The Physical Therapists
The physical therapists at City Kids are all highly experienced with paediatric motor assessment and treatment, gait training, and orthotics. They are all NDT/Bobath trained and well versed in biomechanical assessment and intervention. Each therapist has a strong background in motor assessment and strengthening and integrate various therapeutic adjuncts into each session to encourage an optimal amount of function and skill. The physical therapists have experience with children with a variety of issues, including hypotonia, cerebral palsy, torticollis, Down Syndrome, sports injuries, plagiocephaly, and developmental delay. They use all the equipment in the gym to make learning motivating and fun!
Kacy Hertz,
PT, C/NDT
Kacy has over 30 years of experience and is the owner of City Kids, Inc. She is an NDTA Coordinator Instructor, NDT certified instructor and therapist, and a certified KinesioTape provider. She teaches many NDT based courses at City Kids, Inc. and also nationwide. Kacy is has broad knowledge about lower extremity biomechanics, orthotics, wraps, and serial casting.
Liz Origer, DPT
Liz joined the City Kids family in 2024. She received her Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from the University of Michigan and her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Northwestern University following a transition from teaching and running a child development-based youth soccer program. She is passionate about working with children of all different abilities and is looking forward to continuing to building relationships with the children and families here at City Kids Inc. Liz is interested in expanding her knowledge and experience with NDT.
Kelsey Ortinau, pt, DPT
Kelsey joined the City Kids team in 2024. She received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Rockhurst University in Kansas City, MO. She is passionate about working in the field of pediatrics and the growth she’ll gain from working at a location as wonderfully diverse as City Kids. Her continuing education experiences include: Five Days of NDT. She looks forward to expanding her knowledge base and building her PT skills in the years to come.
Andrea Ragsdale,
PT, DPT, C/NDT
Andrea joined the City Kids family in 2016. She received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame and her Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Southern California. Andrea is currently pursuing NDT certification at City Kids. She is interested in the treatment of the neurologically involved child, handling skills, and injury prevention in the young athlete. Her continuing education experiences includes: NDT Baby course, Pediatric Gait Analysis, and Postural Control Strategies in Pediatrics.
The Occupational Therapists
The occupational therapists at City Kids have extensive experience in the areas of motor development and sensory integration, including motor apraxia,sensory dysfunction, bilateral motor coordination, dysgraphia, visual motor integration, and movement/motor disorders. In addition, all the therapists integrate current knowledge and clinical skills to assist a child achieve skills to his/her highest potential in all areas of daily living, including play, fine motor, self-help, and sensory. The OTs also utilize principles of NDT, Sensory Integration, DIR/Floortime, baby treatment, splinting, Therapeutic Listening, and play into each child's treatment. Functional skills and use of play are always a priority during OT at City Kids!
Alicia Gettelfinger,
OTR/L, C/NDT
Alicia joined the City Kids team in 2007. She has significant experience with sensory integration and motor assessment and treatment of children of all ages. Alicia is NDT certified and has taken many courses on treatment of children with sensory processing difficulties, including DIR and Therapeutic Listening. Alicia is also knowledgeable on upper extremity biomechanics, splinting, and casting.
Sareena Denis
OTD, OTR/L
Sareena joined the City Kids family in 2023. She has a Doctorate degree in Occupational Therapy from University of IL. Sareena brings experience as a Student OT (at City Kids!) and experience with psycho-social groups with young children and teens. She co-leads the Social Thinking Groups at City Kids as well as seeing children individually. Sareena is looking forward to developing relationships with our City Kids clients.
Mae Christianson, MOTR/L
Mae joined the City Kids family in 2023. She completed her Master's degree in Occupational Therapy from University of Illinois. Mae grew up in Chicago and has worked with kids in a variety of settings including the Chicago Park District, tutoring, preschool programs and was an OT student at City Kids! Mae is one of the leaders of the Little Learners group and is pursuing her credential in Early Intervention. Her favorite part of being an OT is getting to plan creative activities that allow her clients to learn, grow, and have fun! She is excited to be a part of the team here and continue to work with the kids and their families at City Kids!
Kim Lukecart, OTR/L, C/NDT
Kim has been working with the City Kids team on and off over the past few years and joined the City Kids team permanently this fall. Kim has experience working in a variety of settings including Early Intervention, hospital based outpatient therapy, NICU, Acute care and hippotherapy. She loves working with a variety of diagnoses including sensory processing disorders, feeding difficulties, ASD, atypical motor disorders, developmental disorders. Kim is NDT certified and has taken many continuing education courses for treatment of sensory processing disorders (Therapeutic Listening, Astronaut Training, MORE) and feeding difficulties (SOS Approach to Feeding).
The Speech Therapists
The speech therapists at City Kids, Inc. have a wide range of experience and expertise in all areas of speech and language development, including oral motorassessment and treatment, articulation/phonology, language disorders, swallowing and feeding, pragmatic/social language, andsensory integration. The therapists also utilize principles based in NDT for children with movement disorders. City Kids, Inc. sees children with a range of disorders and diagnoses including children with genetic syndromes, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy, specific language problems, speech disorders, and children with craniofacial anomalies.
fia mehmeti, M.A. SLP, CFY
Fia is our new Speech Pathologist at City Kids and is completing her clinical fellowship this year. She recently graduated from Baylor University with a masters in Communication Sciences and Disorders. In her program, she did her clinical placements in schools, clinics, and transition centers working from ages 0-21 years. Fia worked with all types of speech and language disorders and disabilities such as autism, down syndrome, cerebral palsy, articulation/phonological disorders, cognition, stuttering, apraxia of speech, language delays and much more. In her clinical fellowship year, Fia's passion and knowledge in the field of Speech Pathology will only blossom as she gets to learn more about the field.
Kaylee Teplinsky, M.S. CCC-SLP, C/NDT
Kaylee is happy to have rejoined City Kids in Nov 2019 after living in Springfield for two years. She holds her Bachelor's degree from the University of Kansas and her Master's from the University of Central Missouri. Kaylee has experience working with children with apraxia of speech, genetic disorders, autism, expressive/receptive language delay, articulation and phonological disorders, and a special focus on feeding skills in children with neuromotor impairments. Her education opportunities include completion of the NDT certification course, SOS Approach to Feeding, Kaufman Speech to Language Protocol, Floortime - DIR and various Social Thinking courses to name a few.
SARAH HENRY MA, CCC-SLP
Sarah joined the City Kids family in 2023. She received my bachelor's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Saint Xavier University and her Masters of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Lewis University. Sarah has a passion for making her sessions fun and functional. Sarah has completed continuing education courses including: Feeding Therapy- A Sensory-Motor Approach, DIR 101- An Introduction to DIR and DIR Floortime, and the Five Day NDT Course. Sarah has experience working with children with a variety of receptive/expressive disorders, autism spectrum disorders, apraxia of speech, genetic disorders, phonological, and articulation disorders. She is enthusiastic about collaborating with other professionals and families to help children reach their full potential.
ALYSSA BUIE, CCC-SLP
Aly joined the City Kids family in 2023. She received her Bachelor’s degree and her Master’s of Health Science in Speech Language Pathology from the University of Missouri. She has a love for working with children with a plethora of communication and social language disorders. She is involved in a variety of group therapy here at City Kids (Little Learners and various social groups) and provides individual services as well. She strongly believes in a collaborative and holistic approach to therapy that emphasizes joy within sessions to motivate the children to reach success in their goals. Her continuing education includes: Feeding Therapy- A Sensory-Motor Approach, DIR 101- An Introduction to DIR and DIRFloortime, and the Five Day NDT Course. She is excited to continue providing effective services that promote functional progress toward goals that translate to all environments.
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JASMINE DE GUZMAN, MS, CCC-SLP
Jasmine joined the City Kids team in 2022. She is a passionate speech and language pathologist who is committed to providing therapeutic services to help children meet their full potential. She received her Bachelor’s degree at Illinois State University and her Master’s degree at Marquette University, where she discovered her passion for working with children with a variety of communication disorders in both group and individual settings. She has experience in articulation and phonological disorders, receptive and expressive language disorders, social communication disorders, feeding disorders, and literacy. She believes that collaborating with families and other professionals is a crucial component to providing effective services. She loves to make children smile and laugh to support them as they progress towards achieving their goals
Daisy
Daisy arrived at City Kids on April 19, 2021. She was born February 14th and brings love and kindness to our practice as our new therapy puppy. She is growing quickly and is learning to sit, lie down, wait for her food and take walks on a leash. She has already brought smiles and happiness to many!!!
group Staff
Our group teachers are speech and language pathologists and occupational therapists
LITTLE LEARNERS
EAT PLAY GROW
JASMINE DEGUZMAN, CCC/SLP
ALY BUIE, CCC/SLP
Kim lukecart
M.S., OTR/L
Eat play Grow
Kaylee Teplinsky
Ms, Ccc-SLP
LITTLE LEARNERS
SOCIAL GROUPS
sareena denis
M.A., OTR/L
little leaners
Childcare Staff
We are fortunate to have a wonderful childcare for our staff at City Kids. They take care of our children, play with them, put them down for naps and chase them around on the playground. They also help us in the gym, assist with LL and do a little of everything!
