Posted Dec 12, 2011
The recipient of this week’s Ben’s Bell is pediatric occupational therapist Marsha Dunn Klein.
She was nominated by her colleagues, Ellen Duperret, Jil Feldhausen and Jude Trautlein, who said Klein works with children who have feeding difficulties and are unable to eat a balanced diet by mouth because of medical or behavioral issues.
“Her approach to working with children, many of whom have developmental delays, is kind and gentle, and very respectful of the child. Her philosophy is to never force a child to eat, but to work off the child’s cues for hunger and fullness. She calls this the ‘get permission’ approach to feeding,” her colleagues wrote in their nomination. “Watching Marsha work with children can bring tears to your eyes because her work brings so much happiness to the parents who have struggled with feeding issues with their child.”
Klein works primarily with children in Tucson and offers consultations with families all over Arizona and neighboring states. In addition, she conducts national and international workshops to train other therapists in how to work with children with feeding difficulties.
For more than 30 years Klein has volunteered monthly at the St. Andrew’s Children’s Clinic in Nogales, Ariz., helping children from Mexico who have developmental disabilities.
Recently, Klein co-founded a new nonprofit organization — Nourish — that provides scholarships for children whose families cannot afford feeding therapy or dietitian services, specialized feeding-therapy equipment and support groups for parents of children with feeding needs.
“Marsha is one of those special people who really make a difference in other’s lives through her kindness, caring for others, and her expertise in feeding therapy.”
The project
Ben’s Bells promote kindness and community. Each week a person who betters Tucson is “belled.” Go to www.bensbells.org/BellingForm to submit a name. Go to www.bensbells.org or call 628-2829 for information. Recipients also are featured on Friday’s Morning Blend on KGUN 9.
Contact reporter Kimberly Matas at kmatas@azstarnet.com or at 573-4191.
©2011 The Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, Ariz.)