If you're worried whether your child is meeting key developmental milestones, our occupational therapists are here to help. Evaluations and services are covered by most insurance providers.
Even if you have just one of the concerns on this list, an evaluation can help!
Contact us to learn more about our services and determine whether 1:1 support is needed to facilitate your child's growth and development.
Sierra Jones received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Carthage College, and Doctoral degree from Rush University in Occupational Therapy. As the Assistant Clinical Director of Occupational and Physical Therapy at North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Sierra maintains a partial caseload and supports the OT and PT departments by providing clinical leadership and ensuring quality of care. Sierra is accredited by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and certified by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).
For Sierra, building bonds with the clients is the most rewarding part of the job. Sierra’s passion for helping people gain and build independence can be traced back to childhood when she watched a loved one struggle with the loss of independence due to an illness, and became inspired by the work of the OT in helping her loved one gain her confidence, spirit, and independence back. Ask her how to juggle, it’s her secret talent. When Sierra is not keeping busy with friends and family, you can find her hanging out with her dog and reading in the park.
Alyssa Koci received her bachelor of arts degree in Communicative Sciences & Disorders and Spanish, and a masters of science degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Midwestern University. As the speech-language pathology (SLP) team lead at North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Alyssa provides clinical care to children birth to 16 years old, as well as provides professional development and clinical support to the team of speech-language pathologists company-wide.
For Alyssa, mentoring SLPs to provide the best clinical care for their clients is the most rewarding part of the job, and she enjoys creating opportunities for clinicians to to grow at any level of their career.
Alyssa's passion for speech-language pathology can be traced back to her uncle, when he was diagnosed with ALS. Her uncle’s SLP fully supported his communication throughout his life and assisted in his changing feeding and swallowing needs. Alyssa strives to provide this for her clients across the lifespan.
When Alyssa is not keeping busy with play-based therapy, sitting on the ground with Mr. Potato Head, you can find her cross-stitching on the couch with her dog. Ask her about the game show The Price Is Right... she may have had a special appearance!
Debbie McGee is an ASHA certified speech-language pathologist (CCC-SLP) licensed in the state of Illinois. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Northern Illinois University in Communication Sciences and Disorders, and her Master of Arts Degree from Northern Illinois University in Communication Disorders in Science.
As Assistant Clinical Director at North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Debbie oversees Speech and Mental Health services as well as provides speech therapy. Prior to working at NSPT, Debbie worked at an outpatient pediatric clinic with children between 1-year to 16-years-old. She has experience treating children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Down Syndrome, Apraxia, receptive and expressive language disorders, articulation/phonological disorders.
Rayan received her Masters degree in Occupational Therapy and her bachelors degree in Psychology from Governor's State University. As a pediatric occupational therapist at North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Rayan helps children develop essential living skills, as well as improve fine/gross motor skills and sensory functions!
For Rayan, witnessing the significant progress and increased independence of children as they overcome challenges is the most rewarding part of the job and she really enjoys crafting fun and creative interventions tailored to each client! Rayan’s passion for occupational therapy can be traced back to high school, where she volunteered for an organization called Muhsen that aimed to create a more inclusive environment in the community for children with disabilities.
Ask Rayan how to bake/cook! It is her secret talent! When Rayan is not keeping busy working, you can catch her running or traveling!
Allison is an IL licensed and board-certified occupational therapist. She received her Bachelor of Liberal Arts with minors in Applied Health Sciences, Healthcare Administration, and Spanish (2020), as well as her Master of Occupational Therapy (2022) at Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH. While first concentrated in working with adults post-stoke at the acute level, Allison is now specialized in working with children who have Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Sensory Processing Disorder, coordination/motor based deficits, and general social/emotional difficulties.
For Allison, the best part about being an occupational therapist is using her creativity to provide the most motivating and client centered care for both the child and their families. She has a passion for learning how to best advocate for each client and collaborating in a multidisciplinary fashion.
In her free time, Allison loves exploring the city of Chicago as she is originally from Nashville, TN. She also enjoys spending time with her friends, family, and their cats.
Stephanie received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Northwestern University in 2015 and is a board-certified pediatric clinical specialist. She always knew she wanted to work in pediatrics and enjoys helping each child maximize their full potential. Stephanie is also passionate about working closely with families to help each patient reach their desired goals. Stephanie has experience treating patients of all ages with diagnoses of developmental delay, torticollis/plagiocephaly, toe walking, autism spectrum disorder, various genetic and neuromuscular disorders, and orthopedic concerns.
When not at work, she enjoys running, taking Peloton classes, discovering Chicago’s best restaurants, and taking care of her dog Owen.
Kelly received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Illinois State University. As a Speech and Language Pathologist at North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Kelly provides prevention, assessment, diagnostics, and treatment for speech, language, social communication, cognitive-communication, and swallowing/feeding disorders in children and adults.
For Kelly, seeing children grow in their communication skills is the most rewarding part of the job, and she loves building connections with families. Kelly's passion for helping children with disabilities can be traced back to high school, when she taught Irish dance to a child with autism. This was her first encounter with autism and she felt as though she didn’t know how to communicate with them. From that point forward, she set out to learn everything she could about autism and how to effectively communicate with the population.
When Kelly is not keeping busy with work, you can find her playing with her pets, golfing, gardening, or reading.
Cindy Belliveau received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Master of Social Work degree from University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Cindy provides Mental Health awareness, consultation, and support throughout NSPT.
For Cindy, being an advocate for Mental Health support in a interdisciplinary agency is the most rewarding part of the job.
Cindy's passion for social work can be traced back to childhood when she just wanted to help people who are hurting. Ask her about how to engage reluctant kids to just think they're having fun together. It’s her secret talent!
When Cindy is not keeping busy with helping kids build coping skills, you can find her walking her dog, reading a book or hanging out with family or friends!
Kelsey received her Bachelor’s degree in Rehabilitation and Disability Services from Northern Illinois University, and her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Elmhurst University.
As an Occupational Therapist at North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Kelsey focuses on providing a creative, play-based, and client-centered approach throughout her sessions. For Kelsey, seeing children grow and gain independence in their daily activities is the most rewarding part of her job!
When not at work, you can find her spending time with family and friends, going for long-distance runs, or taking her dog Howie for a walk
Michaela is an ASHA certified speech-language pathologist licensed in the state of Illinois. She attended the University of Rochester for her undergraduate degrees and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Sign Language (ASL) and a Bachelor of Science degree in Brain & Cognitive Sciences with a focus in language development. Michaela then attended Northwestern University where she graduated with a Master of Science degree in Speech, Language, & Learning. There she did internships in both an elementary school with students of varying needs, and in an audiology clinic where she worked with both children and adults with various degrees of hearing loss, including doing some teleheath sessions.
Upon graduating, she began working in the Chicago Public School system where she has been for the past five years. There she worked at an elementary school where she serviced children from preK to fifth grade in collaboration with other clinicians including occupational therapists, social workers, and psychologists. Michaela has experience working with various speech-language needs including speech sound disorders, receptive/expressive language disorders, fluency, and implementation of high- and low-tech augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices.
Her primary areas of interest include evaluating and treating speech sound disorders and receptive/expressive language disorders. Her goal is to support a child’s communication growth in any way she can while using evidence-based practices.
Rose Carlson is a board-certified Occupational Therapist with experience working with the pediatric population. She earned her Master in Occupational Therapy from Elmhurst University and her Bachelor of Arts degree from Illinois State University where she majored in Psychology. Rose developed a love for working with the pediatric population following an opportunity to work with children with Autism during her senior capstone project at ISU. This led her to working as a Registered Behavior Technician where her passion continued to grow for working with the pediatric population.
Rose was inspired to become an occupational therapist by her aunt who initially introduced her to the field. She has experience working with clients with a variety of diagnoses including Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, sensory processing differences, and global developmental delay, among others. When not at work, Rose enjoys being with her friends and family, spending time outdoors, and trying new crafts or recipes.
Mary Grace Domagola is an ASHA certified speech-language pathologist licensed in the state of Illinois. She attended Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana for both her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and Master of Science degree in Speech Language Pathology.
Mary Grace has been working as a pediatric speech language pathologist at North Shore Pediatric Therapy (NSPT) since January 2023. She has experience working with children from birth through 18 in the school and pediatric outpatient clinic setting before joining NSPT. She has a passion for working with autistic individuals, implementing augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), expressive and receptive language disorders, articulation impairments, and social communication impairments.
Lindsay Elling became a board-certified occupational therapist in 2021 after earning her master's degree in occupational therapy from Nova Southeastern University and her bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Lindsay was inspired to pursue a career in occupational therapy at a very young age after hearing her dad's stories about his time as an occupational therapist. Lindsay has experience treating children who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), sensory processing disorder (SPD), dyspraxia and other coordination deficits, and executive functioning difficulties.
Outside of work, Lindsay enjoys cooking and hosting, doing yoga, and playing with her cat, Winnie.
Lindsey received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the Illinois Institute of Technology and completed her predoctoral internship in pediatric neuropsychology at the University of California, Los Angeles.
As a postdoctoral fellow at North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Lindsey provides neuropsychological services for children and their families. For Lindsey, working with wonderful patients and colleagues is the most rewarding part of her job! In her free time, you can find Lindsey walking her dog and trying new restaurants around Chicago.
Nadia Alvarez Flodstrom is a board-certified occupational therapist who earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana with an emphasis on public health and health sciences. She then received her Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy from Rush University in 2014.
Nadia is interested in neuroscience and current autism research and how this affects child development. She has attended continuing education courses related to autism, behavior, and neuroanatomy pertaining to a developing child. She has experience working in public schools, an ABA clinic, early intervention, and an outpatient pediatric clinic. She is currently certified as a therapeutic yoga practitioner for children with special needs and works with children privately using this approach. During her free time, Nadia likes to spend her time with family and friends, going for walks, and practicing yoga and meditation.
Ellie Gatz is in her Clinical Fellowship Year and has her temporary license in the state of Illinois. Ellie attended the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign for her undergraduate degree, where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences. She earned her Master of Arts degree in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls.
Ellie has worked at North Shore Pediatric Therapy (NSPT) since June 2022. Before starting at NSPT, Ellie participated in two full-time internships in her last semester of graduate school. These internships were in a school setting in Rochelle, IL and a skilled nursing facility setting in Manitowoc, Wi. Her greatest area of interest includes implementing high- and low-tech augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and expressive and receptive language disorders. Ellie has a history of working as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and has a large passion to work with this population.
Angela Gonzales, COTA/L received her associate's degree and certification from Wright College. As a certified occupational therapy assistant at North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Angela provides interventions for children to develop physical, cognitive, and sensory skills to help them play, improve school performance, and increase independence in daily living activities.
For Angela, creating a positive experience for the child is the most rewarding part of the job, and loves doing crafts with kiddos. Angela's passion for occupational therapy can be traced back to her childhood, when she observed her little brother's occupational and physical therapy sessions. Ask her about painting - it’s her secret talent. When Angela is not keeping busy with occupational therapy, you can find her going for hikes.
Angela is a pediatric occupational therapist who received her degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Biology. She graduated cum laude with her Master’s in Occupational Therapy at the University of St. Augustine in Miami.
While in school, Angela spent a vast amount of time volunteering at a children’s hospital, which confirmed her passion and joy for the pediatric population. She is certified as an Early Intervention Specialist in the state of Illinois and Angela’s clinical experiences include inpatient pediatrics, outpatient pediatrics, early intervention, and the school environment. Angela is passionate about making each session child centered and creative with a holistic approach. Her main goal is to build a therapeutic relationship with the child and their family and work together to support all areas of development, to provide the overall best quality care.
When Angela is not working with kids, you can find her enjoying fitness activities in the neighborhood or cooking up a new recipe!
Elizabeth Habisohn is an ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist licensed in the State of Illinois. She earned her bachelor's degree in psychology at Marquette University, in Milwaukee and then earned her master's degree in Speech & Hearing Sciences from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Elizabeth has been working at North Shore Pediatric Therapy since August 2021. She has experience working with children from 12 months to 16 years of age in the clinical setting and elementary school setting. She has worked with children and young adults to address expressive and receptive language skills, early language skills, articulation and phonological disorders, fluency disorders and implementing high- and low-tech augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and working with children with autism spectrum disorder.
Lalaine Halum is an ASHA certified speech-language pathologist (CCC-SLP) licensed in Illinois. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Elmhurst University in Communication Sciences and Disorders, and her Master of Health Science Degree from Governors State University in Communication Disorders in Science.
Lalaine has worked at North Shore Pediatric Therapy (NSPT) since October 2023. Prior to working at NSPT, Lalaine worked at an outpatient pediatric clinic with children between 1-year to 16-years-old. She has experience treating children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Down Syndrome, velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI), receptive and expressive language disorders, articulation/phonological disorders, fluency disorders as well as implementing high- and low-tech augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).
Caitlyn received her Associates in Arts at Joliet Junior College, and Bachelor’s of Science in Speech and Hearing from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
As a Speech Language Pathologist Assistant at North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Caitlyn provides Speech Therapy services and assists her clinical director and SLP with their caseloads and current Speech clients. For Caitlyn, seeing her clients grow and achieve their goals is the most rewarding part of the job, and she loves creating an exciting environment for her clients. Caitlyn’s passion for speech can be traced back to her little sister with autism, and she has always wanted to help people the way other therapists have helped her sister!
When Caitlyn is not keeping busy with clients in the center, you can find her working out or walking her dog!
Paige Huffman is an ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist licensed in the state of Illinois. Paige attended James Madison University for her undergraduate degree, where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She then moved to Washington D.C. where she earned her Master of Arts degree in Speech-Language Pathology at The George Washington University (GWU). Paige has worked at North Shore Pediatric Therapy (NSPT) since June of 2022.
Prior to working at NSPT, Paige worked at different skilled nursing facilities in the Chicago area, where she completed her clinical fellowship. Paige has experience working with pediatric population from her two externships at GWU. One was working at a college preparatory public school for grades Pre-k to 1st. The second placement was a school specialized for children with behavioral health needs and developmental disabilities working with 8-22 years old. She has experience addressing receptive and expressive language disorders, social-pragmatic disorders, articulation and phonological disorders, voice disorders, and swallowing disorders. Her areas of interest involve evaluating and treating receptive and expressive language disorders, speech sound production and early intervention treatment.
cora.hulten@kidsblossom.com
Cora Hulten is a certified speech-language pathologist (CCC-SLP) with experience and passion for working with the pediatric population. She earned her Bachelor of Arts and Sciences degree from the University of Iowa in Communication Sciences and Disorders and her Master of Science degree from Rush University in Speech Language Pathology.
Cora has spent the last year servicing a diverse pediatric population at PT Solutions, an outpatient setting affiliated with UChicago Medicine Advent Health Hinsdale Hospital. There she treated children birth to 18 years of age who presented with oral-motor deficits, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, receptive and expressive language disorders, articulation/phonological impairments, and voice and fluency disorders. Cora has additional experience working with children in elementary schools and with infants and adults in inpatient hospital settings at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois.
Cora is accredited by the American Speech-Language- Hearing Association (ASHA). Cora strongly believes in tailoring treatment specifically to each child's needs and working with families to support them in meeting their goals
Amanda earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Speech and Hearing Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and her Master of Health Science degree in Communication Disorders from Governors State University. She is a licensed speech-language pathologist in Illinois and New York and has earned her Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) from the American Speech–Language–Hearing Association (ASHA).
Amanda is passionate about servicing patients across the lifespan. She strives to implement enjoyable and engaging treatment sessions to enhance the learning process and see how speech and language therapy positively impacts the lives of her patients. Amanda has experience working with both children and adults with a wide array of disorders in various settings. Some of her clinical experiences include providing speech and language therapy to children with autism, articulation and phonological disorders, language disorders, and childhood apraxia of speech in the pediatric outpatient and school settings. Additionally, she has experience providing speech, language, cognitive, and swallowing therapy to adults following cerebrovascular accidents, traumatic brain injuries, and/or other diseases of neurogenic origin in the acute and subacute care settings.
Amanda is eager to learn and continually seeks out the latest research and therapy techniques that she can incorporate into sessions with her clients. She is enthusiastic about working alongside patients and their families to create a memorable and positive experience in speech therapy.
Elisa received her Bachelor of Arts from Calvin University, and a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Midwestern University. As a Physical Therapist at North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Elisa provides therapy that works on strength, flexibility, gross motor skills (walking, running, jumping, hopping, ball skills, etc), and more!
For Elisa, seeing kids become stronger is the most rewarding part of the job, and she loves designing games that work toward clients' goals while having fun. Elisa has done volunteer work with children since the 6th grade and even worked as a Montessori teacher's assistant. Elisa has a pet gecko and likes to draw pictures of him in different hats. Her favorite sport is rock climbing with her friends.
Justine Kelley is a licensed social worker (LSW) with a passion for working with young children and adolescents. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education from DePaul University in 2019 and her Master of Social Work degree from Loyola University Chicago in 2021 with a specialization in Children and Families.
Justine has experience working with children and adolescents in the school system both in private and public schools on an individual and community level. She has been able to work with children who presented with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, depression, anxiety, trauma, learning disabilities, and many other areas of mental health. She is working towards her LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) certification. Justine is especially interested in how play and family dynamics impact and enhance pediatric mental health. She integrates play, art, and holistic approaches as evidence-based practices to provide a well-rounded and effective treatment approach.
When Justine isn’t working, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family, trying new restaurants, or practicing her photography skills.
Yurie Kim is a board-certified occupational therapist who received her doctorate degree through Rush University in 2020. During her time at Rush, she had many opportunities to pursue her life-long interest in working with children. This includes assisting the Autism Assessment, Research, Treatment & Services (AARTS) Center with research on autism spectrum disorder and reciprocal imitation, partnering with UCAN Academy of Chicago to conduct her capstone research project on the effects of trauma on sensory processing and self-regulation, and even completing a clinical rotation with North Shore Pediatric Therapy.
When not at work, Yurie enjoys baking, knitting/crocheting, gardening, and taking walks along the lakeshore.
Katy has worked as an occupational therapist at North Shore Pediatric Therapy since December 2022. She received her Master's in Occupational Therapy (MOT) degree from Concordia University-Wisconsin in 2016.
Prior to NSPT, Katy worked in another pediatric outpatient clinic and has also worked in public, private, and therapeutic schools. Professionally, she is interested in promoting functional independence in activities of daily living, visual perception, and executive functioning skills with her clients. Katy is certified in the S.O.S. Approach to Feeding and enjoys working with clients on their feeding therapy goals. Academically, she has mentored OT students in their fieldwork placements and clinical internships. Katy is involved with professional organizations such as the Illinois Occupational Therapy Association (ILOTA) and American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). She also sometimes volunteers with The Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association (GLASA) to provide access to adaptive sports and equipment for individuals with physical and visual impairments.
In her free time, Katy enjoys knitting, cooking, gardening, and riding her bike in the warmer months.
Robert Lemus received his Bachelors in Arts in Justice Studies from Northeastern Illinois University, and a Masters in Social Work from Northeastern Illinois University.
As a MH counselor at North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Robert Lemus provides mental health counseling to children with a wide variety of challenges such as Autism, ADHD, Anxiety disorders, and mood disorders through different therapeutic modalities such as person centered therapy, behavior therapy , Cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy and play therapy.
For Robert Lemus, establishing a therapeutic relationship with his clients and watching them blossom is the most rewarding part of the job, and he enjoys learning each clients unique story, personality, and strengths .
Robert Lemus's passion for social work can be traced back to when he was a child, when he would learn many life skills of perspective taking, setting boundaries, reading social cues, asking for help, and self regulation through play and the support of family and friends.
When Robert Lemus is not keeping busy with MH counseling, you can find him spending time with family, exercising, spending time in nature and traveling the world.
Betty Lupia is an ASHA certified speech-language pathologist licensed in Illinois. Betty attended Elmhurst University in Elmhurst, Illinois where she received her undergraduate degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders in 2017. She graduated with her master’s degree in speech-language pathology from Midwestern University in 2019.
Betty has been working as a pediatric speech-language pathologist at North Shore Pediatric Therapy (NSPT) since August of 2021. Prior to working at NSPT, Betty worked as a contracted SLP for U-46 in Elgin where she worked with students pre-k through 8th grade in general, exceptional needs, and autism population classrooms. Her areas of competence and interest include: programming and developing of low tech and high-tech AAC systems, DTTC for treatment of childhood apraxia of speech, diagnosis and treatment of phonological/articulation disorders, diagnosis and treatment of language disorders ages 18 months-21 years, diagnosis and treatment of childhood fluency disorders.
Christina received her Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Iowa and her Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Rush University in Chicago.
As a Speech-Language Pathologist at North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Christina provides evaluation and intervention services for kids with a variety of communication disorders. She enjoys supporting not only children, but their whole families in the therapy process. For Christina, the most rewarding part of the job is making meaningful connections with families and supporting their ability to communicate about their shared experiences.
When Christina is not keeping busy finding creative ways to help families meet their communication goals, you will probably find her at the library with her kids. She enjoys listening to audiobooks and podcasts, spending time with her family, baking, and learning how to crochet.
Marissa received her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Rush University and a Bachelors of Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. As an Occupational Therapist at North Shore Pediatric Therapies, Marissa provides occupational therapy services to children with a variety of diagnoses and abilities. For Marissa, collaborating with families and empowering clients to participate in everyday activities are the most rewarding parts of the job.
Marissa’s passion for OT can be traced back to working for 7 years at a summer camp for children with physical and developmental disabilities. When Marissa is not at work, you can find her reading, walking on the lakefront, or trying new restaurants!
Guadalupe Mercado is a board-certified occupational therapist with experience working with the pediatric population. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Carroll University with an emphasis on public health and a minor in Psychology. Also, she earned her master's in occupational therapy from Carroll University.
Guadalupe has practiced with the pediatric population in various settings such as outpatient rehabilitation, hippotherapy, school, daycare, and clinic. Within these sites, she has treated children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, coordination disorders, developmental delay, and sensory processing disorders. Guadalupe has taken continuing education courses including the SOS Approach to Feeding and Interoception-based course.
When not at work, Guadalupe enjoys hanging out with family and friends, going on vacation, concerts, working out, cooking, and reading.
Maelah Nadeau grew up in Southern Maine with her large family of six. She graduated from Nazareth College in Rochester, NY with her Master’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology.
As a Speech-Language Pathologist at North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Maelah provides speech-language therapy services to children with a variety of complex communication needs. She enjoys working with children and their families to enhance participation in everyday settings.
When Maelah is not at work, you can find her outside hiking, skiing, swimming; playing tennis, pickleball, or cribbage; or competing in any sort of lawn game activity
Monica O'Connor, MS, OTR/L has been practicing occupational therapy since 2017. Monica has worked in clinic and home-based settings supporting children with Autism, ADHD, Sensory Processing Disorder, and executive functioning difficulties. Monica graduated from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana in 2015 with a bachelor's degree in molecular and Cellular Biology. She earned her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2017. Through her professional experience, she understands the importance of collaboration with other professionals and families. She has completed the following continuing education trainings among others: Learn Play Thrive Approach to Autism, DIR 101, Vision in Pediatric Therapy, Kelly Mahler’s Interoception Training, Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT), and SCERTS.
A North Shore native, she currently lives in Chicago. In her free time, she enjoys running, reading, swimming in the lake, and spending time with her family.
Francesca Orlando received her Master of Occupational Therapy from Elmhurst University, and a bachelor’s degree of science from Central Michigan University. As an Occupational Therapist at North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Francesca provides compassionate, as well as fun and engagement treatments.
For Francesca, being with the kids is the most rewarding part of the job, and she enjoys making new connections people. Francesca’s passion for OT can be traced back to undergrad when she volunteered for a summer camp working closely with other OTs. When Francesca is not keeping busy with work, you can find her swimming, painting, and playing with her dog.
Alex Pattullo is an ASHA certified speech-language pathologist licensed in Illinois. She completed a bachelor’s degree in Linguistics, with a Spanish minor, from the University of Kentucky and earned a post-baccalaureate certificate in speech-language pathology. She then earned her Master of Arts degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI.
Alex returned to NSPT as a core therapist, after previously working as a BT at the Lincolnwood clinic from 2019-2020. After completing her graduate studies, Alex worked as a contracted SLP for District 60 in Waukegan with students aged kindergarten through 5th grade in monolingual/dual-language English-Spanish general, exceptional needs, and autism population classrooms. She has experience working with children between 3 years to 13 years of age in elementary school and clinical settings. She has worked with clients to address expressive and receptive language disorders, articulation and phonological disorders, fluency disorders, implementing high- and low-tech augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Her areas of interest include evaluating and treating expressive and receptive language disorders, speech sound disorders, early intervention, childhood fluency disorders, and programming and developing low tech and high-tech AAC systems.
Rachel Porritt is an ASHA certified speech-language pathologist licensed in Illinois. Rachel attended The University of Wisconsin-Madison for her undergraduate degree, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communicative Sciences & Disorders. She moved to Chicago to attend Rush University for her graduate studies, where she earned her Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology.
Rachel has been working as a pediatric speech-language pathologist for the last 7 years and has been working at North Shore Pediatric Therapy (NSPT) since August 2017. Before working at NSPT, Rachel worked in Early Intervention to service children between the ages of birth - 3 years. Through Rachel’s years of experience, she has worked with children up to 19 years of age, addressing a wide range of speech-language and feeding disorders. She currently specializes in the evaluation and treatment of motor speech disorders and oral motor/sensory feeding disorders, and she is trained in PROMPT and SOS therapy.
Emily Quirarte-Landa received her Masters in Occupational Therapy from Chicago State University. As an Occupational Therapist at North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Emily provides Occupational Therapy services focusing on helping children build essential skills for daily life, including motor development, sensory processing, self-care, social participation, and emotional regulation.
For Emily, seeing kiddos progress is the most rewarding part of the job, and she loves to create a client centered plan to meet goals. Emily's passion for pediatrics can be traced back to when she was in kindergarten. Ask her about anything. She has had a lot of experiences and can probably relate! When Emily is not keeping busy with work, you can find her cooking, baking, working out, painting, or watching a show/movie.
Alan Sadural is a board-certified occupational therapist with experience working with the pediatric population. He earned his Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) in 2021. He also studied at UIC and holds two Bachelor of Science degrees in Rehabilitation Sciences and Disability and Human Development. In addition to working in pediatrics, Alan has experience working with adults with developmental disabilities in the home health and outpatient rehabilitation settings.
Alan has worked with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, coordination disorders, developmental delays, and sensory processing differences. In his free time, Alan enjoys traveling, watching movies, tending to plants/pets, and playing guitar.
Melissa Schmitz is a board-certified occupational therapist who earned her Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She also holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana in developmental psychology.
Melissa has experience working in public schools, therapeutic day schools, and outpatient pediatric clinics. During her undergrad she worked as a Registered Behavior Technician and paraprofessional helping students with disabilities reach their maximum potential. She has experience working with clients with a variety of diagnoses including autism spectrum disorders (ASD), cerebral palsy (CP), attention-deficit hyperactivity-disorder (ADHD), sensory processing challenges, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and global developmental delay among others. She values building loyal relationships with clients and their families.
When not working, she enjoys spending her time with family and friends and staying active.
Ashley Schroeder is an ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist licensed in Illinois. Ashley attended the University of Iowa and earned her bachelor's degree in communication sciences and Disorders. She earned her Master of Science degree in Communication Disorders at Arizona State University. Ashley has experience working with children from 3 years of age through transition age within home and school settings. Ashley completed her clinical fellowship in Mesa, AZ at a preparatory academy working with students from kindergarten through 12th grade. During her time in Arizona, she also worked for home health, providing treatment and evaluations for children between the ages of 3-15.
Since returning to Illinois, Ashley has worked for a special education cooperative, where she serves students from kindergarten through transition age within the school setting. Ashley has worked with clients to address expressive and receptive language disorders, articulation and phonological disorders, fluency disorders, pragmatic language deficits, and implementing high- and low-tech augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Ashley has a passion for working with all clients including children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Cassie Schulz is a board-certified occupational therapist who received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Kentucky and her doctorate degree in occupational therapy from Kettering College (KC).
Although she enjoyed working with a variety of populations and settings during her time at KC, her heart has always been in pediatrics. Her love for kids began as a teenager while working as a dance assistant and continued during her pediatric-focused volunteer opportunities throughout college. As a children’s swim instructor, she taught kids of all ages and abilities, with an emphasis on developing and implementing curricula for children with sensory processing disorder (SPD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and down syndrome. She also developed and provided an aquatic program for those diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy (CP) while completing her clinical rotation at Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH) outpatient clinic. She gained invaluable experience from the staff and clients at NCH, where she worked with children with a variety of conditions, including ASD, SPD, CP, down syndrome, attention-deficit hyperactivity-disorder, cortical visual deficit, paroxysmal dystonia, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and developmental and intellectual disabilities. Although she enjoys working with children of all abilities, she has a special interest in treating kids with sensory processing, emotional regulation, and executive functioning difficulties.
Outside of work, Cassie enjoys reading by the lake, exploring the city, and spending time with friends and family.
Laurie Sharp received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at The American University in Washington D.C. and received her Masters of Social Work at Loyola University in Chicago. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Laurie provides mental health services to children ages 5-18. When not at work, Laurie enjoys spending time with family, friends, and her cat Coco.
Drea received her Bachelor of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Elmhurst College in 2015, and a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Midwestern University in 2017. She has been a part of the NSPT team for the past seven years, providing support and building connections with families at our Lake Bluff, Evanston, Des Plaines, and Bucktown locations.
As a speech therapist and certified lactation consultant at North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Drea loves helping families with their little one’s feeding journey. She specializes in working with newborns develop oral motor skills for breastfeeding and bottle feeding as well as supporting children aged 6 months and older when transitioning to solid foods.
For Drea, seeing parents’ confidence grow as their child reaches their feeding goals is the most rewarding part of the job. She loves making mealtime a fun and positive experience by utilizing a personalized, family-centered approach. When Drea is not keeping busy with helping her families “blossom”, you can find her in a yoga class or at Costco checking out the Christmas trees and trying all the great samples.
Stephanie received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from Marquette University. She is a licensed speech-language pathologist in Illinois and has earned her Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) from the American Speech–Language–Hearing Association (ASHA).
Stephanie has worked at NSPT since July 2019. Through her years of experience, she has worked with individuals from 12 months to 104 years of age, addressing a wide range of speech-language, cognition, and feeding/swallowing disorders. Prior to working at NSPT, Stephanie worked with adults at a skilled nursing facility and at a different outpatient pediatrics clinic.
Stephanie is passionate about servicing clients with highly varying needs. She specializes in evaluating and establishing communication using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices for non-speaking, minimally-speaking or apraxic individuals. She is also passionate about working with autism spectrum disorder and language disorders. Stephanie has years of experiences diagnosing and treating articulation and phonological disorders, childhood apraxia of speech, and mixed language disorders. She also has experience providing speech, language, cognitive, and swallowing therapy to adults following cerebrovascular accidents, traumatic brain injuries, or other neurogenic diseases/disorders.
Michelle earned her Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Elmhurst University and went on to complete her Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology at Lewis University. As a dedicated Speech-Language Pathologist at North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Michelle provides comprehensive evaluations and individualized therapy for children with a wide range of communication challenges.
Michelle finds the most fulfillment in witnessing the progress her clients make and the impact it has on their families. She values building strong relationships with each child and their caregivers, taking the time to learn about their unique interests and incorporating them into therapy sessions to make them both effective and engaging. Michelle is a strong advocate for collaborative care and works closely with professionals across disciplines to ensure a holistic and consistent approach that supports each child’s overall development.
Her passion for supporting children began during her time working at the YMCA, where she discovered the joy of helping children of all abilities grow and succeed in their communities.
Outside the clinic, Michelle enjoys spending time with her three dogs, creating handmade décor, and photographing nature at local zoos and arboretums.
Diane Weidner, OTD/R received her doctorate degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Montana through Rehab Essentials, and her master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Rush University in Chicago. As an occupational therapist at North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Diane provides therapy to children with sensory processing, visual-motor, and/or fine motor delays, and she also conducts evaluations and collaborates with other staff on client care.
For Diane, building a therapeutic relationship with children using a client-centered approach is the most rewarding part of the job, and she enjoys seeing clients grow in their skills and abilities.
Diane’s passion for occupational therapy can be traced back to her student fieldwork experiences in an outpatient pediatric clinic, where she developed her enthusiasm for using both her creativity and clinical reasoning skills in tandem to provide engaging treatment interventions for children in individual and group settings.
When Diane is not keeping busy with occupational-therapy-related planning and research, she enjoys reading, streaming movies, daydreaming about her next travel plans, taking walks in the local forest preserves, and spending time with her husband and two cats.
Anna Zahn is a licensed physical therapist who is excited and passionate about serving the pediatric population, as she has always wanted to work with children since she herself was a child. She earned her Associate of Applied Science degree from Gateway Technical College and began work as a physical therapist assistant in 2018. She went on to complete a Bachelor of Applied Health Science degree at University of Wisconsin–Parkside, and continued her education further by achieving a Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in 2022.
Anna’s previous pediatric experiences include a 12-week clerkship at Little Steps in Highland Park, Illinois where she treated children who presented with torticollis, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, developmental delays, hypotonia, seizure disorders, orthopedic injuries, and a variety of rare genetic disorders. She also participated in the Early Intervention program, assisting the treatment of children aged 0 to 3 years old in the child’s home or a neutral environment. When she’s not working with kids, she enjoys her hobbies of creative writing, reading, crafting, and being active.
At times, children require support with tasks that are challenging for them or might have a medical condition that demands extra guidance with behaviors and activities both at home and school. Remember, a child's primary "job" is to play and interact with their peers and adults! A pediatric OT can be valuable for a child to focus on:
Each of our individual therapy rooms is equipped to target your child's unique goals through one-on-one sessions with your child's Behavior Therapist.
These private spaces allow your child to focus and make progress on language, communication, academics, cognitive skills, emotional regulation, and more.
Our gyms are some of our clients' most-loved spaces. They feature several kid-favorite activities, including swings, trapeze bars, slides, balls, and many other games.
Our gym spaces target strength, balance, coordination, and sensory processing in an environment of play.
Our sensory rooms support clients in regulation and focus, tailored to your child's individual needs.
A sensory room is a safe environment designed to provide individuals the opportunity to decompress and cope with a variety of sensory experiences. Many of our kids find comfort in our sensory rooms while developing their visual, auditory, and tactile processing skills.
We have several classroom-style spaces to help our clients with group instruction, following directions, imitation skills, and parallel play.
Classrooms provide clients with readiness for their own school journey, in addition to opportunities for socialization and group learning.
Our centers feature a variety of stations for activities that kids love. These include corners for reading, playing, and practicing real-world skills for inside and outside the home.
Our centers are built around learning spaces for clients to offer support with improving and practicing daily living skills.
Our infant daughter was in physical therapy with Anna Zahn for about five months. Anna was consistent, patient, and wonderful with our daughter. Anna was also clear in her communications with us as parents which helped us understand our daughter's progress and needs, as well as how we could help our daughter at home. While we are proud that our daughter graduated PT, we will miss Anna's warmth and kindness.
Emily
I love this place! Chista is an amazing person, so sweet and kind and very professional in her work. All staff are very kind with children. I feel happy to find this place for my daughter. Thank you!!!
Maria Di Rita
I cannot say enough nice things about the staff! My son worked with Khadija as his ABA therapist and is finishing up this week with his OT, Sabrina. They were really instrumental in helping us navigate a new diagnosis. Both were so easy to approach with questions. From Leeann at the front desk to the RBTs (Alex, Rabbia, Molly, and many others), we always felt so welcomed. It seems like the staff genuinely enjoy their jobs, consistently offering feedback and suggestions on how to help my son.
Jennifer Peyer
We have been working with the amazing team at NSPT for many years. They have been essential in understanding and supporting our child. I recommend their services to anyone looking for their specific type of support.Posted to
Monica Terése Carranza
They are so sweet and kinds persons with professionalism and really worried about the kids and how help they to get new skills and moving forward with knowledge.
Alejandra M.
NSPT is fantastic! All of the staff are wonderful, accomodating, and make you feel welcome and comfortable. Alan is fantastic - he has helped our family tremendously and has such patience and purpose in everything he does.
Alex Ehrhardt
North Shore Pediatric Therapy has been amazing. They have done a great job adjusting to the specific needs of my autistic child.
Matt Nakanishi
My 12 yr old son has a lovely support team in Robert (Social Work) and Lindsay (OT)! He gains so much from his sessions & I gain so much from the communication and brainstorming! Thanks!
Jennie Meyer
ABA Therapy, Multi-Disciplinary Therapies, and Neuropsychology in 12 Chicagoland Locations
