Yehuda Appel, MS, CCC-SLP is a speech and language therapist for The Center for Speech & Language Development. He holds a Master of Science degree from Northwestern University in Speech, Language, and Learning. He continually focuses on maintaining excellent clinical skills through participating in professional workshops, trainings, and seminars. Yehuda’s belief in each person’s ability to improve their communication skills drives his passion for providing speech and language therapy.

Yehuda’s experiences evaluating and treating clients throughout the life span and in a variety of settings gives him the perspective and skills to provide effective speech and language therapies. He has particular interest is treating articulation, apraxia, and voice disorders. Yehuda has experience treating speech and language disorders for non-native English speakers and providing therapy via an interpreter.

CERTIFICATIONS & TRAININGS

– Certified, Licensed Clinician in Speech Language Pathologist
– Early Intervention Credentialed Therapist
– Multisensory Grammar
– Dynamic Tactile and Temporal Cueing (DTTC)
– Modified Barium Swallow Impairment Profile (MBSImP)
– Basic Life Support: Adult, Child, and Infant CPR

She is extremely passionate about working with young children and their families. Throughout her career, she has worked to evaluate and treat children with varied diagnoses in a variety of settings. Marissa specializes in working with young children and is focused on feeding and swallowing; oral-motor coordination; language development; apraxia; articulation; and parenting assistance.

CERTIFICATIONS & TRAININGS

-ASHA and State of Illinois Certified Licensed Clinician in Speech Language Pathology
–MS, Speech Language Pathology – Emerson College
-Early Intervention Credentialed Therapist and Evaluator
–PROMPT trained
-S.O.S trained

Shari Feifel OTR/L has over twenty seven years of experience as an Occupational Therapist across a variety of settings. She really enjoys working with young children and their families. She utilizes her interpersonal and therapeutic skills to improve a child’s functional abilities and daily living skills in order to maximize his or her potential and ability to develop toward task independence.

Shari’s interest in Early Intervention began as a graduate student in the early 1990s. Her Master’s Thesis was concentrated on “Survey of Maternal Perceptions of Family-Focused Early Intervention”. Throughout her career, she has worked to evaluate and treat children and adults with varied diagnoses in a variety of settings. She facilitates improved motor coordination and functional abilities through sensory / motor based activities.

Shari is highly motivated to help each child progress and develop in order to succeed in his or her environment with family-centered and school support.

CERTIFICATIONS & TRAININGS

– MS in Occupational Therapy from Rush University in Chicago
– Licensed by the State of Illinois
– Board Certified by National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy
– Member – American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
– AOTA Badges in Home Modifications and Fall Prevention
– IDHS Early Intervention Specialist Credential – In renewal process

Catie Pappas, MS, CFY-SLP, is a Speech-Language Pathologist. Catie has an MS in Speech-Language Pathology from Midwestern University. She has experience working with children ages 6 months through high school. She has worked with children and their families to provide articulation, receptive/expressive language, hearing, and pragmatic language therapy. She believes it is important to incorporate the child’s interests during therapy to maximize motivation and to empower the child to learn. 

CERTIFICATIONS & TRAININGS

-Illinois Temporary Speech-Language Pathology License

-Illinois Early Intervention Certification (temporary)

-ASHA CFY Certification program

Throughout her career, Stefanie has provided both ABA and social work services to children with autism and other neurodevelopmental delays in the home, clinic, and schools. She has worked with children individually, in dyads, and in small groups. She also has experience evaluating and treating children and developing individualized treatment plans and goals tailored to meet their needs. Stefanie enjoys using a combination of play-based therapy methods and behavioral techniques to develop relationships with children, help support their families, and help them reach their fullest potential.

CERTIFICATIONS & TRAININGS

– Licensed Clinical Social Worker
– Applied Behavior Analysis trained
– Early Intervention Credentialed

Esther Zigun MS, OTR/L is a graduate of Rush University. She has been working in the field of pediatric occupational therapy for over seven years. Her experience ranges between outpatient clinics, the school system, and early intervention.

Esther is passionate about collaborating with every individual of the child’s support system, and consistently puts in the extra time to facilitate this. There is no greater accomplishment for her than seeing a child progress and ultimately succeed. Esther enjoys bringing novel and creative ideas to her therapy sessions. She is passionate on staying up to date with most-current evidence based research, with a particular emphasis on sensory integration, behavior management, and neuromuscular facilitation.

CERTIFICATIONS & TRAININGS

– MS in Occupational Therapy from Rush University

– Licensed by the State of Illinois

– Board certified by National Board for Certification in Occupation Therapy

– IDHS Early Intervention specialist credentialed