Welcome to the Acorn Academy
The Acorn Academy offers training programs and consultation services for parents and caregivers of children with autism and disabilities.
Nurturing PotentialWhat is Acorn Academy?
At Acorn Academy we empower parents to nurture their child's potential via education and consultation services that are practical, tried and true and work with their busy lifestyles.
For Parents
Gain practical, therapist-backed strategies to support your child’s development, sensory needs, feeding abilities and self-regulation, improve routines, and reduce daily struggles.
For Educators
Learn proven techniques to create a sensory-friendly classroom and effectively support neurodivergent students.
Online programsFrom Picky to Progress:
A Step-by-Step Program for Mealtime Success
Do you have a child struggling with picky eating and other feeding challenges? This 12-week online program helps you understand your child’s individual feeding difficulties and gives you practical strategies to help your child expand their food choices, improve mealtime routines, and reduce sensory challenges. Learn how to decrease overstimulation, encourage sitting for meals, and make eating a positive experience. You are not alone! Create an individualized plan for your child with specific strategies and start building mealtime confidence to help your child learn to eat better.
Course Objectives
Understand why your child isn’t progressing with eating
Increase the variety of foods they will eat
Learn strategies to improve willingness to try new foods
Understand your child’s sensory needs and preferences and how they affect eating
Develop methods to increase how much they eat
Teach your child to sit down for meals
Establish peaceful and consistent mealtime routines
Use positive and encouraging eating language
Implement strategies for challenging mealtime behaviors
Understand why your child eats at daycare or school but not at home
Tailored supportFeeding & Sensory Consultations for Parents
Tired of endlessly searching for answers online? Get expert guidance from a pediatric occupational therapist with 27 years of experience. Book a call and get 5-10 written practical strategies tailored to your child’s needs.
50-Min Video Chat
Get expert answers to your top questions
Understand the why behind behaviors
Learn practical next steps
Recording available for future reference
Personalized notes and handouts provided
Perfect for:
Parents looking for quick, expert advice
Addressing a specific concern or challenge
Clarifying next steps for immediate support
Three 50-min Video Chat
Flexible scheduling to fit your busy life
Insights into your child’s behaviors and challenges
Troubleshoot and refine strategies
Recording available for future reference
Personalized notes and handouts provided
Perfect for:
Parents needing support and strategies
Tackling complex behavioral challenges
Creating a structured plan for progress
Meet Stacey, MA, OTR/L
Founder of Acorn Academy, Pediatric Occupational Therapist and Feeding Specialist
Stacey Neill is a dedicated pediatric occupational therapist, developmental specialist, and feeding therapist with over 27 years of experience. She earned her B.S. in Physiology from U.C. Davis and completed her Master’s in Occupational Therapy at the University of Southern California.
Growing up and currently living in rural Weaverville, California, Stacey balances her career with family life, raising two teenage daughters and spending time hiking, backpacking, reading, and enjoying the river.
Throughout her career, Stacey has worked in schools, clinics, hospitals, and homes, running a private practice and previously owning a sensory integration clinic for 13 years. The COVID-19 pandemic shifted her focus, enabling her to support families through parent coaching and online programs.
Specialties & Certifications
Feeding Therapy
Adaptive Technology
Rhythmic Movement Training
S’Cool Moves
Handwriting Without Tears
Autism
Sensory Integration
Floor Time
Neuro-Developmental Treatment
Infant Massage
Licenses
California Board of Occupational Therapy
National Board of Occupational Therapy Association
Why the Acorn?
"The acorn is a symbol of potential. I love working with parents to bring out the potential in their child. Progress isn’t always linear – we constantly need to adapt and adjust. But the successes are so rewarding. Finding creative ways to help a child succeed is so rewarding for me as an O.T. and for the parents. I’m still learning every day, and that is part of what makes this work so fulfilling."
Stacey Neill, MA, OTR/L
here to helpHow Our Programs Can Help Kids
Our programs go beyond addressing feeding and sensory challenges – they also provide guidance on improving daily routines, self-help skills (dressing, hygiene, brushing teeth), sleep plans, transitions, and overall developmental progress. We offer practical strategies that help children feel more confident and capable while also supporting parents, caregivers, and even extended family members in creating a more understanding and structured home environment.
We help with
Fine Motor Skills
Impulse Control
Learning Disabilities
Sensory Processing Disorder
Genetic Differences
Dyslexia
Torticollis
Gross Motor Coordination
ADD/ADHD
Developmental Delay
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Executive Dysfunction
Cerebral Palsy
Feeding Disorders & Challenges
Self-Regulation
Toilet Training
Customer ReviewsWhat Parents and Educators are Saying
By combining parent coaching, educator training, and therapist-backed methods, Acorn Academy provides a comprehensive approach to supporting neurodivergent children at home, in school, and in care settings.