Italia Nicole Alicea is a licensed occupational therapist with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Central Florida and a Master’s in Occupational Therapy from AdventHealth University. She began her career as a vision therapist and transitioned into occupational therapy to provide more holistic, meaningful interventions for children and families. She has worked in Florida with children from birth to 21 years old, supporting a wide range of diagnoses including Autism Spectrum Disorder, motor delays, sensory processing disorders, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, feeding disorders, and visual deficits such as convergence insufficiency, esotropia, and exotropia. Guided by the belief that “play is the work of childhood,” Italia blends therapeutic goals with child-led, play-based activities. Her specialties include sensory integration, fine motor and handwriting development, visual tracking, executive functioning, emotional regulation, and feeding therapy. Italia has completed advanced training in Beckman Oral Motor Therapy, Handwriting Without Tears, vision therapy, AAC devices, and primitive reflex integration. She believes in a collaborative, family-centered approach and enjoys partnering with caregivers, educators, and other professionals to help each child thrive. Outside of therapy, she is active in the community through local charity tea events and creative programming with the Avalon Park Arts and Culture Center and Orlando MakerFx makerspace.
