Year One Wellness Names Best In Birth ATX 2026 Winners
We're thrilled to share some exciting news with our Austin, Texas families: Year One Wellness has been named a Best In Birth Austin 2026 winner in three categories:
🏆 Best Pediatric Physical Therapist
🏆 Best Occupational Therapist
🏆 Best Baby Play Class
What Is Best In Birth?
Best In Birth is a community awards program hosted by BirthCo, a prenatal and postpartum chiropractic and wellness practice with locations across the Austin, Texas. The awards showcase standout birth, pregnancy, postpartum, and early childhood professionals including from chiropractors and doulas to pediatric therapists and baby classes. The process is uniquely led entirely by the community. Each year, the public submits nominations and the top nominees in each category move on to a public voting round. Winners are celebrated at an awards ceremony where proceeds from the event benefit local nonprofits supporting families, such as the Rooted Birth Initiative, which provides scholarships for holistic prenatal and postpartum care to low-income parents. Because winners are chosen by the very parents and families who've experienced their care, Best In Birth is one of the most meaningful ways an Austin-area provider can be recognized.
Why This Award Matters
Being recognized in three categories reflects the trust our clients place in the collaborative, whole-body approach we take to pediatric physical therapy, occupational therapy, and early development play class development. This win belongs to every therapist and staff member who shows up for our families every day.
Meet Our Award-Winning Team
Best Pediatric Physical Therapist
This award recognizes our entire physical therapy team, not a single practitioner, which says a lot about how we work.
Dr. Kristi Hammerle, PT, DPT, CBS — Founder. Kristi has over 400 hours of postdoctoral continuing education in infant development, with a post-graduate specialty in torticollis, body tension, plagiocephaly, motor milestone delay, tethered oral tissues, oral motor dysfunction, and breastfeeding difficulties. Beyond clinical care, she teaches in Texas Woman's University's Doctor of Physical Therapy program and has advocated for pediatric PT access at both the Texas and U.S. Capitols.
Dr. Ariel Day, PT, DPT, CBS, CPST — Clinic Manager. Ariel has worked across multiple pediatric settings and has pursued additional training as a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist and in infant positioning and handling, infant massage, torticollis and plagiocephaly, and the effects of vision on infant development. She is a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician and our resident car seat guru.
Dr. Katie O'Neill, PT, DPT, CBS — Katie has over 12 years of pediatric experience across developmental, neurological, oncology, and orthopedic care in inpatient, outpatient, and home health settings. She has pursued additional training in neurodevelopmental handling, infant massage, and torticollis, and is a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist.
Dr. Jessica Tonismae, PT, DPT, NTMTC, CBS — Jess has over 10 years of pediatric experience, including time in the NICU treating infants born prematurely, and holds a neonatal touch and massage certification. Her background across early intervention, outpatient, and acute care settings gives her deep insight into how important early positive touch and movement experiences are for babies.
Best Occupational Therapist
Catherine Lawson, OTD, OTR, SWC, CBS - Cathy is a Doctor of Occupational Therapy with experience specializing in infants and young children. She holds advanced training in the SOS Feeding Approach, a strong DIR Floortime background, and is a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist and Infant Massage instructor. Catherine's holistic, family-centered approach focuses on nurturing relationships and empowering caregivers throughout the therapeutic process.
Best Baby Play Class
Both of our baby playgroups took home the win together. Led by occupational therapist, Cathy, who specializes in infant development, and held on our play mats in the open gym space at our Northwest Hills (Austin, Texas) clinic:
Supporting Seedlings (Tuesdays, 9:30am for babies birth to sitting): tummy time, sensory play, and parent-baby bonding
Budding Babies (Thursdays, 9:30am for babies sitting to walking): sensory exploration and fine/gross motor skill-building
Both groups are offered as a 6-week series or single drop-in class, and give parents a chance to connect with each other while their babies play, explore, and grow.
What Sets Year One Wellness Apart
Family-centered, evidence-based care — every plan is built around your child's goals and your family's daily life
A collaborative team approach — our PT and OT providers coordinate closely for whole-child care
Deep specialization — over 60 combined years of practice and 1,200+ happy families served
Convenient options — in-clinic visits in Austin, Texas and Cedar Park, Texas, home (concierge) visits throughout Travis and Williamson County, and virtual visits across Texas
A welcoming space for babies and caregivers — including our community baby play classes designed to support development while connecting parents with each other
Thank You, Austin Families
This win wouldn’t have been possible without the families who nominated and voted for us. Thank you for trusting Year One Wellness with your child's growth and development. It's the greatest honor of our work.
Ready to Get Started?
Whether you're looking for pediatric physical therapy, occupational therapy, or want to join one of our baby play classes, we'd love to welcome your family to Year One Wellness. For more information, feel free to reach out to us! Our team of clinicians are here to help!
