I help families of special needs children, and those who champion them, learn how to advocate on behalf of the child so that all parties have the best opportunity to thrive, not just survive.
About Crystal
Boasting over 18 years of experience as an Occupational Therapist, Crystal is the Chief Marketing Officer of Ability & Beyond Fitness. After graduating with a BA from Bucknell University in Animal Behavior & Spanish, Crystal researched various ways to work with animals & became interested in occupational therapy. She then committed to attend Long Island University (Brooklyn Campus), where she earned a BS/MS in Occupational Therapy.
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Crystal’s experience working with NYC Public Schools as a Senior Occupational Therapist and with the Young Adult Institute (YAI) has fueled her passion for helping adults with developmental disabilities function & participate in any setting they choose.
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Not only is her passion professional, but it is also personal. In 2019, she published an article in OT Practice Magazine discussing her perspective on having a brother with autism & being an occupational therapist. She has actively contributed to the field through poster presentations and workshops at the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and New York State Occupational Therapy Association (NYSOTA) Conferences. Notably, in 2024, she co-presented a comprehensive 3-hour course at the AOTA conference and a 3-part mini-series for NYSOTA on sexual health across the lifespan. In recognition of her outstanding contributions, Crystal received the "You Deserve..." Award from Perfect Piece of the Puzzle, Inc., in June 2024. This award honors her relentless efforts to unite communities and her unwavering dedication to her family and professional circles. Within the same year, she received the Ellen Sterns-Paquin Clinical Practice Award for her excellence, mentorship, outstanding professionalism, and dedication to the profession of occupational therapy.
She also co-founded an ongoing podcast, "Windows Into Autism," with her mother, offering a valuable mother/sibling perspective on living with autism. She is also a Certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist (ASDCS). Crystal lives in Orange County, NY, with her husband and two children (one of whom has Autism).
-Crystal Covington
Crystal's Talks
Relationships Matter
How to build sustainable & stable familiar relationships. Using my life as an occupational therapist, mother, sibling, & wife, help those in the neuro-diverse world create and maintain strong relationships.
Jaime Fisher; Paraprofessional
"Anytime I am lucky enough to hear Crystal Covington speak, I always tell her I could listen to her speak all day. She has a way with words and can keep the attention of the whole room. Crystal is so well-spoken and can teach us all a thing or two"
Micaela M. Cruse Missouri State University '23
Crystal brings forth her own unique culture to inspire her audience and build relationships with her listeners. Her content is well-organized and tailored specifically to her audience. She tastefully brings her experience, both lived and learned, to her conversations.
Dr. Amy Coopersmith, OTD, OTR/L; MA Ed.
I have been fortunate to attend professional presentations led by Crystal Mendez-Covington, who engages audiences with her dynamic speaking style. Her high-energy presentations are well-crafted, thought-provoking, and inspirational. Feedback from her speaking engagements is overwhelmingly positive, largely because of her enthusiasm and passion. I highly recommend her as a speaker at conferences and special events!
