Dr. Michele DeSimone, CCC, SLPD, The Sensory Studio
By Dominic Provenzano, Staten Island Chamber of Commerce
Dr. Michele DeSimone, CCC-SLPD, Clinical Director and Owner of The Sensory Studio, has forged a career based in service. In the nearly decade-long history of the practice, the Great Kills native has expanded Sensory Studio to encompass to four locations, served thousands of local children, empowered hundreds of young therapists, and fueled a personal dedication to service beyond her practice.
DeSimone’s passion for service goes back to childhood Christmas mornings. “We’d wake up on Christmas, and all of our presents would be around the tree,” recalls DeSimone. “My parents would take us in the car before we opened anything and take us to a group home for developmentally disabled children. We spent many Christmas mornings there for three or four hours, giving gifts and spending time before we would come home to celebrate as a family.”
Despite her strong upbringing, her road to success wasn’t straightforward. “I had trouble staying focused and suffered from sensory issues as a child, but was very inquisitive in school. I couldn’t keep up with the academic demands, and I ended up at many different high schools as a result. It wasn’t until college that I realized I could choose what I wanted to study. I was always focused on the now, and when I realized I could learn what I wanted to learn and direct my own path, I began to flourish.”
After dabbling in business classes, DeSimone’s mom pitched her a different idea: speech pathology. “She said, ‘You love kids, you’re a natural leader, you love to teach,’ so I shadowed a speech pathologist, who was a family friend. We’d go inside a house, take out a big bag of toys, and sit on the floor and play with a child. I was like, ‘Wow, this is a job, you can just drive around and play with kids all day? I can do that!’”
DeSimone obtained a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) from The American Speech Language Hearing Association and a Masters Degree from New York University and began working at a local private practice. In 2012, DeSimone started Therapy Playhouse, a home-based practice that she eventually closed to merge with colleagues in order to secure a lucrative contract with the NYC Department of Education. Yet, despite her success, DeSimone felt disillusioned with the impersonal, and traditional, approach to speech pathology. “If I’m not fulfilled professionally and am feeling a lack of passion for what I’m involved in, I am not equipped to be the best provider for the children I am serving,” said DeSimone. “It was time for a fresh start.”
Thus, The Sensory Studio was born. The Sensory Studio, founded on Forest Avenue in 2016, was built on opposites. Rather than focusing on exponential growth, The Sensory Studio built each of its four locations by focusing on one child at a time. Whereas prior practices were insular, The Sensory Studio uses an open-door policy, where staff can learn from and foster community with one another. When other outlets were impersonal, DeSimone built designed sensory gyms based on play, eliciting motivation for the child to attend, thrive, and experience exceptional progress
DeSimone points to Jaime Delfino, The Sensory Studio’s first employee and current Director of Operations, as evidence of The Sensory Studio ethos. “The day I incorporated The Sensory Studio, Jaimie, my former student, called looking for some work and we have been inseparable ever since. We developed the logo, planned our initial processes and signed a lease on a new space. The roots of the business go back to her; she’s been here from the first day, and has risen up through the ranks to Certified Speech Language Pathologist, Clinical Supervisor and now Director of Operations. Jaimie has a very true sense of The Studio’s mission: educate our families, offer children the opportunity to maximize their potential early on, and build a community of strong character.” The culture that DeSimone has crafted extends to her staff, all of which follow the guiding principles outlined at the business’ inception.
DeSimone’s philosophy of service extends far beyond her business. The Sensory Studio has forged longstanding partnerships with elder care facilities by encouraging the children they work with to design and create festive cards, which are distributed to seniors around the holidays – echoing back to the Christmas mornings of her youth.
DeSimone is also involved with the Forest Avenue Business Improvement District (BID), which oversees commercial revitalization efforts, offers support for businesses within the district, and organizes local events. Given The Sensory Studio’s large footprint on Forest Avenue, DeSimone was compelled to get involved. The Sensory Studio regularly takes part in the BID’s annual parade, offering activities for children attending the festivities.
DeSimone is also an active board member for The Airway Revolution Foundation, a nonprofit that increases awareness and advances education on airway disorders, with a docu-series coming out early next year. Airway disorders, which refer to any limitation to the flow of air in the upper airway, can cause several chronic health challenges, which DeSimone believes are intrinsically linked to the populations she serves.
Dr. DeSimone’s journey is a testament to the power of dedication, community, and service. “We have a wider purpose at The Sensory Studio. This partnership not only benefits the children we work with but also empowers our staff, who are empowered to act themselves.”