Christine, MOT, OTR/L graduated with her Masters of Occupational Therapy degree from Chicago State University in December 2021 after receiving her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology at Eastern Illinois University Charleston in May 2017. Since graduating, Christine has primarily worked in school and outpatient pediatric settings. She has worked closely with clients with a variety of diagnoses including Down Syndrome, Autism, ADHD, Sensory Processing Disorder, and Developmentally Delayed. Her passion is to provide client-centered, play-based, and strength-based interventions to improve independence to help generalize skills across a variety of environments. In her spare time, Christine loves spending time with her friends and family, singing, traveling, exercising, going to concerts, and exploring new restaurants.

Katie O’Connor, MOT, OTR/L graduated with her Masters of Occupational Therapy degree from The University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee in December 2016 after receiving her Bachelor’s Degree in Community Health from the University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign in May 2014. Since graduating, Katie has primarily worked in the school setting supporting a variety of learners in a multitude of programs. She has worked closely with students with a variety of diagnoses including Down Syndrome, Autism, ODD, ADHD, and Developmentally Delayed. In addition to supporting fine and visual motor needs, Katie has worked closely with the various behavioral based programs, as well as the trauma-informed care program within her district. When not working, Katie loves spending time with her friends and family. She is constantly trying out new recipes in the kitchen or reading a new book. Her favorite thing to do on a long weekend is to explore new cities!

Natasha graduated with her Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree in May 2024 after receiving her Bachelor’s Degree in Behavior and Health with a Psychology minor at Boston University in 2020. Natasha has primarily worked in pediatric practice in outpatient, school, and day camp settings. She has worked closely with clients with a variety of diagnoses including ASD, Down Syndrome, Sensory Processing Disorder, Angelman’s Syndorme, and Global Developmental Delay, as well as clients with low vision. She values creating a safe and supportive environment for clients and their families to help them successfully participate in activities that are important to them.  When she is not working, Natasha enjoys reading, going for walks, working out, cooking, and spending time with her friends, family, and cat.

My name is Elizabeth Sapoznik and I am an Occupational Therapist. I love working with children and find it rewarding to see their gains from therapy. In the therapeutic environment, I find it beneficial to learn new therapy techniques daily and collaborate with others around me. In my free time, you will find me most likely outdoors walking my dog, biking, or running. I am so excited to be joining the Communication Clubhouse!

Jessica joined The Clubhouse in 2019 to provide physical therapy services privately in the clinic and through Early Intervention. She also provides PT services remotely via telehealth. She earned her Bachelor of Science in biology with a minor in psychology from Elizabethtown College in PA. She attended graduate school at Arcadia University and graduated with her Doctorate of Physical Therapy in 2016. Throughout her career, Jessica has treated children with a variety of needs and diagnoses including Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Autism Spectrum Disorder, torticollis, plagiocephaly, idiopathic toe-walking, developmental delay/premature birth, and a variety of rare genetic conditions. Jessica enjoys seeing her clients meet new developmental milestones and reach functional goals to help them become more independent. She especially loves sharing those special moments with their families. In her free time, she loves going for walks with her dog Corey, indoor cycling, and volunteering with the “Crawlers and Walkers” group at Gigi’s Playhouse, a non-profit organization that serves individuals with Down Syndrome and their families.

Brian earned his Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sports Studies from D’Youville College in Buffalo, NY. He earned his doctorate in physical therapy from the same school in 2023. In his short career, Brian has split his time between working in children’s hospitals and in clinics with children from birth to 18 years old. He has experience with cerebral palsy. Autism Spectrum Disorder, torticollis and plagiocephaly, toe walking, prematurity, as well as various traumatic injuries. Brian loves to see kids do something they enjoy that they have been working on. In his free time, he enjots biking on the lakefront and exploring new parts of the city.

Juliane joins the Clubhouse with 20 years of clinical social work experience. She received her bachelor’s degree in Human Services from National-Louis University, and her master’s degree in Social Work from Walla Walla University. Her clinical training for licensure was providing therapy for Native American public school students. Juliane has worked with therapeutic day school students of all ages, in prevention and private practice with children and families, and with seniors in retirement, and memory care. Juliane enjoys collaborating with parents to come alongside children for a play- based connection of solution-focused support. In her free time, she enjoys kayaking, container gardening, and woodland walking with friends.

Janeisha Hood-Rogers is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with over 8 years of expierience in the mental health field. Janeisha received her Masters of Arts in clinical mental health counseling from Roosevelt and her Bachelors of Arts in Psychology from Concordia University Chicago. She is currently pursuing her PhD in counselor education and supervision. Janeisha’s clinical experiences include working in CPS/charter schools, in-patient children’s hospitals, domestic violence shelters and several community mental health agencies. Janeisha enjoys incorporating expressive and creative arts when working with children and adolescents. In her free time, she loves getting out in nature, spending time with her daughter and husband, binge watching The Food Network!

Erin earned her bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from University of Wisconsin-Madison and her master’s in Speech-Language Pathology from Rush University. Erin joined the Clubhouse in 2021 and has provided speech-language therapy services at our clinic, in schools, and through Early Intervention. Erin enjoys having the opportunity to work with children of all ages in varied settings through the Clubhouse. She has specific interest in supporting early language, articulation, social communication, and language comprehension. Erin prioritizes functional goals and working with families/educators to promote generalization of therapy progress to home and school environments. In her free time, Erin enjoys cooking, playing board games, and exploring the city with family and friends. 

Michaela received her undergraduate degree in communication sciences and disorders and vocal performance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her master’s degree in speech-language pathology from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Michaela has clinical experience providing support to children with a wide range of communication needs, including speech sound disorders, motor speech disorders, stuttering and cluttering, developmental language disorder, receptive/expressive language delay, and voice disorders. She is passionate about providing neurodiversity-affirming services that build on each individual’s unique communication strengths and allow them to interact authentically, confidently, and successfully with peers and adults. She greatly values working together with children, families, and educators to help facilitate successful communication across all environments.

Natalia received her bachelor’s degree from Illinois State University and her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Rush University. She is bilingual English/Polish and knows from personal experience how important it is that people are given tools to express themselves. Natalia has worked in the schools with low-incidence populations, developing a special appreciation for functional language skills and for alternative and augmentative communication (AAC). In her free time, she enjoys cooking, hiking, and reading pop science books.

Katherine, a proud Texas native, holds a Master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Baylor University. Katherine has experience spanning clinical settings, hospitals, and schools, and has worked with individuals of all ages, from early childhood to adulthood. Katherine’s favorite aspect of being a speech therapist is the opportunity to connect with and support families on their communication journey. She is passionate about various facets of speech-language pathology, but Katherine particularly enjoys building fundamental communication skills and working with Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems. Outside of her professional life, Katherine channels her energy into teaching indoor cycling classes and exploring new restaurants with her husband.

Amanda has been a speech-language pathologist for sic years, working with children ages 3-12 in an elementary school setting. She earned her Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Purdue University in 2018 and is currently completing her Master’s degree in early childhood special education. Amanda is passionate about providing therapy that extends beyond the session, focusing on functional communication skills and generalization. She enjoys involving families in the therapeutic process to ensure success across all settings. In her free time, Amanda loves spending quality time with her family and going on road trips to explore new destinations. She is excited to continue making a positive impact on her patients’ lives through her work.

Cassidy is a speech-language pathologist from Kalamzoo, MI who earned her undergraduate degree in Speech-Language and Hearing Sciences from Western Michigan University and her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Kent State University. She enjoys working with children on the Autism Spectrum and supporting early language with the use of AAC. She is passionate about being a neurodiversity-affirming therapist who supports language acquisition through child-led play and functional activities. Cassidy acknowledge the importance of family involvement and a collaborative team approach in order to support a child’s success with their communication goals. In her free time, Cassidy enjoys reading, traveling, being outside, and spending time with her cat. 

Fatima is a speech-language pathologist who loves seeing the progress a child can make when both the therapist and family work together to provide support. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and her master’s degree from Northern Illinois University. Fatima has been servicing students in the Archdiocese of Chicago for a decade. Her primary areas of interest include receptive and expressive language, pragmatics, articulation/phonology, and stuttering. Fatima is also a credentialed evaluator for Early Intervention and conducts bilingual evaluations for Spanish-speaking families.

Katie completed her masters degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Saint Mary’s College in 2017. Since then, Katie has experience working with children and their families in the clinic, early intervention and school settings. Katie is excited to join the communication clubhouse team working in the catholic schools. In her free time, Katie enjoys spending time with family and friends, trying new recipes and playing tennis!

Courtney joins the Clubhouse in her fifth year as a speech-language pathologist. She received her Bachelor’s degree in communications sciences and disorders from Illinois State University in 2016 and Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology from Saint Xavier University in 2019. Courtney found her niche with the pediatric population and has spent her career working with kiddos from birth-18 with a variety of communication disorders. She enjoys involving families in treatment to make sure that her patients can be successful in all functional settings. In her free time she loves spending time with her family and friends and traveling to new cities with her fiancé! She is excited to get started with the Clubhouse in the Catholic schools.

Jennifer is a licensed and certified speech language pathologist with over twenty years experience in the field of pediatrics. She has worked with children across the age span, from Early Intervention (0-3 years) through adolescents in high school. Jennifer specializes in speech therapy services related to Central Auditory Processing Disorders (CAPD), Receptive and Expressive Language Disorders, Social and Pragmatic Language, Autism, Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS), Selective Mutism (SM), Articulation, Phonological Awareness and Disorders, Executive Function, Cognitive Function, Fluency, Early Language Disorders. Jennifer received her bachelors and masters degrees from Northern Illinois University. She is a member of the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA) and the Illinois Speech Language Hearing Association (ISHA). She is a mother of four delightful children.

Lisa joins the Clubhouse with over 20 years of experience as a speech pathologist. Lisa earned her bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders & Sciences from Eastern Illinois University and her master’s in Speech-Language Pathology from Governors State University. Lisa joined the Clubhouse in December 2023 and is providing speech-language therapy services to the private/parochial schools in collaboration with Chicago Public Schools. Prior to coming to the Clubhouse she worked in schools, clinic setting, & provided speech services through Early Intervention (E.I.). Lisa has a strong background within the schools with both Service Plans & IEP’s. Lisa prioritizes functional goals and working with families/educators to promote generalization of therapy progress to home and school environments. In her free time, Lisa enjoys spending time with family & pets, reading, camping, & attending her sons’ various school events.

Peter received his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Roosevelt University and his Masters degree in Applied Behavior Analysis at Arizona State University. He has been working with kids with autism and other various developmental disabilities for seven years in clinical, school, and in-home settings. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family, 3D printing, Star Wars and Marvel movies, as well as working with his hands to create.

America is currently an undergraduate at UIC majoring in Psychology with a minor in Human Development and Disabilities and Education focusing on Special Education. She has always wanted to work with individuals with disabilities because her younger brother is on the spectrum. Seeing the progress he has made over the years helped America realize that she wanted to be able to give children the skills needed to help achieve their full potential. She has been an RBT for two years and wants to continue her education in the ABA field and eventually become a BCBA. America loves seeing the progress the kiddos make and the sense of accomplishment both her and the child feel. Her favorite things to do in her free time are reading and spending time with loved ones.

Ewa is currently an Arizona State University post-graduate student pursuing her Board Certified Behavior Analyst certification. She has a MA in Psychology with a specialization in Forensic Psychology. She loves working with children of all ages. For the last five years, she has been working at an elementary school with students ranging grades K through 6. In her free time, Ewa enjoys running, yoga, and spending time with family and friends.

Claire has been working with kids since 2010. Previously, Claire has worked in daycares and nannied, as well as worked in the ABA field since 2021. She enjoys watching children learn and grow! In her free time, Claire likes to paint, listen to music, and hang out with friends.

Linzay received her B.A degree in Psychology and Communication at the University of South Africa. She is currently enrolled at Benedictine University, pursuing her master’s degree in clinical psychology. She worked at a therapeutic day school as a paraprofessional for almost 3 years, with a neurodivergent population and has 2 years of RBT experience working in-home and clinic. Linzay finds great satisfaction in forming relationships with children and their families; it is her passion to help children thrive and become independent individuals. In her free time, she enjoys playing on her billiards team, being a foodie, taking nature walks and spending quality time with friends and family.

Maritza is an undergraduate student from the University of Illinois with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Spanish. She has five years of experience working with kids with autism in at-home and center settings. Her interests focus on mental health and early child development, and she hopes to continue growing in her career and become a BCBA. When she is not working, she is spending time with family, taking jogs by the lake, or playing with makeup.

Lindsey joined the Clubhouse after earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Central Florida. She currently attends Northwestern University as she works towards her Masters degree in Counseling. As an RBT, Lindsey is devoted to creating a fun and innovate learning environment for her kiddos to ensure positive growth. Outside of the Clubhouse, you can catch Lindsey hiking, painting, or browsing through markets and antique shops with her family and friends.

Ivanna is an undergraduate student at Loyola University Chicago. She has worked in ABA for over a year and loves working with children. In her free time, she likes to read, write books, and play with her kitten, Tsuya.

Jamyah is a behavior therapist that recently joined Clubhouse after previously working for The Place for Children with Autism. She is on a journey to go back to school to further her education in Human Development and in the future she see herself eventually becoming an BCBA. She has two nephews who have both been diagnosed with autism and they are the motivation behind her wanting to further her career in this field. Between being a first time mom and school she has been working with children with autism for nearly 3 years. She loves forming a relationship with her kiddos and loves to see her kids grow and advance. Her favorite things to do in her free time are cooking, singing, and being a mom.

Ella Stark is a Behavior Technician at the Clubhouse. Originally from Indianapolis, Ella received a Bachelors in Psychology from DePauw University and discovered her passion for ABA working as an RBT.

Outside of the clinic, Ella enjoys running, reading, and spending time with family and friends.

Ava has been working with kids since 2017 and working with neurodiverse kids since 2021. She joins the Clubhouse after working at a therapeutic day school where she got her paraprofessional certification while working as a therapeutic assistant and behavior therapist. She has been a Registered Behavior Technician since January 2022. She has two cousins with developmental disabilities that have helped her see the world differently. She has a passion for inclusion and wants to work with large inclusion initiatives specifically for children. She loves to travel, especially to Disneyland, and also loves hanging out with friends and knitting in her free time.

Jaina has a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Butler University and has three years of experience working with children and teens on the spectrum. She previously worked with the Center for Autism and Related Disorders, and found her passion for working with younger kiddos there. Jaina loves teaching through creative play and joyful activities, and helping children find independence through language and other communication methods. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, thrifting, spending time in nature, dancing, and quality time with friends.

Kluadia has six years of experience in Early Childhood Education. Throughout this time, she developer patience, organizational skills, and the ability to form strong relationships with children and their families. After gaining experience in early childhood education, she began working with children and discovered ABA. She has been a Behavior Technician for a year and a half and aspires to continue advancing in her career to become a BCBA. In her free time, she enjoys outdoor activities such as golfing and skiing, as well as reading and spending time with family and friends.

“Sometimes, what your students need the most at the moment has nothing to do with your lesson plan.”

Cheri Ann has an education from St. Ambrose University, and is working toward her license in Pastoral Studies. She joined The Clubhouse with many years of experience in administration and logistics. Her extensive experience working as a leader in the youth ministry has provided a foundation for working in a pediatric environment. Cheri Ann’s work goals are to keep the therapists and team members equipped with the tools they need to provide an exceptional experience for the kids. At home, Cheri Ann enjoys crafting, going on mission trips, and providing leadership with teenagers in youth ministry, while finding time to spend with her husband and dog.

Grace joined the Clubhouse in 2024. Previously Grace has worked in Early Childhood Development, as a preschool teacher. She also has her own photography business and specializes in weddings and portraits. Grace loves working with people and providing families with the resources they need for ABA. Outside of work Grace loves to spend time with her partner & their cat, play video games and travel!

Ryan graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology in 2021 and is working toward becoming a BCBA. He has been working with children on the spectrum since he was 17, and over his studies, he became very passionate about helping children learn and reach their full potential. When he’s not at work, Ryan is normally spending time with his partner, going to museums, and reading science fiction.

Prior to starting at the Clubhouse in 2016, Yvonne was an office manager for several years. She loves seeing how much the kids enjoy coming to the Clubhouse and watching the progress that they make.

Susan has a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She joined the Clubhouse in 2015. Prior to joining the team Susan worked as an Administrative Assistant in the plastics industry, and spent time being a stay at home mom. She loves getting to know the children and seeing them progress. In her spare time she enjoys travel and family time watching movies.

Sarah joins the Clubhouse this summer after previously working in a rehab setting with a love for working with pediatric patients. Sarah is committed to making the work environment as bright as possible, both in her attitude and clothing. Outside of work, she loves bowling, chess, and exploring the city! She hopes to make an impact both in the company and through helping as many people as possible.