Susan Agostine

Susan Agostine serves as Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy at Western New England University since Spring 2024, bringing clinical expertise in outpatient pediatrics across early intervention, preschool, and school-aged populations.

Her educational foundation includes:

• BS in Occupational Science from Ithaca College
• MS in Occupational Therapy from Ithaca College
• PhD in Occupational Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Dr. Agostine's research pioneers understanding of non-symbolic communication in children with complex bodies, examining how non-speaking children build meaning with communication partners. Her work integrates sensory processing theory, embodiment frameworks, and assistive technology applications while emphasizing family collaboration and occupational justice in therapeutic settings. Key focus areas include attunement dynamics, AAC implementation, and participation enhancement for children with severe disabilities.

Her 2022 publications establish critical connections between sensory experiences and learning outcomes in pediatric populations while advancing theoretical models of embodiment in occupational science. These works collectively emphasize environmental-contextual influences on child-client communication and therapeutic relationships.

Dr. Agostine actively contributes to the profession through memberships in the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), Massachusetts Occupational Therapy Association (MAOT), The Association for People with Severe Handicaps (TASH), and the Society for the Study of Occupation: USA.