Tamara Kittelson MS, OTR/L, ATP/SMS

Tamara Kittelson is an occupational therapist with 42 years of practice. As a specialist in pediatrics/early intervention, her focus shifted when Eleanore, her third daughter, was born with cerebral palsy and profound deafness. Eventually, she specialized in positioning and mobility equipment for children, youth, and adults with complex needs.

Tamara is a RESNA-certified Assistive Technology Professional/Seating and Mobility Specialist. While working with children during their growing years, she observed deterioration in the body shape of many despite good seating and positioning. She intuitively provided a supported sleeping posture for her own daughter at night but did not expand that to clients until she read a paper published in England in 2000 about 24-hour postural care. She continued to use what she knew as a therapist to provide 24-hour postural care for her clients, but over time desired further training.

In January 2012, Tamara studied with John and Liz Goldsmith and Sarah Clayton at Postural Care Skills, CIC in England. She implemented what she learned with clients at home and completed qualifications in Measurement of Body Symmetry, Advanced Postural Care and a Postural Care Tutor/Manager course through the Open College Network West Midlands. Since then she has studied and learned more about the fascinating history of postural management as it began in England in the 1970s.

Tamara’s desire to raise awareness about 24-hour postural care in the United States led to starting Postural Care USA in 2013 — renamed Posture 24/7 in 2015. In addition to working with Posture 24/7, she also directs Eleanore’s Project. In her spare time, she loves to grow, preserve, and cook with food from her garden and is an avid yoga practitioner.