Meet Our Team

Samantha is a pediatric occupational therapist at Chicago Occupational Therapy (COT). Originally from Des Moines, Iowa, Samantha completed her bachelor’s degree at Iowa State University and received her doctorate in occupational therapy from Creighton University in Omaha, NE. After graduating, Samantha moved to Salt Lake City, UT to begin her career as an occupational therapist specializing in pediatrics.

Samantha has worked in a variety of settings, including outpatient pediatrics, inpatient rehabilitation, and home health settings. Her pediatric experience includes working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Cerebral Palsy, chromosomal abnormalities, developmental delays, and more.

Prior to joining COT, Samantha has worked on multiple multidisciplinary teams and values communicating and collaborating across disciplines to provide the most effective and evidence-based care for kiddos and their families. Samantha firmly believes that a child’s most important occupation is play, and is always looking for new and creative ways to facilitate skill acquisition and learning through play-based interventions that challenges and empowers children.

Ashley is a Chicago-based occupational therapist at Chicago Occupational Therapy (COT). Ashley earned her bachelor’s degree at Southern Illinois University and her master’s at Elmhurst University. During her master’s program, Ashley completed her Level II fieldwork at COT where she created and implemented individualized treatment plans for kiddos and their families.

Ashley has extensive experience working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, sensory processing difficulties, developmental delays, and other diagnoses in a variety of therapeutic and recreational settings, such as outpatient rehabilitation, in-home, and teletherapy.

Ashley has a passion for working with children and is dedicated to cultivating strong relationships with kiddos and caregivers to ensure family-centered care. She values interdisciplinary collaboration in its ability to meet the unique needs of each child she serves and help them reach their full potential.

Kendra is a Chicago-based pediatric occupational therapist at Chicago Occupational Therapy (COT). She earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Saint Louis University at Saint Louis, Missouri. Throughout her years of experience, Kendra has worked in a variety of settings such as hospitals, early intervention, pediatric outpatient clinics as well as a therapeutic preschool.

Kendra has extensive experience working with children ages birth-18 with a variety of diagnoses including, but not limited to, autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit disorder, sensory processing disorder, developmental delays, neurological conditions, genetic conditions, executive functioning deficits and feeding difficulties. Her specialities through continued education programs include Handwriting Without Tears, SOS Feeding Approach, Reflex Integration and sensory integration techniques.

As a clinician, Kendra values utilizing children’s interests to make therapy as fun, playful and engaging as possible. Kendra also prioritizes ongoing communication with families and other members of the child's team to ensure continuity of care and to help the child reach their full potential.

Asha is an occupational therapist and trained with the team at Chicago Occupational Therapy (COT). Asha received both a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in occupational therapy at Stony Brook University in New York. Asha is currently the lead OT at our pediatric therapy clinic in Belize.

Asha has pediatric occupational therapy experience with developmental delays, autism spectrum disorder, sensory processing difficulty, visual motor delays, and more. She has gained experience in schools, hospitals, sensory based clinics, and home health working with both adults and children with different needs.

Her love for travel therapy has taken Asha from her birthplace of Bronx, NY, to Texas, California, and now Belize City. She is excited to collaborate with like-minded dreamers and doers, explore the islands and jungle hikes, and become trilingual.

Nina is a Chicago-based pediatric occupational therapist at Chicago Occupational Therapy (COT). Nina received her Doctorate of Occupational Therapy at Midwestern University. She is most passionate about being able to support her clients and do something meaningful for the first time with them. Watching her kiddos meet milestones and complete goals are the most rewarding moments.

When she is not with clients Nina is running on the 606, cooking with her grandma, and trying all of the restaurants Chicago has to offer! Nina loves Lou Malnatti's large cheese deep dish (uncut, well done, butter crust). The islands of Croatia are her favorite places to travel to.

Ashley is a Chicago-based pediatric occupational therapist at Chicago Occupational Therapy (COT). Ashley earned her master's degree at Gannon University. She is passionate about working with children! Her kiddos are each so amazingly unique. She loves facilitating interventions that are challenging and engaging to help them build the skills they need to reach their greatest potential. Watching kiddos grow and achieve their goals everyday is beyond rewarding to Ashley!

Outside of work, Ashley loves to travel, cook, explore local festivals and spend time on the lake. She also loves spending time working with the Best Buddies of Illinois program!