Jane Audry Koomar (1954 – February 24, 2013) was a 20th- and 21st-century American scholar, educator, occupational therapist, developmental psychologist and author. She co-founded OTA–Watertown, an occupational therapy-focused organization, in 1983. Today, now known as OTA The Koomar Center, it is the world's largest organization of its kind.
Jane Koomar | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1954 Lakewood, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | February 24, 2013 (aged 58–59) |
| Alma mater | Ohio State University Boston University |
| Occupation | Occupational therapist |
| Years active | 1983–2013 |
| Spouse | John Laferriere |
She was president of both OTA–Watertown and its offshoot, the SPIRAL Foundation.
Koomar also had over twenty works published,[1][2] including Answers to Questions Teachers Ask About Sensory Integration.[3]
Early life and career
editKoomar was born in Lakewood, Ohio, to Michael and Audry Koomar.[4]
In her teenage years, she started a daycare-style babysitting service for families in her neighborhood.[4]
Koomar received a bachelor's degree in occupational therapy from Ohio State University. This was followed by a master's degree and PhD in developmental psychology at Boston University. She was also an assistant professor in occupational therapy.[5]
She also studied under Dr. Anna Jean Ayres and Ginny Scardinia.[5]
Early in her career as a therapist, Koomar, who was a fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Association,[4] worked on strategies to introduce sensory integration therapy into the public-school system of Cambridge, Massachusetts.[5]
In 1983, she founded OTA–Watertown in a former school building on Washington Street in Watertown, Massachusetts. Today, it is the world's largest organization of its kind.[5]
Koomar was Professor of Practice at Tufts University, Boston School of Occupational Therapy, during a one-year stint.[5]
Shortly after Koomar's death, OTA–Watertown moved around 0.6 miles (0.97 km) west, to Bridge Street in Newton, Massachusetts, and was re-named OTA The Koomar Center in her honor.[5][6] Sarah Sawyer became the new clinical director of the company.[7]
Personal life
editKoomar married John Lafarriere, with whom she had a son and a daughter. The family lived in Bedford, Massachusetts.[4]
Death
editKoomer died on February 24, 2013, after being diagnosed with breast cancer three years earlier.[4][8]
References
edit- ^ Jane Koomar - ResearchGate
- ^ Koomar, Jane - WorldCat
- ^ Koomar, Jane; Kranowitz, Carol; Szklut, Stacey; Balzer-Martin, Lynn (2001). Answers to Questions Teachers Ask about Sensory Integration: Forms, Checklists, and Practical Tools for Teachers and Parents. Future Horizons. ISBN 978-1-932565-46-1.
- ^ a b c d e "Jane Koomar Obituary (2013) - Needham, MA - The Bedford Minutemen". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
- ^ a b c d e f Center, OTA-The Koomar. "Our Founder | OTA". Retrieved 2022-12-28.
- ^ "Our Story • SMARTmoves". Retrieved 2022-12-28.
- ^ "OTA | The Koomar Center | Our Team". OTA | The Koomar Center. Retrieved 2024-06-21.
- ^ Willis, Laurie D. "Jane Koomar, a leader in sensory disorder - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2022-12-28.