Heather Miller-Kuhaneck is an occupational therapist who has practiced in pediatrics for over 20 years, in rural and inner city schools, outpatient clinics specializing in Ayres' sensory integrative intervention®, early intervention settings, inpatient settings, and privately in children's homes. Beginning fall 2010, Heather will be teaching Introduction to Occupational Therapy, Human Occupational and Activity Analysis, two courses in the Research series, and advising students in their Capstone and Portfolio courses.  Heather is an avid hiker, biker, camper, kayaker, scrap booker, and animal lover.  She shares her home with her husband and a small zoo, including 3 cats and 2 dogs.

She is the past Vice President of the Connecticut Occupational Therapy Association and the editor of Autism: A Comprehensive Occupational Therapy Approach, published by the American Occupational Therapy Association. She has written a variety of chapters and articles on pediatric occupational therapy practice and intervention with children with autism and recently co-authored a new assessment tool for pediatric occupational therapy called the Sensory Processing Measure. She is very involved in the organization called SIGN (Sensory Integration Global Network) which promotes and provides education regarding Ayres' Sensory Integration® Intervention. She is also a past committee member of both the sensory integration and the school system special interest sections of AOTA.

Heather is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in public health at the University of CT and will complete her dissertation with children with autism in the area of sibling interaction, play, and sensory processing. Her other research interests include the importance of play for children, the impact of sensory issues across the lifespan, and anything having to do with the autism spectrum disorders in children.