Pediatric Connections

What Pediatric Connections does

Pediatric Connections is a private, founder-owned pediatric therapy practice founded in 2014 by Mike and Deana Lesher in Stilwell, Kansas. It delivers occupational therapy, speech therapy, and trauma-informed care to children from birth to 18, with patient cohorts spanning sensory processing disorders, ADHD, ASD, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, trauma histories, foster/adoptive cases, and speech/feeding delays. The practice's clinical model is differentiated by a "bottom-up" intervention approach — addressing brainstem and reflex integration via MNRI (Masgutova Method) before progressing to higher-order executive function work — combined with modalities such as Craniosacral Fascial Therapy, Safe Sound Protocol, Neurofeedback, Bal-A-Vis-X, Polyvagal Theory-based trauma care, and aqua therapy.

The practice operates three Kansas locations (Stilwell HQ with a 5,000 sq ft clinic, Linwood at Joy Meadows, and Topeka at SENT) and offers limited telehealth. The team of approximately 16 includes 11 occupational therapists, 3 speech-language pathologists, an office manager, and two office assistants. Revenue is generated through insurance-based billing (in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield, Tricare, Kansas Medicaid, Aetna, and others) supplemented by private pay. The company is bootstrapped, with no external funding or parent company, and is currently exploring additional locations and expanded services to grow within the Kansas City metro and broader Kansas market.

Name

Pediatric Connections

Legal name

Pediatric Connections

Website

https://pediatricconnectionsot.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pediatric Connections is a founder-owned pediatric therapy practice in Kansas providing occupational therapy, speech therapy, and trauma-informed care to children with sensory, motor, communication, and developmental challenges across the Kansas City metro area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pediatric Therapy Services

NAICS

Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (621340)

SIC

Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Pediatric Rehabilitation & Developmental Therapy Centers (PT/OT/SLP) (HLAFAJAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pediatric/School-Based Occupational Therapy (OT) (EDAKAFAA), Pediatric Physical Therapy & Developmental Rehab (HSADAIAE), Sensory Integration & Regulation Services (EDACAFAI)

Keywords

• Pediatric occupational therapy
• Pediatric speech therapy
• Trauma-informed therapy
• Sensory integration therapy
• Reflex integration therapy

Headquarters

HQ city

Stilwell

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Insurance-Based Therapy Services: Billing insurance directly for covered therapy services. Accepts in-network plans including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Tricare, Kansas Medicaid, Aetna, and others.
2. Out-of-Network and Private Pay: Private pay option available for clients without insurance coverage or those preferring out-of-network providers. Fee schedule available upon contact.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Pediatric Connections is a pediatric therapy practice delivering Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, and Trauma Informed Care to children (birth to 18) facing sensory processing, motor, communication, feeding, and trauma-related challenges. Services are provided through individualized evaluation-driven treatment plans, in clinic treatment rooms and sensory gyms, with selected modalities also available via telehealth. The practice bills insurance in-network and accepts private pay for out-of-network clients.

Product overview

Pediatric Connections operates as a pediatric therapy practice offering three core services: Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, and Trauma Informed Care. The practice utilizes a combination of specialized therapeutic modalities including MNRI Reflex Integration, Craniosacral Fascial Therapy (CFT), Polyvagal Theory-based interventions, therapeutic listening programs (Safe Sound Protocol and Rest and Restore Protocol), neurofeedback, and aqua therapy. Services are delivered in clinic treatment rooms and sensory gyms, with additional telehealth options and aqua therapy sessions available. The practice serves children and families throughout the Kansas City metro area from locations in Stilwell, Linwood, and Topeka, Kansas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Occupational Therapy Pediatric occupational therapy focusing on sensory integration, reflex integration, and motor coordination to help children develop skills for daily living, school, and community participation. Services include MNRI, Craniosacral Fascial Therapy, Polyvagal Theory-based interventions, Bal-A-Vis-X exercises, therapeutic listening programs (Safe Sound Protocol and Rest and Restore Protocol), neurofeedback training, and aqua therapy. Designed for children (birth to 18) with sensory processing disorders, ADHD, ASD, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, developmental delays, and trauma histories.
• Speech Therapy Speech and language therapy addressing communication disorders, speech delays, feeding difficulties, phonological disorders, articulation problems, stuttering, voice issues, and social communication challenges. Includes myofunctional therapy and pre/post frenectomy support for tongue tie releases. Targeted at children with speech delays, language disorders, feeding challenges, and social communication deficits.
• Trauma Informed Care Specialized occupational therapy approach addressing trauma histories, foster/adoptive care challenges, and nervous system regulation. Uses Polyvagal Theory, Safe Sound Protocol, neurofeedback, MNRI reflex integration, and Craniosacral Fascial Therapy to help children move from survival patterns into healthy connection. Designed for foster and adoptive families and children with complex trauma, attachment disruption, and self-regulation challenges.

Quantifiable outcome

• Children develop independence in daily living skills (dressing, feeding)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Joy MeadowscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoy Meadows is a Kansas non-profit organization that provides a collaborative therapy space. Pediatric Connections offers therapy services at the Joy Meadows location in Linwood, KS, and jointly offers hippotherapy services with equine activities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• PediaStaff: Pediatric therapy staffing and recruiting firm; not a direct competitor but adjacent to Pediatric Connections' business model by addressing the same OT/SLP talent pipeline that constrains the practice's growth.

Broad incumbents

• Hopebridge Autism Therapy Centers: Multi-state pediatric therapy network offering OT, SLP, and ABA for children with autism and developmental delays; comparable patient population with a more aggregated, scaled operating model.
• Cortica: Multi-state pediatric therapy provider combining OT, SLP, ABA, and developmental pediatric care with a neurodevelopment-focused model; broader and more scaled than Pediatric Connections but serves the same patient population.
• Easter Seals: National nonprofit providing pediatric therapy, early intervention, and disability services; comparable in serving children with developmental delays and disabilities, though broader in scope and mission.
• Pediatric Therapy Network: California-based multi-specialty pediatric therapy provider offering OT, SLP, and PT; comparable clinical mix serving children with developmental challenges across multiple sites.

Emerging players

• BlueSprig Pediatrics: Multi-state pediatric therapy provider focused on autism and developmental disabilities with OT, SLP, and ABA; comparable patient segment but heavier ABA emphasis than Pediatric Connections.
• Caravel Autism Health: Multi-state pediatric therapy provider centered on autism evaluation and treatment; overlapping patient segment with Pediatric Connections' ASD and developmental delay clientele.

Direct peers

• Center for Pediatric Therapy: Multi-location pediatric OT, SLP, and PT practice; comparable in service mix (occupational therapy, speech therapy, sensory integration) and clinic-based delivery model.
• STAR Center: Denver-based pediatric occupational therapy clinic specializing in sensory processing disorders and sensory integration — directly comparable to Pediatric Connections' sensory and reflex-integration focus.
• The Koomar Center: Massachusetts-based pediatric OT clinic with deep sensory integration and trauma-informed expertise, closely aligned with Pediatric Connections' specialized modality portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC3h0muLW7GSxBr_DdtaLOCg
• Facebookfacebook.com/pediatricconnections
• Instagraminstagram.com/pediatricconnectionsot
• Pinterestpinterest.com/pedconnectionso
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pediatric-connections-occupational-therapy-services-p.a.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pediatric Connections