THE STAFF AT A-Ha Vision

Welcome to our office, Donna is the friendly face you’ll see when you arrive. She enjoys interacting with people and making them feel at ease.

She has several years of experience working in the medical field including Medical Publishing and Optometry but has found her home in Vision Therapy. Interestingly, she benefited from vision therapy as a child and is thrilled to be part of the A-Ha Vision team so that others can experience the benefits of this transformative practice.

When not flexing her exceptional customer service and office management skills, Donna can be found hard at work on her many DIY passions including carpentry, wood turning, sewing and other creative endeavours. She has lent many of these talents to our office with several “building” projects. She is continually learning new skills and consumed by the possibility of creating innovative solutions to everyday needs.

Donna’s knowledge and experience in the medical industry paired with her positive attitude and hardworking nature make her a strong asset to the A-Ha Vision community.

Favourite quote: “they may forget what you say but they will never forget how you made them feel”…Maya Angelou

Health, Happiness and Gratitude are words that best describe Maxine and her outlook on life.

She is grateful for every experience life has given her, and for all the lessons learned that formed who she is today. Helping others is second nature and has been practiced over many volunteer positions, fundraising projects and through her work life – most recently in her career as Vision Therapist at A-Ha Vision in Oakville.

Maxine attended Vision Therapy Canada’s Practical Vision Therapy Accreditation Program (PVTAP) and was in the first graduating class where she obtained her PVT certification in 2017. In 2023, Maxine was nominated to the Board of Directors of Vision Therapy Canada, and is proud to represent all therapists across Canada, as Director, Therapist Relations.

Most recently Maxine is thrilled to now also hold the designation of Certified Optometric Vision Therapist (COVT), which was awarded through the Optometric Vision Development and Rehabilitation Association (OVDRA) in the United States.

She has completed courses in;

• Neuro-Motor Maturity: Optimizing Vision Therapy through Testing and Integration of Primitive Reflexes;
• Neurorehabilitation through the Ontario Brain Injury Association and Brock University;
• Concussion Management Workshops through Concussion Rehab Works and the University of Toronto;
• The Exotropia Seminar through the Optometric Extension Program Foundation (OEPF);
• Concussion Prevention, Detection and Management as a MOOC through the University of Calgary, Faculty of Kinesiology; and continues to expand her knowledge by attending continuing education courses and conferences at every opportunity!

Outside of the field of Behavioural Optometry, Maxine received her Degree in Business as well as a concurrent Certificate in Psychology at Ryerson University, and is a Certified Nutritional Practitioner through the Institute of Holistic Nutrition.

Currently, Maxine dedicates her professional time to Vision Therapy and Vision Rehabilitation for patients with learning-related vision problems, visual dysfunctions, Strabismus, Amblyopia, Acquired/traumatic brain injuries, Autism and children and adults with retained primitive reflexes.

“After many years in the corporate world, making money for big business, I realized that what was missing from my life was the opportunity to make a difference in other people’s lives. I started in optometry years ago, working in the dispensary, and enjoyed it because it was fun to help people look good, and see well.

As a Vision Therapist, I have uncovered my true calling. Helping people learn to hone their visual skills directly impacts the quality of their lives. The happiness and gratitude I get back from the breakthroughs and “A-Ha” moments in the clinic are so rewarding that I can’t imagine being in a more meaningful career.”

With an eye toward all things health related, and a particular interest in helping patients better their lives through Vision Therapy, Maxine is thrilled to be part of the team at A-Ha Vision and part of this great community of Vision Therapists and Behavioural Optometrists.

Helen began her exciting journey as a Vision Therapist in 2012 and has since worked with patients of all ages, with Acquired Traumatic brain injury, retained Primitive Reflexes, learning-related vision problems, visual/vestibular dysfunctions, Strabismus, Amblyopia, Autism, and Sports VT. 

As a Vision Therapist she has found tremendous satisfaction in helping her patients achieve their vision and life goals while creating a fun and nurturing environment to learn. She loves creating personalized curricula to keep her patients motivated and to increase their visual awareness thereby accelerating progress.

Helen continuously upgrades her skills and has completed courses such as Vestibular Processing: A Key Component of Visual Function and Balance-Dr. Curtis Baxstrom and Dr. Jason Clopton, Eyesight to Insight-Visual Vestibular Assessment and Treatment-Dr. Carl Hillier, VT Procedures-Dr. Angela Peddle, Vision Development: Part of the Missing Puzzle in Autism-Dr. Susan Daniel, Vision Therapy/Learning Related Visual Problems-VT2-Optometric Extension Program, Arizona, USA, Certified Optometric Assistant-Canadian Association of Optometrists-2011.

Outside of Vision Therapy, Helen loves spending time with her family and their puppy, Leia. She also enjoys hiking, exploring new places, and learning to garden.

Helen’s Favourite Quote:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

 - Marianne Williamson