Today we’d like to introduce you to Dana Broughton.
Hi Dana, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve been a pediatric physical therapist for more than 27 years, but the roots of my work reach back even further. I always had a deep belief that children deserved to be seen for who they are, not for a diagnosis or limitation. That belief shaped everything that followed.
I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Rehabilitation Services from Auburn University and completed my Master’s in Physical Therapy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where my thesis on integrating PT into preschool classrooms was published by the APTA. Early in my career, I worked in early intervention and NICUs, learning firsthand what families truly needed: knowledge, support, hope, and someone who wasn’t afraid to think differently for their child.
In 2020, I almost lost everything. And through deep inner work and radical acceptance, I created All Kids Are Perfect. Over the years, I studied every method I could—CME/DMI, reflex integration, sensory-based approaches, strength and posture training—and slowly began creating what is now known as the AKAP Way, a blend of science, intuition, creativity, and radical acceptance. I never set out to build a company; I set out to help one child at a time. But word spread, families traveled from state to state and eventually from around the world, and All Kids Are Perfect grew into something bigger than I ever imagined.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
One of the biggest challenges has been building a completely unique model in an industry that often prefers the status quo. I wasn’t just opening a clinic; I was introducing a different way of thinking about pediatric therapy. That meant educating families, reassuring skeptics, and staying rooted in my vision even when others didn’t fully understand it.
Scaling a mission-driven business has brought its own hurdles. As we grew from a single therapist to a full team, I had to learn how to balance being a clinician, a leader, a mentor, and a business owner. Creating sustainable systems, defining roles, protecting our intellectual property, and maintaining a high standard of care—all while staying true to our values—required a level of endurance I didn’t always know I had.
There were personal obstacles too. I navigated single motherhood, health challenges, and moments of financial risk while trying to build something bigger than myself. There were seasons when I questioned whether I could keep going. But every time a child reached a new milestone, every time a parent told me they felt hope again, it reaffirmed why this work matters.
Another obstacle has been staying human in a world that often expects perfection. Running a business means making hard decisions, facing criticism, and carrying responsibilities that people don’t always see. Yet I’ve learned that transparency, radical acceptance, and authenticity are strengths—not weaknesses.
Every challenge ultimately shaped AKAP into what it is today: a place where families feel seen, therapists feel supported, and children discover what they’re capable of. The obstacles didn’t stop us—they refined us.
As you know, we’re big fans of All Kids are Perfect. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
All Kids Are Perfect (AKAP) is a pediatric intensive therapy center in Cary, North Carolina, where children from across the U.S. and internationally come for highly specialized 1–3 week intensive programs in physical and occupational therapy. Our work is rooted in the belief that every child deserves to be seen for their abilities, not their diagnosis—and that progress is possible when therapy is creative, individualized, and grounded in neuroplasticity.
We specialize in motor control, sensory integration, reflex integration, trunk activation, postural control, strengthening, and functional mobility using a blend of approaches I’ve developed over decades. What we are best known for is the AKAP Way—our proprietary model that blends the AKAP Stretch, DMI principles, sensory-based OT, motor learning, and holistic nervous system regulation. It’s a comprehensive approach that doesn’t force children into movement; it teaches the motor plan and supports the body in discovering new patterns.
Our therapists follow a mentorship-based model, ensuring continuity, safety, and depth of skill. And unlike many intensive centers, every therapist is paired with a trained technician for spotting, which allows us to safely push strength, alignment, and motor control in a way that parents deeply appreciate.
We’re also proud to offer an integrated OT program that focuses on regulation, sensory awareness, and turning the nervous system on before high-level PT work. Parents consistently share that the combination of OT and PT in our intensives is a game changer.
In addition to our clinic, we run AKAP Way, a nonprofit established to ensure that high-quality pediatric therapy is not limited by financial barriers. Through AKAP Way, we offer scholarships, financial support, and resources so families who otherwise could not afford intensives still have access to life-changing care. We’ve already awarded multiple intensives, covered accommodations, and supported families through their entire week with us. It’s one of the most meaningful parts of our mission.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What means the most to me is seeing families regain hope and watching children discover abilities no one thought were possible. Hearing parents say, “Your method works,” is the fuel behind everything we do. It’s why we’re preparing to franchise AKAP—to make our approach accessible to more children around the world. And it’s why we’re eager to collaborate with a university to research and validate the AKAP Way, so we can share proven results and impact even more families.
Pricing:
- 200 virtual visits with home program
- 2400 one week intensive with 2 visits per day
Contact Info:
- Website: https://allkidsareperfect.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/all_kids_are_perfect/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dkbpediatrics/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Allkidsareperfect
