Liza received her Bachelors of Arts in Speech and Hearing Sciences with Minor in Psychology from Indiana University, and a Masters of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.
As a Regional Director and BCBA at North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Liza oversees the clinical operations of the Chicagoland locations, as well as provides internal clinical support to our BCBAs, leads the internal ABA apprenticeship fieldwork study program preparing students pursing their master’s in ABA to become BCBAs, and also serves as our internal ACE coordinator providing internal continuing education events to our team of BCBAs.
In addition to her role at NSPT, Liza also has served as an adjunct professor at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology teaching master’s courses to future BCBAs. For Liza, expanding the reach of our services to new communities and areas where there are limited options on comprehensive pediatric therapy providers is the most rewarding part of the job, and she loves growing the field through her work with student mentorship.
Liza's passion for pediatrics can be traced back to her 1birthday, when she started her own business teaching water safety skills and stroke lessons to children in her community.
Dr. Stasi is a 2005 graduate of the Illinois Institute of Technology. Over the years, Dr. Stasi has been published professionally and has given numerous presentations on Neuropsychology. Previously, Dr. Stasi was an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Behavioral Sciences at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, and an adjunct professor for The Illinois Institute of Technology.
In 2009, Dr. Stasi started the Neuropsychology and Testing Center for North Shore Pediatric Therapy. In his tenure, he has helped thousands of kids reach their fullest potential.
Rhiannon Law, Ph.D. is a graduate of Indiana University - Bloomington. She obtained her Master of Arts degree in Clinical/Counseling Psychology from Illinois State University and her undergraduate degree from Illinois Wesleyan University.
Dr. Law works closely with patients and their families to provide comprehensive assessments to inform diagnostic impressions and to guide broader treatment planning.
Angel David, Psy.D. obtained her Masters and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from George Fox University in Newberg, OR. She completed her internship in Child and Adolescent Neuropsychology and Educational Testing at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, CA, and post-doctoral training in Pediatric Neuropsychology at Ascension Health in Hoffman Estates, IL.
Dr. David specializes in neuropsychological evaluations for ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), mood/behavioral concerns, learning disabilities, developmental delays, and complex medical conditions, with toddlers, children, and adolescents. Dr. David works with families by providing comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations to aid in diagnostic clarification and to better connect them with appropriate services for treatment.
Stephanie Sorrentino, M.S., CCC-SLP, is a board-certified pediatric speech-language pathologist and clinical leader from North Shore Pediatric Therapy. Stephanie obtained her bachelor’s and master's degrees in Speech-Language Pathology at Eastern Illinois University. Stephanie completed her clinical fellowship with EBS Healthcare and Northwestern Medicine’s Department of Rehabilitation Services.
Stephanie's expertise lies in working with children on the autism spectrum. She takes special interest in augmentative/alternative communication, pediatric feeding/swallowing disorders, childhood apraxia of speech, language processing disorders, and ADHD. She has extensive experience with clinical program development, directing multidisciplinary teams, and designing clinical training programs.
Stephanie is an early intervention specialist, SOS feeding trained, and a DIR/Floortime certified practitioner. She enjoys conducting educational webinars for parents, clinical mentoring, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Ryan Emry received his Bachelor of Science from The Illinois Institute of Technology, and his Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.
As an Area Director at North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Ryan works as a clinician while also supporting a great team of Behavior Therapists, Behavior Analysts, Speech Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, and Physical Therapists, across multiple centers.
For Ryan, watching our children learn and grow is the most rewarding part of the job.
When Ryan is not keeping busy at the clinic, you can find him spending time with his wife and two amazing daughters.
Lainie Cohen received her Bachelor’s in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Michigan State University and her Master’s in Behavior Analysis from Simmons University in Boston. As a Center Director at North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Lainie provides supervision and mentorship to a team of great therapists including BCBAs, OTs, Mental Health, and Speech Therapists. She also provides supervision to field work students as they study to become a BCBA and oversees the day to day operations at the Des Plaines center.
For Lainie, increasing clients' functional communication is the most rewarding part of the job, as well as watching therapists grow in the field. Lainie is passionate about supervising and teaching individuals who have an interest in the ABA field, as well as parents, to gain more knowledge regarding implementing skill acquisition goals and behavior intervention plans.
When Lainie is not busy at the center, you can find her trying new restaurants with her husband!
Kailee Chonko received her Bachelor’s degree in Human Development from Illinois State University in 2011 and Master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis from Ball State University University in 2017. As a BCBA and Center Director at North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Kailee oversees and provides services to children with autism, as well as provides supervision and mentorship to BCBAs and BCBA students, RBTs, and speech, occupational, and mental health therapists.
Kailee's passion for helping children can be traced back to high school, when she began babysitting for a neighbor with special needs. For Kailee, seeing progress with her clients and watching them grow is the most rewarding part of the job, and she loves working with little ones who are just beginning their ABA journey.
When Kailee is not keeping busy with her clients, you can find her at the beach or exploring the city!
Annaluisa received a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management from the University of Houston, and a Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis from Ball State University. As an ABA Clinical Director at North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Annaluisa oversees the ABA Department at the Deerfield Clinic, and she also supports her clients and the professional growth of the team.
For Annaluisa, seeing the clients' progress is the most rewarding part of the job, and she enjoys collaborating with parents, therapists and her client's teachers to attain generalization of skills across settings. Annaluisa's passion for pediatric therapy can be traced back to 2019, when her son participated in feeding, speech and occupational therapy.
When Annaluisa is not keeping busy with supporting her clients and the clinical team, you can find her visiting unique family friendly experiences with her husband and son. Ask her about how to order the best items from a menu at restaurants. It’s her secret talent!
Kayleen received her Masters in Applied Behavior Analysis from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, and a Bachelor's in Psychology from St. Leo University. As a Clinical Director at North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Kayleen oversees the ABA department at Lake Bluff as well as the Diversity, Equity Inclusion and Belonging Committee (DEIB).
For Kayleen, client progress is the most rewarding part of the job. She loves providing mentorship to students and Behavior Therapists to reach their true potential. Kayleen's passion for pediatric therapy can be traced back to 2005, when her baby brother received OT, and SLP services.
Ask her about how to dance - it’s her secret talent! When Kayleen is not keeping busy with her Lake Bluff Team, you can find her on a run, or traveling with her husband and beautiful daughters.
Dr. Jeremy H. Greenberg, BCBA-D received three masters degrees and his doctorate from Teachers College Columbia University. As a Clinical Director with North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Jeremy oversees the applied behavior analysis services as well as therapists in the Glenview center for all of the clients and families.
For Dr. Greenberg, empowering behavior analysts, therapists and parents with strategies and tactics from the science of applied behavior analysis to improve the quality of life for children with special education needs and their families is the most rewarding part of the job. He enjoys the process of working with teams towards common goals.
Dr. Greenberg has a passion for evidence-based interventions and research in the field that can be traced back to his administrative and clinical posts in Hong Kong and New York. When Jeremy is not keeping busy with the clients and therapists in Glenview, you can find him making images through photography or behind the decks, DJing.
Chelsey Harmon received her Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Health Services with a minor in Holistic Health from Western Michigan University, and a Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis from Ball State University.
As a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and Center Director at North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Chelsey oversees the clinical and operational practices at the Naperville, IL location, and provides supervision to Registered Behavior Technicans and field work students.
For Chelsey, hearing about the successes and wins of clients from her team members is the most rewarding part of the job, and she loves being able to help her team grow and achieve their goals.
Chelsey's passion for working with the pediatric/autistic community, can be traced back to her childhood years where she became very close with a family friend through church who was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Throughout Chelsey’s undergraduate years, she worked with children in daycare centers and before and after school programs. After her undergrad, Chelsey worked as a Behavior Therapist working with adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder. After a year there, she knew she wanted to become a BCBA!
When Chelsey is not keeping busy with her work at NSPT, you can find her binging the newest Netflix shows, hopping on her Peloton, and spending time with her fiance and family.
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!
Simone Light is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) who specializes in pediatrics, particularly early intervention. She earned her bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Applied Behavioral Sciences, with an emphasis on Early Childhood Education and Intervention, from the University of Kansas in 2018. There, she spent nearly three years teaching in an ABA-inclusive preschool classroom, working on various research projects as an undergraduate research assistant, and providing 1:1 support to autistic clients.
Simone completed her master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis at the Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment at the University of Missouri in 2020. There she spent two years as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) working in the Severe Behavior Clinic, conducting Functional Analysis (FAs) for those who needed it throughout the state of Missouri, assisting, and conducting her own research, and accruing hours to become aBCBA.
Since becoming a BCBA in 2020, Simone has worked in a variety of settings, including pre-schools, schools, homes, clinics, and throughout the community. Simone approaches ABA through a neuro-affirming, child-led, trauma-informed, and strength-based lens.
Kelly received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Notre Dame and her Master of Arts in Behavior Analysis from Western Michigan University. As a Clinical Director at North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Kelly oversees the BCBAs and RBTs in the Vernon Hills clinic and provides support to all clients and families in the Vernon Hills location.
From the time she was a child, Kelly always knew she wanted to work with children. After loving her Intro to Psychology course in high school, she wanted to find a way to blend these two passions. As a sophomore psychology student at Notre Dame, she took a practicum course and was assigned to be an ABA therapist for a little boy with autism. She immediately knew she found her calling and never looked back! The most rewarding part of the job for Kelly is helping children achieve milestones and skills that are the most meaningful to their families.
When Kelly is not in the clinic, you are most likely to find her at one of her three children's sporting events or curled up with an historical fiction novel. Unless it's a Saturday during football season when she's cheering on the Fighting Irish!
Cara Newman is an occupational therapist certified through the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy. She earned her Master's in Occupational Therapy from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2013 and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
As OT and PT Clinical Director at NSPT, Cara provides services to clients as well as clinical mentorship and support to the OT and PT team scompany wide. Cara’s interest in using her movement knowledge in a therapeutic setting started while supporting a therapeutic dance program based out of the Krannert Center for Performing Arts in Urbana, Illinois. Cara has worked with pediatric populations for her entire career, starting in Early Intervention (0-3) and transitioning to working both in outpatient pediatrics as well as an intensive therapeutic PreK & Kindergarten program prior to starting at NSPT.
Cara has experience working with clients with a variety of diagnoses including Autism, ADHD, Cerebral Palsy, CHARGE Syndrome, Down Syndrome, Dyspraxia, Global Developmental Delay, PURA Syndrome, Spina Bifida, and Sensory Processing Differences among others. Cara enjoys using developmental movement concepts to help her clients accomplish their goals. When not working, Cara is likely reading or running.
Stefanie Platt received her Bachelors of Science from Indiana University, and her Masters of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. As a Center Director at North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Stefanie oversees the operations at the Arlington Heights center while also supervising a great team of staff. Stefanie also provides behavior analytic services directly to clients.
For Stefanie, watching the children make progress and helping the families learn is the most rewarding part of the job, and she loves supervising fieldwork students whose goal are to become Board Certified Behavior Analysts.
When Stefanie is not keeping busy with the center, you can find her spending time with her husband, daughter, and dog!
Stephanie Ryczewicz, M.S., BCBA, received her Bachelors of Science in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Wisconsin - Madison and her Masters of Science in ABA from National Louis University.
As a Clinical Director at North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Stephanie oversees the ABA department at the Elmhurst center. For Stephanie, watching clients progress and witnessing them learning new skills is the most rewarding part of her job. She is passionate about socially-valid interventions that are going to make a true and positive impact on her client's lives. Stephanie also loves mentoring therapists, students and future BCBAs!
When Stephanie is not keeping busy at NSPT, you can find her at Pilates classes, reading a good book, or trying all the newest restaurants in Chicago!
Ashley received her master's degree in behavior analysis as well as her bachelors degrees' in psychology and women and gender studies from Western Michigan University.
As a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) at North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Ashley oversees the clinical and operational practices of the Bucktown (Chicago) location, as well provides supervision to Registered Behavior Technicians and field work students.
For Ashley, hearing about client successes from their families is the most rewarding part of the job. She loves being able to cheer on her clients and celebrate their victories!
Ashley's passion for working within the field of behavior analysis can be traced back to her undergraduate years at WMU, where she was initially introduced to the field of ABA. Ashley's first practicum experience was in an early childhood classroom. During this time, Ashley worked one-on-one with the children. She was able to see the clients make strides and knew then that she was meant for this career.
When Ashley is not keeping busy with her work at NSPT, you can find her in a Zumba class, playing fetch with her cats, or traveling the Midwest to visit family and friends.
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!
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.
Kara received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at Marquette University, and a Master of Science in Behavior Analysis at Marquette University. As a BCBA at North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Kara oversees implementation of behavior intervention plans and provides caregiver training on procedures related to client progress goals.
For Kara, watching clients progress and continue to accomplish their goals is the most rewarding part of the job, and she loves teaching language and social skills. Kara’s passion can be traced back to her love for working with children.
Ask her about her video games. It’s her hidden talent. When Kara is not keeping busy, you can find her snuggled up by her computer playing video games or playing with her dog.
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.
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.
Rachel received her B.S. in Psychology from the University of Louisville, and is currently enrolled in the M.S. Applied Behavior Analysis program at The Chicago School. As Assistant Clinical Coordinator at North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Rachel oversees and provides ABA services for our clients, as well as assists her clinic director, BCBAs, and RBTs with their caseloads and current ABA clients.
For Rachel, seeing a life skill "click" for a client for the first time is the most rewarding part of the job, and she loves to celebrate all of their successes with them. Rachel's passion for ABA can be traced back to her first conversation with a BCBA, when they told her about the differences that can be made in this field. The explanation of what a BCBA does lined up perfectly with what Rachel had in mind for her future.
When Rachel is not keeping busy with her clients in the clinic, you can find her laying in the sun with her Kindle in hand!
Jennifer received her bachelor's degree in psychology from University of Northern Illinois, and a master's degree in Applied Behavioral Analysis from Ball State University. As an LACC at North Shore Pediatric Therapy Jennifer is working as a student to gain supervision hours to sit for the BCBA exam. Jennifer receives direct supervision from her clinical director and is learning the skills required to become a BCBA. She assists in supporting a caseload under the guidance of her clinical director.
For Jennifer teaching life skills and functional communication is the most rewarding part of the job. She loves to watch clients gain new skills and see them gain independence. When Jennifer is not working at the center you can often find her reading or hiking.
Callie received her Master’s degree in Behavior Analysis and Therapy from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
For Callie, seeing client progress is the most rewarding part of the job, and she loves helping others find passion in their work. Callie's passion for working with kids can be traced back to high school, when she first started to volunteer with the Special Education program at her school.
When Callie is not keeping busy with the center, you can find her out to eat at fun restaurants in Chicago or playing catch with her dog!
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.
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 is a 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).
Suzanne Hemwall, M.A., BCBA received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and her Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis from Michigan State University.
As a BCBA at North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Suzanne provides behavior analytic services to clients and families and is passionate about celebrating each client and their strengths while teaching them skills to build their independence and autonomy in various aspects of their lives.
For Suzanne, seeing clients demonstrate skills for the first time is the most rewarding part of the job, and she enjoys collaborating with the family, client, therapists and other disciplines. Suzanne's passion for working with individuals with autism can be traced back to her internship at The Autism Program at University of Illinois, where she was introduced to the field of ABA and completed training to become an RBT.
When Suzanne is not at work, you can find her trying out different restaurants in Chicago with her friends' dinner club and cheering on the Chicago Blackhawks.
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
Dana Ignarski, MS, BCBA received her Master of Science degree with a specialization in Applied Behavior Analysis from Capella University in 2019. As a BCBA at North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Dana provides clinical recommendations and oversees teams of BTs to best support the growth of each client while they receive ABA services.
For Dana, client outcomes are the most rewarding part of the job and she also loves training RBTs and upcoming BCBAs in the field. Dana's passion for ABA therapy can be traced back to 2006 when she switched her Musical Theatre major in her undergraduate study to psychology and began her ABA career. Ask her about singing or yoga, these are her secret talents. When Dana is not keeping busy with her clients, you can find her kayaking and enjoying outdoors with her family of five.
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.
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.
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 Sore Pediatric Therapies, 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.
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
Kaitlynn received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Monmouth College, and her Master’s degree in Psychology with a specialization in Applied Behavior Analysis from Capella University. As a Board Certified Behavior Analyst at North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Kaitlynn oversees the implementation of behavior intervention programs for individuals with Autism and other developmental disabilities, as well as, developing behavior support plans and providing training and supervision to staff and caregivers.
For Kaitlynn, seeing the progress and watching parents’ reactions to the child doing something for the first time is the most rewarding part of the job. She enjoys sharing those special moments with parents.
Kaitlynn’s passion for working with children can be traced back to her early teen years, when she assisted teaching swim lessons, being a camp counselor and working in a drop-in daycare. Ask her just about anything Disney related, and she most likely knows the answers, it’s a special talent of her that help her connect with her clients. When Kaitlynn is not keeping busy with work, you can find her coaching her son’s t-ball team, catching up on a good book or curled up with her family watching a good movie.
As the Client Service Experience Specialist and Community Liaison at North Shore Pediatric Therapy, I work with all new or returning ABA therapy clients, whether newly diagnosed with Autism or families seeking a new ABA clinic. Additionally, with over 15 years of experience as a mom of a wonderful 15-year-old girl with intellectual disabilities and Autism, and as a nero diverse child advocate, I provide resources to our families. These resources range from parent support groups and accommodating activities around town to sports and camps for those seeking extracurricular activities beyond therapy. Helping families that are new to this journey has become a true passion of mine. My husband and I were blessed to receive tremendous support from our community in finding help and resources, and I have made it my mission to pay it forward!
When we are not attending or hosting a special needs event, you can find me learning about my Taino roots, listening and dancing to salsa music, exploring old and new art, reading, creating something of my own in the way of creating fun new popcorn flavors, or making fun handbags and jewelry! Of course, all in my spare time!
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.
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.
Madeleine (Maddie) Wiggins is the Lead Assistant Clinical Coordinator and a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) at North Shore Pediatric Therapy. Maddie works under the supervision of the Clinical Director, Simone Light, and supervises the RBT's who work one-on-one with the clients. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts, and her Master of Arts in Special Education and Applied Behavior Analysis from Arizona State University. Maddie has held her RBT credential for 4 years and has obtained over half of her BCBA fieldwork hours.
She has worked with children with Autism, Down Syndrome, and Cerebral Palsy for 15 years across various settings including schools (kindergarten through high-school grade levels), in-home services, and clinics. Maddie has vast experience training staff and helping individuals learn how to navigate speech generating devices and picture-exchange communication systems. She loves getting to see the progress that each child makes as a result of the services they are receiving and how that leads to greater independence and joy in their lives. She worked as an Inclusion Assistant for the North East DuPage Special Recreation Association creating and modifying camp activities to encourage the inclusion of each individual present to not only participate, but thrive at camp.
In her free time, you can find her enjoying the lakefront, sharing meals with family and friends, or walking her Labrador Retriever.
Our ABA centers are fully equipped with all the resources your child needs to have a blast while enhancing their skills. We are conveniently located in throughout the Chicago area, including Arlington Heights, Chicago (Bucktown), Deerfield, Des Plaines, Evanston, Glenview, Lake Bluff, Lincolnwood, Naperville, and Vernon Hills.
Whether you require the expertise of a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Behavioral Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Speech Therapist, our dedicated multi-disciplinary team is ready to offer exceptional support and treatment in a warm and friendly environment.
