Dominique Blanche Kiefer OTD, OTR/L, BCP
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Clinical Occupational Therapy
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Dominique Blanche Kiefer OTD, OTR/L, BCP is a co-owner of Therapy West, Inc. in Los Angeles, CA and Therapy West 2, LLC in Orlando, FL. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Brown University and also holds a Master’s Degree and an Occupational Therapy Doctorate from the USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy.
She has been a clinician for almost 20 years, providing treatment to children in the school, home and clinic setting. She lectures extensively in Spanish and English and has co-authored several publications. She is recognized as an expert in the assessment and treatment of sensory processing and sensory integration from both a school-based and clinic-based perspective. She was one of the original authors/directors of the video “A. Jean Ayres: the pioneer behind sensory integration” and her interests continue to focus on sensory integration, sensory processing and the development of assessment tools.
Education
Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (OTD)
2005 | University of Southern California
Master of Arts (MA)
in Occupational Therapy
2004 | University of Southern California
Bachelor of Science (ScB)
in Civil Engineering
1998 | Brown University
Selected Publications
Blanche, E. I., Reinoso, G., & Kiefer, D. B. (2021). The Structured Observations of Sensory Integration — Motor (SOSI-M): Administration manual. Novato, CA: Academic Therapy Publications.
Blanche, E. I., Reinoso, G., & Kiefer, D. B. (2020). Using clinical observations within the evaluation process. In A. C. Bundy & S. J. Lane (Eds.), Sensory Integration: Theory and Practice (3rd ed., pp. 222-242). Philadelphia, PA: F. A. Davis.
Imperatore, E., Reinoso, G., Blanche, D., & Barros, A. (2016). Desempeño de niños típicos entre 5 y 7.11 años de edad en una selección de observaciones clínicas: Datos preliminares y propiedades psicométricas en una muestra Chilena. Revista Chilena De Terapia Ocupacional, 16(1), 17–26. https://doi.org/10.5354/0719-5346.2016.41941 Show abstract
La utilización de observaciones que proporcionan información acerca del funcionamiento sensorio-motor relacionado a procesamiento sensorial es común en la práctica clínica. Un grupo de observaciones, llamadas observaciones clínicas por A.J. Ayres ayuda a diagnosticar disfunciones sensoriales aunque no existen normas desarrolladas en Chile, ni su validez o confiabilidad establecida estadísticamente para su utilización. Para normar estas pruebas en Chile se entrenaron 4 evaluadores quienes recolectaron datos de niños entre 5 y 7.11 años de edad: 90 típicos y 26 identificados con problemas de procesamiento sensorial. Este estudio proporciona datos preliminares sobre 5 pruebas relacionadas a control postural y planeamiento motor: equilibrio en un pie (ojos cerrados y ojos abiertos), extensión antigravitatoria, flexion antigravitatoria, secuenciación de dígitos, y diadochokinesis. Los resultados indican que estas pruebas se pueden utilizar para diagnosticar niños con disfunciones sensorio-motoras en la práctica clínica e investigación.
Clinical observations that provide information about sensory-motor performance related to sensory processing, are commonly used in clinical practice. A group of these observations, known as clinical observations by A. J. Ayres, help diagnose sensory related dysfunctions even when normative data and statistically established validity and reliability are not available for the Chilean children. In order to develop normative data, we trained 4 independent assessors who collected data on 90 typically developing children 5 to 7.11 years of age and 26 children identified as presenting with sensory processing problems. The present study provides preliminary data about 5 observations that relate to postural control and motor planning: Standing on one foot (eyes open and closed), extensión against gravity, flexion against gravity, sequential finger touching and diadochokinesis. The results of this study indicate that these observations can help diagnose children with sensory-motor dysfunctions and be utilized for clinical applications and research.
Blanche, E. I., & Kiefer, D. B. (2007). Sensory integration and neurodevelopmental treatment as frames of reference in the context of occupational science. In S. B. Dunbar (Ed.), Occupational Therapy Models for Intervention with Children and Families (pp. 11-26). Thorofare, NJ: Slack Inc.