Pediatric Occupational Therapy
Lurie Children’s offers a comprehensive, evidence based occupational therapy with a vibrant family centered- approach.
Occupational therapy intervention uses everyday life activities (occupations) to promote health, well-being, and your ability to participate in the important activities in your life. Everyone has occupations, including children, who are developing the important skills of self-care, social engagement, and play.
Occupational therapy breaks down tasks to figure out which skills may be difficult for the child and then address them in ways that are meaningful to the child and, when needed, will recommend modifications in the child’s environment to foster greater participation.
An occupational therapist will evaluate your child and with input from you (and appropriate additional family members and /or care providers), create individualized goals that allow you to resume or pursue the child’s preferred and valued occupations. After you develop a plan with your occupational therapist, you will work together on exercises and strategies to help improve their ability to perform daily activities and reach their goals.
Our skilled and versatile occupational therapy team specializes in the evaluation and treatment of children from premature babies to teenagers with health challenges in the following areas:
- Self care skills: which include dressing, grooming, and feeding
- Upper extremity skills including range of motion, strength and coordination
- State control: the ability to attend to and interact with caregivers and environment
- Fine motor skills: small muscle movements of the hand and fingers
- Motor planning: ability to plan and complete an unfamiliar or complicated motor task or novel motor experience in a coordinated fashion
- Bilateral coordination: coordination of both sides of the body for a purposeful action
- Sensorimotor skills: incorporating information received from body senses and the environment to carry out appropriate movement or behavior responses required for functional living skills, engagement in play and learning
- Social engagement and play: Play is a way for children to learn about the world and provides an important context to teach social skills. Engagement is the connection of a child with people and or other objects/toys. When children engage, they spend more time connected with others and are learning about the world around them.
- Visual motor skills: the ability of the eyes to direct the hands to successfully perform activities.
Desired Outcomes for Our Patients
We strive to help our patients achieve the best outcomes possible, including:
Improved
- Participation and independence in self-care activities
- Range of motion, strength and coordination of the upper body
- Participation with parents, family members, and caregivers for daily routines
- Interactions and engagement in play and learning activities at home and in the community
- Ability to engage in age appropriate play
- Tolerance of sensory inputs, including tastes, smells, textures, movement, and sounds
Nationally-Ranked Care
Lurie Children’s continues to be the #1 children's hospital in Illinois and is ranked in 11 specialties by U.S. News & World Report.
Our Programs
Our occupational therapists support many multidisciplinary programs to help children achieve their developmental goals.
Cathy Barson, OTR/L, BCP
Occupational Therapist
- University of Cape Town, South Africa
- Special Interests: Early childhood development, Almost Home Kids, Orthopedic Conditions
- Location(s): Almost Home Kids
Kaitlin Brunsvold, MS, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist III
- University of New Hampshire
- Special Interests: Congenital Hand Differences, Early childhood developments, Brachial Plexus Injury Program, Childhood Heart Disease, and Congenital Heart Defects
- Location(s): Lincoln Park
Elizabeth Daulton, MSOT, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
- Elmhurst College, Lewis University
- Special Interests: Sensory feeding, aquatic therapy, sensory processing, and more
- Location(s): Arlington Pediatric Therapy
Meghan Dempsey, MS, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist ll
- Western Michigan University
- Special Interests: Autism, sensory processing and regulation, motor planning
- Location(s): Arlington Pediatric Therapy
Lara Derrig, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
- Saint Louis University
- Special Interests: Executive functioning, Autism, cerebral palsy, sensory processing, social emotional regulation
- Location(s): Arlington Pediatric Therapy
Kevin Durney
Occupational Therapist II
- University of Illinois at Chicago
- Special Interests: Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Developmental Disabilities, Pediatric Occupational Therapy
- Location(s): Lincoln Park, Westbrook
Ceil Foster
Occupational Therapist II
- University of Illinois
- Location(s): Arlington Pediatric Therapy
Rachel Galant, MSNM, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
- University of Wisonsin, Madison; Spetus College
- Special Interests: Neuromuscular Disorders, Neuromuscular Program, Pediatric Occupational Therapy
- Location(s): Main Hospital
Betsy Giovanini, BA, MOTR/L, NTMTC
Occupational Therapist II
- Augustana College; Midwestern University
- Special Interests: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Regenstein Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CCU), Inpatient and Outpatient Pediatric Occupational Therapy, Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD), Early childhood development, High Acuity Transition Clinic (HeArT Clinic)
- Location(s): Main Hospital, New Lenox
Maribeth Gorman-Jankowski, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist II
- St. Ambrose University
- Special Interests: Developmental Delays, Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, Pediatric Occupational Therapy, Early childhood development
- Location(s): Main Hospital, Westbrook
Elyse Hahn, MS, OTD, OTR/L, NTMC
Occupational Therapist II
- University of Illinois at Chicago; Michigan State University
- Special Interests: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Regenstein Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CCU), Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD), Early childhood development, Childhood Heart Disease & Congenital Heart Defects, High Acuity Transition Clinic (HeArT Clinic)
- Location(s): Main Hospital
Janet Hicks
Occupational Therapist II
Rush University
Andrea Jennings, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; University of Illinois at Chicago
- Special Interests: Developmental Disabilities, Autism, Neurologic Disorders & Injuries, Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Feeding Aversion/Disorder
- Location(s): Lincoln Park
Jessica Kronberg, MOT, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
- Illinois Wesleyan University; Indiana State University
- Special Interests: Early childhood development, cerebral palsy,Feeding Aversion/Disorder
- Location(s): Main Hospital, Almost Home Kids
Hilda Lee
Occupational Therapist II
University of Illinois; Concordia University
Jeniffer Levan, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
- Florida International University
- Special Interests: Autism Spectrum Disorders, Developmental Delays, Sensory Processing Disorders, Pediatric Occupational Therapy, Neurologic Disorders & Injuries, Infant Welfare Society, Languages: Spanish/English
- Location(s): Grayslake
Amy Lumsden, MS, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist II
- DePauw University, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Special Interests: Sensory Processing, Autism, ADHD
- Location(s): Arlington Pediatric Therapy
Robin Manus, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
- University of Illinois
- Special Interests: NICU-Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Program: Early Childhood Clinic, Cerebral Palsy
- Location(s): Main Hospital
Marisa Mejia, MSOT R/L
Occupational Therapist
Columbia University; Rush University
Cris Mix
Occupational Therapist II
University of Illinois Chicago
Rebecca Moloney, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist ll
University of Kansas
Elie Moran
Occupational Therapist
St. Louis University
Kathleen Needham
Manager, In-Patient Occupational Therapy
University of Dayton; Governors State University
Nicole Nolan
Occupational Therapist
University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Elmhurst University
Patricia Novak, OTD, OTR/L
Occuptional Therapist
Creighton University
Meghan O'Donnell, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
University of Iowa; A. T. Still University
Prabha Pande, MS, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Concordia University Montreal; Rush Medical College of Rush University Medical Center
Jade Pellerito, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Western Michigan University
Kathryn Pietraszak, MS, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
University of Iowa; University of Illinois at Chicago
Kris Razma, MS, OT/L
Manager, Occupational Therapy
University of Illinois at Chicago; Western Michigan University
Megan Regan, OTD, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Washington University, St. Louis
Allison Rosen, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
University of Illinois at Chicago; Indiana University
Nicole Ruprich
Occupational Therapist
University of Michigan, Flint, MI; University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Lee Ryan, OTR/L, MS, NTMTC
Occupational Therapist II
University of Dayton; Rush University
Jeanne Sadowski, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist ll
Bachelor of Science in OT, University of Illinois at Chicago
Jennifer Scoggins, MS, OTR/L
Manager, Occupational Therapy
Augustana College, Washington University
Kristina Stein, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist/Clinical Coordinator
Washington University, St. Louis
Anne Szmergalski, MHA, OTR/L, NTMTC
Occupational Therapist II
Western Michigan University; University of Indianapolis
Kelly Tilley, MClSc OTR/L
Occupational Therapist II
University of Toronto, University of Western Ontario
Alexandra Wasko
Occupational Therapist
Lewis University; Rush University
Make an Appointment
We offer easy online scheduling for your child's occupational therapy needs.
Our Locations
Lurie Children's Hospital Outpatient Center in Lincoln Park
2515 N. Clark Street/467 W. Deming Place
Chicago, Illinois 60614-3393
1.800.543.7362
Lurie Children's Hospital Outpatient Center in Northbrook
1131 Techny Road
Northbrook, Illinois 60062
312.227.7600
Lurie Children's Hospital Outpatient Center in New Lenox
1870 N. Silver Cross Blvd. (formerly Clinton Street)
Suite 100
New Lenox, Illinois 60451
312.227.3620
Rehabilitation Services at Westbrook
Westbrook Corporate Center
11301 West Cermak Road, Suite 100
Westchester, Illinois 60154
312.227.1040
Lurie Children's Hospital Outpatient Center in Grayslake
1475 E. Belvidere Rd. (Rte. 120)
Suite 285, Pavilion C
Grayslake, Illinois 60030-2012
312.227.2220
Lurie Children’s Health Services - Arlington Pediatric Therapy
3105 N. Wilke Road
Suite H
Arlington Heights, Illinois 60004
312.227.8600
Occupational Therapy News & Stories
Why Your Child May Need Occupational Therapy
At every stage of life, infants, toddlers, children and adolescents are expected to meet individualized and specific milestones. Learn more about occupational therapy and how it can help your child improve daily living.
Arlington Pediatric Therapy Management Services to Join Lurie Children’s
Ten Occupational Therapy At-Home Activities For Children
At-home occupational therapy activities can be helpful for children who are missing out on regular services.
Occupational Therapy Capstone Experience
The Occupational Therapy Capstone Experience at Lurie Children’s offers a challenging and exciting opportunity to complete your pediatric capstone experience. The ideal candidate will be highly motivated, a strong team player and have a strong desire for a career as a pediatric occupational therapist.
Philanthropy
Your support is vital in helping us continue to make a difference in the lives of patients and families. Lurie Children's relies on philanthropic funding to enhance its programs, services and research for children. To learn more, please e-mail the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago Foundation at foundation@luriechildrens.org or call 312.227.7500.