Meet Jenna Snyder, MS, OTR/L | Owner & Occupational Therapist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jenna Snyder, MS, OTR/L and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jenna, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Before starting Focus on Function I worked in the school system and for several other pediatric outpatient clinics. I found myself constantly frustrated with the limited time I had to spend with parents. I had so much valuable information to share, and parents who wanted me to share it! The models that schools and clinics tend to use just don’t allow for time to be spent with the family. I decided that I wanted to change that – and Focus on Function was born!

Now we have two clinic spaces that are set up so that only one family at a time can be seen with their therapist. That allows the parents to attend every session that they are able to and gives the therapists valuable time with the family. We model techniques, we train parents on how to do their home exercise programs, and we coach them on what they can do differently for their child. This is essential because kids do well when they can, and if they can’t then it is up to the grownups in their lives to make a change! Having the parents involved in sessions helps them see how it’s done so they can repeat it successfully at home – and it works!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have wanted to be an occupational therapist since I was young – before I even knew what OT was! All I knew was that I wanted to help kids who had different abilities, and as I grew older, that extended to families as well. I was a bright-eyed high-school graduate who had a plan and I was ready to carry out my mission. My mental health had other ideas.

I struggled in college and left my degree program after only 1.5 years. While I was working towards a new plan I suddenly was faced with a new challenge instead – I became a mother. As an only parent I eventually made the decision to go back to school, and worked full-time at a desk job, going to school on evenings and weekends. I am so grateful to have had the support of my parents throughout this time. When my daughter was five I graduated from my program with my hard-earned bachelors and masters degrees.

I remained an only parent for ten years while I finished school and began to build my career. It was never easy but I found my way towards the people who needed me the most – the kids and families in my neighborhood who were dealing with challenges that only special needs families can understand. I, too, was parenting a child with extra needs and found that I was able to support my clients in ways I never would have been able to without my own personal experiences. This led me further down the path of building my own business to help these families; to let them know that there was at least one person in their corner as they went through their daily struggles.

My practice has grown out of hard work, strife, and challenges to become what it is today – a safe place for special needs families to rest, even if just for an hour or two a week. My families know that I will always do anything in my power to help them, from fighting insurance companies for coverage to middle-of-the-night phone calls to talk them through an out-of-control meltdown. They know that I only hire and train therapists who are as all-in as I am, and they feel safe letting their child work with any of us.

I am proud of what I have created in my community, and I look forward to the future!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Atlanta is such a fun place to be! There are so many restaurants and attractions all across the state that are fun to bring out-of-town guests to see. Six Flags is one of our favorite places to spend a summer day, as well as the Georgia Aquarium. My new favorite find for evening entertainment is a tiny place in Atlanta called Red Phone Booth – a hidden speakeasy that needs a password to get into their secret entrance.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would not be a business owner without the support of my husband and daughter! When we decided to open our own business we also decided to use part of our home as the clinic. My family graciously gave up their living spaces to make this dream a reality! I am forever grateful that they both whole-heartedly support my mission.

Website: www.focusonfunctionga.com

Facebook: @FocusOnFunctionLLC

Image Credits
Image credit: Jenna Snyder