Ehlers Danlos Syndrome Speciality

“For I am fearfully and wonderfully made...” — Psalm 139:14

Every child is fearfully and wonderfully made, and therapy should nurture strengths, support regulation, and empower children to participate with confidence. Living with chronic illness is both challenging and full of beautiful surprises. Our approach embraces the healing capacity of nature and honors every child's uniqueness. Let us help your child live optimally while honoring their own beauty! 

Common Signs of EDS in Children:

  • Frequent falls or clumsiness
  • Delayed gross or fine motor milestones
  • Low muscle tone
  • Joint hyper mobility or instability
  • Fatigue or low endurance
  • Poor body awareness (proprioception)
  • Hand pain, weak grasp, or handwriting difficulties
  • Chronic Pain
  • Sensory sensitivities
  • Anxiety or dysregulation related to body instability or chronic discomfort
  • Difficulty participating in play, sports, or school activities
  • Ocular Motor Difficulties
  • Retained Primitive Reflexes 

How We Support Children with EDS:

  • Navigate challenges, Thrive Confidently, and Create a life rooted in Purpose
  • Breathing and Postural Control
  • Joint Protection and Body Mechanics 
  • Energy Conservation and Pacing
  • Pain Management
  • Proprioception and Sensory Processing
  • Daily Living Skills
  • Activity Modification and Adaptive Techniques 
  • Holistic Wellness Recommendations 

 

The Team

  • Meet Caroline

    Caroline Santangelo, MSOT, OTR/L, is the founder and owner of Starfish Occupational Therapy.

    Certified in CONTIGO Nature Therapy, Caroline integrates the healing and restorative benefits of the outdoors to support children in optimizing through play. She utilizes comprehensive, neuro-based approaches to promote progress in sensory processing, coordination, primitive reflex integration, ocular motor skills, nervous system regulation, and daily living skills.

    Caroline has specialized knowledge in supporting children with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), hypermobility, chronic pain conditions, and the unique ways these challenges can impact development.

    Outside of therapy, Caroline enjoys spending time at the beach, hiking, and creating adventures outdoors with her husband and two young daughters.

  • Meet Sarah

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Let's Connect!

Why Starfish?

  • The Starfish Story

    One day an old man was walking along the beach in the early morning and noticed the tide had washed thousands of starfish up onto the shore. Ahead, he spotted a boy gathering up the starfish, then one by one tossing them back into the ocean. He asked why he spent so much energy doing what seemed to be a waste of time. The boy replied, “The starfish cannot live if they are left out in the sun.”
    Then the old man gazed out as far as he could see and responded, “But there must be thousands of miles of beaches and countless starfish. You can’t possibly make a difference.
    The boy bent down picked up yet another starfish and threw it as far as he could into the ocean. Then he turned, smiled, and said, “It made a difference to that one!”
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