Our Trainers and Course Facilitators
Claudia Rizzo, PT, - Course Instructor
Claudia Rizzo is an accomplished paediatric practitioner, mentor, and educator, best known as the founder of Beyond Steps Mentoring & Training, one of Australia’s leading specialist organisations dedicated to advancing clinical excellence in paediatric therapy. With more than a decade of hands-on clinical experience, Claudia has become a trusted authority in child development, neurorehabilitation, and intensive therapy methodologies. Claudia’s work is grounded in a deep belief: every child deserves the opportunity to reach their highest potential when guided by skilled hands, evidence-based practice, and a compassionate approach. This philosophy shapes her teaching and the countless therapists she has mentored across Australia. Over her career, Claudia has worked extensively with children presenting with a wide range of developmental, neurological, and physical challenges including cerebral palsy, global developmental delay, genetic syndromes, sensory processing disorders, and complex motor-coordination difficulties. She has specialised training across multiple intensive therapy frameworks and has become known for her ability to blend structured, goal-oriented intervention with creativity, confidence-building, and family empowerment.
As an educator, Claudia is recognised for her dynamic, engaging delivery style and her ability to translate complex concepts into highly practical, real-world clinical skills. She is committed to raising professional standards across the paediatric sector and equipping therapists with tools that create measurable, meaningful outcomes for the children and families they support.
Through Beyond Steps Mentoring & Training, Claudia has developed programs that bridge the gap between theory and practice, giving therapists the confidence to implement advanced therapeutic techniques including the Spider Cage/UEU (Universal Exercise Unit), functional strengthening, intensive therapy protocols, and child-centred task analysis. Her workshops are consistently praised for being hands-on, transformative, and grounded in clinical reality.
Claudia now works with JDEN Services to deliver high-quality professional training across Australia, bringing her deep clinical expertise and passion for education to therapists seeking to expand their skills and influence in paediatric practice.
Her mission remains clear:
To inspire therapists, empower families, and create therapy experiences that unlock a child’s true potential one meaningful step at a time.
Contact Information: For inquiries about the course or to connect with Claudia, please contact the course organiser or visit www.jdenservices.com.au.
Location: Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Languages: Portuguese, English.
Maria Fernanda Romani, PT, MSc - Course Instructor Bio
Maria Fernanda Romani, PT, MSc is a distinguished paediatric physical therapist and a leading expert in the application of the Spider Cage (Universal Exercise Unit/Ability Exercise Unit) for paediatric rehabilitation. Based in São Paulo, Brazil, Maria has dedicated over 15 years to advancing therapeutic interventions for children with neurological and developmental disorders, earning her a reputation as a compassionate clinician, innovative educator, and advocate for inclusive rehabilitation practices.
Maria holds a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy from the Universidade Metodista de Piracicaba (2004) and a Master’s degree in Human Movement Sciences from the Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho (2010), with a focus on motor coordination and control in paediatric populations. She is a certified specialist in Paediatric Neurology from the Universidade Federal de São Carlos (2006) and in Neonatal and Infant Physiotherapy from the Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP) (2012). Maria has also completed advanced training in the Neuroevolutionary Bobath Concept, Sensory Integration, Kinesio Taping, and TheraSuit/PediaSuit protocols, equipping her with a comprehensive skill set to maximise the benefits of the Spider Cage in therapy.
As a practitioner, Maria has extensive experience working with children diagnosed with cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, and other neuromuscular conditions. She has been instrumental in integrating the Spider Cage into clinical practice at premier rehabilitation centres in São Paulo, where she has developed individualised treatment plans that enhance motor skills, balance, and functional independence. Her innovative approaches, which combine evidence-based techniques with playful, child-centred interventions, have led to significant improvements in her patients’ quality of life.
Maria is a passionate educator who has trained hundreds of therapists across the world in the use of the Spider Cage and intensive therapy modalities. She has presented at numerous national and international conferences, including the Congresso Brasileiro de Fisioterapia and the International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity, where her work on motor behaviour and therapeutic equipment has been widely recognised. Her publications, such as those in the Brazilian Journal of Motor Behaviour, highlight her contributions to advancing paediatric rehabilitation through tools like the Spider Cage.
As the lead instructor for the 2-day course on the Spider Cage (Universal Exercise Unit) in Paediatric Therapy, Maria brings her wealth of knowledge, hands-on expertise, and engaging teaching style to empower therapists. Participants will benefit from her practical insights, real-world case studies, and step-by-step guidance on safely and effectively using the Spider Cage to address diverse paediatric needs. Maria’s commitment to fostering a collaborative learning environment ensures that every participant leaves the course confident and equipped to implement Spider Cage therapy in their practice.
Contact Information: For inquiries about the course or to connect with Maria Fernanda Romani, please contact the course organiser or visit www.jdenservices.com.au.
Location: São Paulo, Brazil.
Languages: Portuguese, English, and Spanish.
Leonardo de Oliveira, PT, - Facilitator
A Father's Mission to Revolutionise Paediatric Therapy
Leonardo de Oliveira is a Brazilian-American occupational therapist and inventor whose personal journey as a father fuelled a professional revolution in paediatric therapy. He is the creator of the ground-breaking PediaSuit protocol and the innovative Evolvik Vests, therapeutic tools designed to dramatically improve the lives of children with neurological and motor disorders. His work, born out of a desire to help his own son, has had a profound global impact, offering new hope and possibilities for thousands of children and their families.
The catalyst for de Oliveira's transformative work was the birth of his son, Lucas, who was diagnosed with hemiplegia, a form of cerebral palsy affecting one side of the body, resulting from cerebral anoxia. Faced with the challenges of his son's condition, de Oliveira dedicated himself to finding and developing more effective treatment methods than were currently available.
This personal mission led to the creation of the PediaSuit protocol in 2006. The PediaSuit is a soft, dynamic proprioceptive orthosis, a suit composed of a vest, shorts, knee pads, and specially designed footwear interconnected by a system of elastic bands. It is based on the principles of a Russian "Penguin Suit" originally developed for cosmonauts to counteract the effects of weightlessness on muscles and bones. De Oliveira and his team significantly adapted and improved upon the original concept, creating a more breathable, user-friendly, and effective therapeutic garment.
The PediaSuit protocol combines the use of the suit with an intensive therapy program, typically involving several hours of customised exercises per day for a period of weeks. This intensive approach aims to retrain the brain and body, improve motor skills, increase strength and endurance, and enhance sensory processing.
Driven by the need for a dedicated space to implement his new protocol, Leonardo de Oliveira co-founded Therapies 4 Kids in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This specialised clinic became a hub for intensive paediatric therapy, attracting patients from around the world seeking the benefits of the PediaSuit protocol.
Building on the success of the PediaSuit and his deep understanding of the sensory and positioning needs of children with motor challenges, de Oliveira went on to create Evolvik Vests. These therapeutic garments are designed to provide deep pressure and proprioceptive input, which can help to calm and organise the nervous system, improve body awareness, and enhance focus and attention. Evolvik Vests are often used as a complementary therapy to the PediaSuit protocol and in various other therapeutic and daily living contexts.
Leonardo de Oliveira's academic background as an Occupational Therapist, a degree he earned from Keiser University in Florida in 2010, provided him with the clinical framework to develop and refine his inventions. His hands-on experience and the direct feedback from his son's progress and the progress of other children at Therapies 4 Kids were invaluable in the evolution of his therapeutic tools.
Today, Leonardo de Oliveira serves as the CEO of PediaSuit Brazil, extending the reach of his innovative therapies to his home country. His work continues to be driven by the same passion that ignited his journey: the belief that every child deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential. Through his inventions and the establishment of specialised therapy centres, Leonardo de Oliveira has not only transformed his own son's life but has also created a lasting legacy in the field of paediatric rehabilitation.
Location: Florida, USA.
Languages: Portuguese, English, and Spanish.