Physical Therapy web page

My name is Jennie Gunderson and I am very thankful to be the physical therapist for the Grafton School District. To describe my background briefly, I graduated from the UW-Madison in 2005 with a Master of Physical Therapy degree and have spent my entire career in pediatrics. I earned my Bachelor's degree in Spanish. Prior to coming to the Grafton School District, I worked in a private out-patient clinic as well as served as a provider for the Ozaukee County Birth to Three Program. During my career, I have worked with children with a wide variety of diagnoses and impairments, from infants to adolescents and the transition into adulthood. I strongly value education and teaming with other members of the child's team including their medical doctors, orthotists, school therapists, and community caregivers. I am committed to continually learning from other therapists, research, children, and their families. As a pediatric physical therapist, I find incredible joy and fulfillment in working with children and their families. By using play, I strive to make therapy fun while still challenging. I seek to incorporate interventions in a way that is intriguing to the child and that matches the family's goals and lifestyle. It is my goal as a physical therapist to focus on the positive and to use a child's abilities and interests to discover what they are capable of and how they can attain it.

My focus in physical therapy is to maximize a child's independence and participation in their school day and life's daily activities by restoring, promoting, and maintaining function with optimal alignment. I believe motivating and encouraging students is an integral aspect of therapy. I seek to provide the student's team and family with education regarding the child's disability and impairments and to work together with everyone to develop ideas and home program activities to ensure carryover of the child's goals into their daily routine. I believe the best student growth can be provided when educators and health care providers work together as a team with the child and their family at the center of the team.