EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Brittni smiling in the Sensory Gym

Sarah Evanko, MS, OTR/L

Occupational Therapist

Part of the Emerge Family since 2026
Though Sarah was born in New Jersey, she claims the foothills of North Carolina as her home. Receiving her Bachelors in Psychology from North Carolina State University, then her Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy from East Carolina University, Sarah has lived all across our beautiful state. As an occupational therapist Sarah has worked in outpatient pediatric for many years, supporting families and children with a variety of needs. 
Speech Language Pathologist Anna Housman posing in a ballerina outfit with a dance baton

Sarah has been able to blend her passion for aquatics as a swimmer, swim coach and instructor and professional education, to provide aquatic therapy to support community exploration for all children. Additionally, Sarah has completed training with Herman & Wallace for treatment of pediatric bowel and bladder disorders. While not at work you can find Sarah experimenting in the kitchen (cooking/baking/fermenting), teaching herself to sew, going backpacking, reading, and spending time with her partner, and their dog, Clover.

Sarah has experience with:

  • Interoceptive Awareness Training

  • Aquatic Therapy

  • Pediatric Pelvic Floor

  • Sensory Integration

  • DIR/Floortime

  • Neurodevelopment Treatment

  • Alert Program & Zones of Regulation

  • Handwriting Without Tears

  • Feeding therapy

  • Reflex Integration

  • Executive functioning

  • Visual perceptual and motor challenges

  • Working with a variety of ages and diagnosis. Within her years as a therapist she has worked with children with diagnoses such as: ASD, ADHD, Sensory Regulation, Sensory Disorder, Angelmans, Cerebral Palsy, Social Emotional Regulation, Anxiety, Fine Motor Delays, Neurological Disorders, Genetic Conditions, Developmental Delay, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.