MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
What began as a childhood dream has grown into a mission of compassion and community care. Dr. Megan Bartley, an occupational therapist with deep roots in Hutchinson, has returned home to open Clothed in Compassion, Corp., a nonprofit practice dedicated to empowering local children and families through personalized, holistic therapy.
Bartley’s passion for occupational therapy began at age twelve after her father suffered a traumatic brain injury in a bicycle accident. During his months of recovery at Craig Hospital in Colorado, she witnessed the transformative power of occupational therapy—care that helps people rebuild their lives and independence. “One night, I had a dream that I would one day become an OT,” Bartley said. “That dream has guided me ever since.”
Her journey toward that calling took her across the country and around the world, studying at universities in Kansas, Boston, and Edinburgh, Scotland, and gaining experience in therapy practices in California, Colorado, and Kansas. Along the way, she built a reputation for blending professional excellence with genuine compassion—and a knack for sharing her love of baking and faith with those around her.
After a year working as a pediatric occupational therapist in Wichita, Bartley felt a clear call to serve her hometown. She founded Clothed in Compassion, Corp. to meet a growing need in Reno County for accessible, family-centered therapy services. The organization is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit and a proud member of the American Occupational Therapy Association.
Dr. Bartley holds a Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) degree and is a licensed OTR/L with a certification in pediatric feeding therapy (AEIOU – an integrated approach to pediatric feeding). Her practice specializes in supporting children with a variety of needs, including autism, ADHD, and developmental challenges.
Clothed in Compassion offers a range of services designed to help children and families thrive together, including occupational therapy, speech therapy to enhance communication and confidence, and play therapy to help children express emotions in healthy ways.
“At its heart, occupational therapy is about helping people of all ages live life to the fullest,” Bartley said. “I’m grateful to bring that mission home to Hutchinson—to clothe our community in compassion.”