Get to know more about Capital Occupational Therapy/The Barnyard

Welcome to Capital Occupational Therapy/The Barnyard

This practice is a private pediatric occupational therapy practice serving the areas of NW DC, Chevy Chase, Bethesda, Potomac, Darnestown and Gaithersburg, Maryland. This practice serves children ages 2-15.

Capital OT/The Barnyard works with diagnoses including Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs), ADHD, learning differences, Cerebral Palsy, Developmental Coordination Disorder, fine motor delays, genetic disorders, and limb differences.

The goal and mission of this practice is to help children develop skills and confidence in their roles with play, school and family routines/self -care. The practice uses a child centered, play based approach with the just right challenge to meet your child where they are to gain skills and confidence. Evidence- based practice techniques are utilized. Parents, teachers and caregivers are incorporated into your child’s therapy plan of care and sessions as appropriate so that you understand our role as well as how to support your child.

Therapy appointments are offered in the convenience of your home or your child’s school/daycare center
Appointments are also offered at The Barnyard. The Barnyard is located in Darnestown, MD (15 minutes from I-270 and River Road) in an outdoor/barn setting where mini therapy goats are part of the treatment plan.
Therapy is child-directed, meaning that it should be natural, fun, and motivating for the child. The therapist relies on training, experience, and expertise to embed the “just-right” challenge into the activity so that the child views sessions as fun and not “work.”

Owner of Capital OT/The Barnyard Jennifer Blair, OTR/L, BCP (AOTA Board Certification in Pediatrics)

Jenn received a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational therapy from Quinnipiac University in May 2002. She began her career working in both school systems and early intervention. In 2006 she was hired directly by North Haven Public Schools, CT, to provide occupational therapy services during the school year and for extended school year services during the summer. During this time, she created district wide protocols on the role of occupational therapy, provided many presentations on the role of occupational therapy and was also involved in developing a state of the art program for students with autism spectrum disorders at the Middle School. After school hours, she also worked at Cheshire Fitness Zone, a private, outpatient clinic providing occupational therapy to children ages 2- 21. She was also a mentor to new graduate occupational therapists within the clinic. She has also been a guest lecturer to the School of Education at Quinnipiac University, where she educated future teachers on the role of occupational therapy in the schools.

In 2012, she received her BCP, Board Certification in Pediatrics, by the American Occupational Therapy Association. She moved down to DC in June 2012 and was with the Sensational Kids Therapy practice until 2020. She opened the Barnyard in 2020 as a way to incorporate animals into practice with a focus on improving outdoor activity in children, incorporating functional goals and addressing a need as a result of the pandemic. She currently runs the goat herd at The Barnyard with Teddy, Otis and Spike. She is an active member with AOTA including a pediatric subject matter expert (SME), data collector for recent occupational therapy assessments and mentor for students looking to get their start in occupational therapy.

She is licensed to practice occupational therapy in DC, Virginia and Maryland. She is SIPT certified as well as certified in animal-assisted therapy.