Advancement

Overcoming the Unexpected

Meet Austin and see how Joya helped his family find hope at one of the most difficult times of their lives.

UPDATE to Proposed ESIT Cuts

We’re encouraged to share that, at this time, neither the

I was born and raised in Spokane, and moved to the west side for undergrad and grad school. I decided to become a physical therapist when I realized my love for science and my passion for helping others. I met my husband in Seattle, and convinced him to move back to Spokane around 2018. We have a nine-year-old Brittany Spaniel and two delightful children who keep us very busy. We love to cook as a family, go to the many parks in Spokane, and playing card games and board games. In the small amount of free time I have, I enjoy crocheting, lifting weights, and reading (sometime simultaneously). I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work at Joya and serve the Spokane community.

Kassi McNeil

I grew up in Helena, Montana and attended Whitworth University for my undergraduate education. My four years at Whitworth are how I came to know and love Spokane. I chose to pursue occupational therapy because of an experience with my college advisor. His occupational therapist was the only reason he was able to continue to participate in one of his greatest passions – showing his 14 Clydesdales. I saw how much it meant to him to not have to give up something he loved, and I knew I wanted to have this same impact in my future career! I moved to Fort Wayne, IN to complete my education. I especially enjoyed coaching Special Olympics, adapting cars for GoBabyGo, and volunteering at Turnstone (a paralympic training center) while I was in grad school. My favorite part of OT is celebrating the small wins that make big differences in the day-to-day life of families.

Gabby Joyce

I grew up in Southern California and moved to Spokane, to complete my bachelor’s and master’s degree at Eastern Washington University. I have always known I have wanted to work with kids and fell in love with Joya’s mission while completing a practicum placement here as a grad student. I thoroughly enjoy coming alongside my clients and their families and supporting them where they are at. Outside of work, I love to spend time reading out exploring new hikes with my husband and our dog!

Ellie Barber

Ellie grew up in Yakima, Washington, where her love for working with children stemmed from being a mentor to young dancers in her local dance studio and teaching toddler ballet and tap classes. She discovered that she wanted to be a physical therapist after seeing her fellow dancers recover from injuries and come back even stronger to the sport they loved. After graduating from Washington State University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and biology, Ellie moved to Spokane to attend the Physical Therapy program at Eastern Washington University. Through her internships, she developed a passion for working with pediatric, neurological, and athletic populations. Ellie has been working as a pediatric physical therapist since 2023 and was thrilled to join the Joya team in 2025 to specialize in the birth to three population. In her free time, Ellie enjoys skiing, ice skating, mountain climbing, and hiking with her dog.

Brenna Speerbrecher

Brenna earned her master’s degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences from Washington State University in 2023. Originally from Vancouver, Washington, she moved to Spokane to pursue her education and has since made it her home, where she loves being part of the local community.
As a speech-language pathologist, Brenna is passionate about helping children and families enhance communication skills and confidence. She has a particular interest in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and enjoys supporting families as they learn to use tools and strategies that make meaningful connections possible. She believes in creating fun, engaging, and functional therapy experiences that empower children and families through individualized care and support.
Outside of work, Brenna enjoys spending time with her husband, Joe, as well as their friends and family. Together, they love traveling, glamping, and exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

Amy Troutt

Amy was born and raised in Massachusetts. She knew she wanted to be in a helping profession and discovered the profession of occupational therapy just before entering college, when shadowing a friend’s mom at work. During her undergraduate OT program, she had the opportunity to visit a special needs clinic in Nicaragua, Central America, with an OT professor and small group of students. The experience moved her to return after becoming an occupational therapist and take a 6-month volunteer position in Nicaragua as her first OT job. Upon returning to the States, she worked in a variety of settings, including hospitals, early intervention, and home health. She moved to Washington in 2021 and has been in Spokane since 2022. She is passionate about empowering parents and families with knowledge and resources to help their children flourish in everyday life. It is fun to be back in early intervention and a joy to be at Joya! In her free time, Amy enjoys creating things, gardening, reading, and exploring the Pacific Northwest.

Closing the Gap

Meet Jack and see how Joya helped his family close the gap on developmental delays so he could start taking part in all life has to offer a toddler!

Joya Stories

Overcoming the Unexpected

UPDATE to Proposed ESIT Cuts

Rachel Cox

Kassi McNeil

Gabby Joyce

Ellie Barber

Brenna Speerbrecher

Amy Troutt

Closing the Gap

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