How to Get Started
Our Founder
Jane Koomar, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA
1954 – 2013
The late Dr. Koomar co-founded OTA-Watertown in Watertown Square in 1983, and it is now known as OTA The Koomar Center in Newton, Massachusetts. She served as President ot OTA as well as President of the Board of the Spiral Foundation. She was also a Professor of Practice at Tufts University, Boston School of Occupational Therapy. She completed her PhD in developmental psychology at Boston University where she was also an assistant professor in occupational therapy. In 1984 she studied with Dr. Jean Ayres, who developed the theory of sensory integration. Sadly Dr. Koomar passed away in February of 2013.
Dr. Koomar, an icon in her field, meant so much to so many people, and changed for the better the lives of thousands of children and their families. Many titles come to mind when trying to describe Dr. Koomar: mother, wife, visionary, entrepreneur, scientist, educator, author, mentor, and healer, but what probably describes Dr. Koomar best is not a title, but the sincerity and humanity of her actions. Her gift to see the strength in people by supporting them to be the best they can possibly be, and her selfless capacity to nurture the souls of those she taught, treated, and mentored is immeasurable. Dr. Koomar reached people in ways that no others could.
Latest News and Events
The FOCUS Institute for Mealtime Success
The FOCUS Institute is located within OTA The Koomar Center, an internationally recognized center for occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, and sensory integration. OTA The Koomar Center has been offering mealtime evaluation and treatment services for more than 30 years and is a national leader in providing experienced, collaborative, cuttingedge occupational therapy assessment and intervention for individuals of all ages. Many children and
Join us for Martial Arts starting in January
The martial arts program has increased support and smaller class sizes for kids ages 6-12 who have sensory processing or other challenges. Parents fill out an intake form so that we get more information about the child in order to place him or her in the class that best suits the child’s needs. Winter cycle runs from the week of Jan 21-March 25. Spring cycle runs from the week of April 22-June 24. Private lessons are very limited and are available at an increased...
Join Our Dynamic Team at OTA!
OTA The Koomar Center is a world leader in sensory processing evaluation and therapy. The late Dr. Jane Koomar, our founder, mentor and well-known therapist, studied under Dr. A. Jean Ayres, the originator of sensory integration theory, assessment, and intervention and had over 30 years’ experience in this area.