appointment is a major step forward in our Ministry’s mission to deliver inclusive and equitable education for all. This milestone reflects our investment in building a strong, multidisciplinary support system that meets the needs of every learner. I commend the DSENS team for their leadership in expanding our clinical capacity, and I look forward to the positive impact Ms. Behlmaier will have on our students, families, and the future of special education in these islands.”

This landmark hiring reflects the Ministry’s ongoing investment in strengthening special education services and expanding access to early intervention and therapeutic support across the islands. For more information on the SENS department, you can contact sens@gov.tc.