Our Team
Michael Mentzel, DMA, MA, CCC-SLP
Educational Advocate
Speech-Language Therapist
Emily Scheiner, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Michael is a speech-language therapist specializing in therapeutic communication support for neurodivergent children, teens, and adults. He is also an adjunct professor in the Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences at the University of Maryland, College Park, where he teaches an undergraduate course on language disorders, introducing students to a theory- and paradigm-aware approach to clinical practice.
Drawing on a diverse educational and clinical background that spans multiple disciplines, Michael grounds his work in the principles of neurodiversity. He believes therapists should be able to articulate the theoretical commitments behind any approach they use, and he is glad to talk through his own with families and colleagues.
Central to Michael’s practice is careful attention to each autistic person’s inner experience, which allows him to understand their needs for sensory regulation, autonomy support, and language support. He sees the goal of therapy as supporting the development of a robust neurodivergent identity and effective self-advocacy strategies within a low-demand environment. For Michael, the most meaningful measure of a therapy’s effectiveness is improved quality of life for the neurodivergent individual and their families.
Michael’s work with young neurodivergent adults in transition-to-work programs, including Project SEARCH® and Community Connection of Howard County, has drawn needed attention to the central role that the language of self-identity and self-advocacy plays in successful employment outcomes. At the university level, his experience supporting autistic and ADHD college students in the University of Maryland’s SIGNA program deepened his understanding of how essential executive functioning support and self-advocacy are in academic settings.
Michael works as part of each family’s wider team, collaborating with educators, clinicians, and other providers, and he meets families wherever they are in their journey. Understanding that no two children are alike, he is passionate about designing communication interventions tailored to each child’s individual communication differences. He believes therapy should be meaningful to the child, strengths-based, and neurodiversity-affirming.
Michael and his wife live in Gaithersburg, MD, where they are the proud parents of two neurodivergent children.
Emily is a neurodivergent Occupational Therapist who graduated from Towson University with a Master's degree in Occupational Therapy in 2021. Throughout her early career, Emily gained valuable experience working with individuals of all ages and in various settings. However, Emily has found a special connection with outpatient therapy, where she feels her work is truly meaningful. She loves building relationships with families and individuals in meaningful settings including their homes and in the community.
In their practice, Emily is committed to staying up-to-date on the latest best practices in occupational therapy. She has a particular interest in topics such as neurodiversity, responsive feeding and eating, and executive functioning. Emily takes a holistic approach to her work, recognizing that every person is unique and complex. Emily believes in meeting individuals where they are at, recognizing their strengths while also supporting their growth and learning.
Outside of work, Emily lives in Germantown, MD with her partner Jesse and their beloved senior cat. They enjoy spending time in nature, caring for their animals, and experimenting with new vegetarian and vegan recipes in their spare time.