Meet the SensAble Kids Team

Katelyn is a pediatric occupational therapist who has worked in the field since graduating from Saint Louis University in 2016. She joined SensAble Kids in 2017 and has completed extensive continuing education, including MNRI (Masgutova Neurosensorimotor Reflex Integration), TMR TOTS (Total Motion Release TOTS), NDT (Neurodevelopmental Treatment), Therapeutic Listening, Astronaut Training, and the Safe and Sound Protocol. She is also a Certified Infant Massage Instructor and a Certified Functional Vision Rehabilitation Specialist. Katelyn has additional experience in both hippotherapy and aquatic therapy. She is passionate about finding creative, individualized approaches to support each child in reaching their goals. She values strong collaboration with caregivers and other providers to help every child achieve their fullest potential. Outside of work, Katelyn enjoys spending time with family and friends, getting outdoors with her dogs, reading, and exploring new hobbies.

Occupational Therapist

Meghan is an Occupational therapist who loves working with children and their families. She has over 20 years experience as an OT working with children and started with SensAble Kids as a part-time therapist in 2015. Meghan prides herself on connecting easily and quickly with kids, she is silly and creative and helps kids feel comfortable right away. Meghan specializes in working with children with autism, sensory processing disorder, feeding challenges and infants with motor delays. Meghan uses a play-based, child-led style in her therapy sessions. Meghan loves working with parents and teachers to help the child learn new skills and more fully participate in daily routines. Meghan has 2 kids and a sweet hairy Golden Retriever named Cooper. In her free time, she loves to read, downhill ski, see live music and chauffeur her kids to various sports.

Occupational Therapist

Lauren is an occupational therapist who loves supporting children and families as they grow, develop, and gain new skills. She brings a playful, sensory-focused, and relationship-centered approach to therapy and enjoys helping children feel confident, understood, and capable in their daily routines. Lauren has special interests in sensory processing, emotional regulation, and parent–child connection, and especially loves helping children build strong foundations for regulation through connection and purposeful play. She earned her Master’s in Occupational Therapy from North Central College and her Bachelor’s degree from Beloit College. Lauren joined SensAble Kids in 2021. Outside of work, she enjoys yoga, spending time with her dog, reading, being with family and friends, and watching football.

Occupational Therapist

A lifelong Midwesterner, Maddie was born and raised in Libertyville, Illinois. She attended Indiana University where she majored in psychology and minored in human development and family studies. She then earned her Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee (Go Bucks!).

Maddie has clinical experience in outpatient pediatric and adult neurorehabilitation settings. She loves working in pediatrics as there is so much energy and enthusiasm for learning. She embraces play and children’s imaginations to help motivate them and facilitate learning new skills. Maddie is a firm believer in combining science, creativity, and compassion to help children maximize their full potential.

When not at the clinic, you can find Maddie exploring coffee shops (and their pastry selections), cooking, being a bandwagon sports fan, taking road trips, and spending time outside.

Occupational Therapist

Nicole is an Occupational Therapist who uses a child-led approach to build meaningful relationships with her clients through play. Sessions with Nicole focus on helping children maintain regulation while building confidence with new or difficult skills. She is passionate about building a collaborative approach with children and families, so they feel empowered to find the best ways to help children build independence and thrive in their day-to-day lives. She earned her Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree from Creighton University. Nicole joined SensAble Kids in 2021. Outside of work she loves walking along the lake, playing card games, cooking, and watching sports. 

Occupational Therapy Assistant

Jennifer is an COTA/L  who is deeply rooted in developing connected relationships with children and their parents. She has both personal and professional experience with children with learning disabilities, sensory processing, auditory processing, dyslexia and Autism. Jennifer has vast experience with IEP’s and is invested in helping parents understand their rughts, advocate for special education services, and help families navigate the IEP process. She is a kind, compassionate , patient and helpful therapist. Jennifer joined SensAble Kids in 2016. Outside of the clinic, she enjoys country music concerts, traveling, playing cards, arts and crafts, and walking her two dachshunds.  

Occupational Therapy Assistant

Kelly Garrity is a COTA who loves supporting children and families as they grow and gain new skills. She brings a relationship-based approach to therapy and enjoys helping children feel regulated through their daily routines. Kelly has a special interest in the Developmental Individual Relationship model (DIR/Floortime) and especially loves supporting children as they navigate big feelings. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from UIC in 2013 and received her Occupational Therapy certification from Wright College in 2021. Kelly joined SensAble Kids in April 2024. Outside of work, Kelly enjoys reading and studying history. In 2025, Kelly authored and published a book detailing her family ancestry dating back to the 17th century. When she is not researching and treatment planning, Kelly is spending time with her 5 adorable nieces on Chicago’s South Side.

Lead Speech Therapist

Dionne Dias is the Director of Clinical operations and lead speech therapist at SensAble Kids. Since joining the team in 2017, she’s worked with families to help their children feel confident, joyful and understood in their daily communication. Her therapy style blends play-based connection with a naturalistic teaching style so children feel both supported and successful during sessions. She specializes in supporting oral motor skills, early language development, and in executive function– especially in children with ADHD or attention deficit disorders. Outside of work, she enjoys making art, singing karaoke, and spending time with her dog & fiancé.

Speech and Language Pathologist

Kristin is a speech-language pathologist who is passionate about supporting children in developing strong communication skills. She values a child-led, play-based approach to therapy as a way to build connection and empower children to become independent communicators. She has a special interest in language development, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), and speech sound disorders, and enjoys collaborating with families to help children thrive both at home and in the community. Kristin received her Master’s in Speech, Language, and Learning from Northwestern University and has been part of the SensAble Kids team since 2022. Outside of the clinic, she enjoys hiking, traveling, and spending time with family.

Developmental Therapist, Infant/Toddler Specialist

I have been working with young children for the last 17 years. I received my Master of Education and Illinois Early Childhood Education Certification (Type 04) with an endorsement in special education, from DePaul University, in June 2006. I became a credentialed Developmental Therapist, with an Infant Specialist Certificate in Prevention/Early Intervention, Erikson Institute, Chicago, IL, May, 2015.

I worked for three years in CPS as a special education teacher in a blended pre-school classroom where I wrote and participated in IEP meetings and differentiated the curriculum to fit my student’s needs. I left CPS in 2013 to pursue my Developmental Therapist credential.

I worked for two years at a DIR clinic. There I fell in love with the DIR philosophy. I ran several social groups, dyads and did individual sessions. My sessions focus where a child is developmentally and how to help them get to the next developmental level. I work on social emotional regulation, expanding play ideas and helping children learn to engage and problem solving with their peers. I love to learn about each child and they’re unique challenges and strengths.

For the past four years I have been working in Early Intervention. I have been providing developmentally appropriate services to meet the unique needs of each child and their families. I have also Collaborated with families to assist in daily routines and facilitate in their child’s play skills and overall development.

Office Manager

Lucie has worked in the non-profit sector since 1980. She has served as a member of the Operations team for over 30 years in inpatient and outpatient chemical dependence and outpatient for a mental healthcare agency which provided sliding scale services.

She has lived in the Chicago area for most of her life and is an avid Chicago Blackhawks fan. She loves to swim, horseback ride and playing volleyball.

Office Staff

Allison Wilk has lived in Chicago since 2003. She attended Eastern Illinois University in Charleston with a bachelors in Health Communication. She then attended The University of Illinois in Champaign where she completed her masters in Rehabilitation Counseling and was a teaching assistant for undergrad health courses. She worked as a case manager at Thresholds with adults with developmental abilities.

Allison took some time out of the work force after she got married and raised her four children before starting at SensAble Kids in 2015. Allison enjoys spending time with her family, watching her kids play ice hockey, playing volleyball, and walking her dog Winnie.