Hi everyone! I’m Becky and I’ve been with PSA since 2013. I’m originally from Bloomington, IN but have lived in Indy for a long time. I retired from a Wendy’s franchise corporate office in 2012. Retirement didn’t last long. As many of you know, I keep track of hours and review/process all claims. I’ve been a widow almost 19 years and just last September, lost my wonderful little fur baby (Teddy). My late husband and I were avid horse-back riders and after he passed away, I trail rode with a couple of close friends. I managed to do what I loved for at least 40 years but age did eventually catch up with me. Besides working part time for PSA, I play bridge, euchre, sing in my church choir, play bells at church and love the Indpls. Symphony Orchestra, having attended the Friday Coffee Pops for over 20 years. I make at least two trips to Florida each year and that’s where this picture was taken.
Brad Holtz is a Licensed Physical Therapist with a background in Outpatient Orthopedics specializing in Sports Medicine. He attended Indiana University Bloomington and received an undergraduate degree in Exercise Science prior to completing his Doctorate in Physical Therapy at IU Indianapolis in 2012. Brad has been involved with PSA since the early years when Donna Holtz built the agency with a team of talented service providers. When he is not working, he enjoys spending time with family, staying active, hiking/backpacking, woodworking, DIY projects around the house, and of course eating good food. Brad’s biggest passion is doing whatever he can to have a positive impact on his family and friends.
Cynthia graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Indiana University in 2009. She is Salvadorian American and is fluent in Spanish and English with knowledge of French and Portuguese. Outside of her day-to-day duties as co-director, Cynthia works closely with therapists to support and connect children & families with resources, so they have the best possible outcome in meeting the child’s therapy goals. She has gained experience and knowledge of First Steps by previously working as an Intake Coordinator for the Cluster G SPOE. Family and community is at the heart of everything Cynthia does and she strives for fostering social connections and enhancing overall community well-being.
Outside of PSA, Cynthia enjoys cooking, hiking, and having family dance parties with her daughters, Camila (6) & Sofia (2).
Jennifer Sitzman is a 2000 graduate of Purdue University with a degree in Special Education. During her teaching career, she taught elementary, middle and high school special education students along the mild interventions’ continuum of services. In addition to Indiana, she taught in northern Virginia and near Charlotte, North Carolina. Jennifer and her family became involved with PSA in October of 2021, when her daughter, Iris, started receiving First Steps services from PSA therapists. Her involvement evolved in March 2024, as Iris was aging out of First Steps, Jennifer was hired as the Referral Coordinator. Outside of parenting, Jennifer volunteers with various committees at her church and Down Syndrome Indiana, serves on the Cluster G LPCC, and the box office at Footlite Theater. She loves reading, having coffee and enjoying free events around Indy. Jennifer, Iris and her husband, Brad, live in Indianapolis.
Julia Murray is a licensed occupational therapist with over a decade of experience supporting infants, toddlers, and their families. She earned her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Indiana University in 2013 and has been a dedicated provider with PSA ever since.
Throughout her career, Julia has pursued extensive continuing education to better serve young children with a wide range of needs. Her specialized training includes feeding and oral motor development, sensory processing, reflex integration, brachial plexus injury treatment, motor control and posture, and supporting children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). She became certified in the SOS (Sequential Oral Sensory) Approach to Feeding in 2014.
Julia served in board and committee roles with the Indiana Occupational Therapy Association for eight years. In her current role as PSA’s Lead Occupational Therapist, she supports the professional growth of her colleagues by facilitating new hire training and coordinating continuing education opportunities for providers.
Julia is passionate about helping families feel supported, empowered, and informed throughout the therapy journey. She strives to create a positive and nurturing experience for every child and caregiver she works with.
Julia lives in Westfield with her husband and their three children. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time outdoors, reading, tackling home improvement projects, and making lasting memories with her family and friends.
Kelsey is passionate about early intervention & her role as lead physical therapist for PSA. She received her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Indiana University in 2009 and Doctor of Physical Therapy from IU’s program at IUPUI in 2012. She has been working for Pediatric Specialty Associates since 2012, also having experience in inpatient & outpatient pediatrics and a brief stint in the school system. Kelsey is DMI level C certified, also offering in-home pediatric intensives along with colleague Miranda Paris. She lives in Indianapolis with her husband, two young daughters and golden retriever, enjoying running, yoga, reading and spending time with friends and family. Feel free to reach out to her for any questions related to PSA, EI or gross motor skills in general – she loves chatting about these topics!
Hi my name is Savannah! I moved to Indianapolis in May 2022 and have been with PSA ever since. Prior to moving to Indy, I worked as an SLP in my home city of Chicago at an outpatient pediatric clinic and in the public schools. I have a passion for working with young children and enjoy coaching families on how to best support their child’s communication development. My special interests in the field include: neurodiversity affirming practices, autism spectrum disorder, dual language development, gestalt language processing, and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). I also serve as PSA’s lead Speech Therapist assisting with training, coordinating in-services, and various admin tasks. In my free time I enjoy biking on the Monon Trail, trying new restaurants, and decorating my home using thrifted pieces.
Chloe Rodgers is a development therapist with a communication focus who joined PSA in 2024. She graduated from IU with a bachelors degree in Speech & Hearing Sciences and Spanish Linguistics. Currently, Chloe is working toward her master’s degree at the University of Cincinnati to soon become a speech-language pathologist!
Working as a DT-C has allowed Chloe to gain valuable experience in the field of early intervention and continue pursuing her passion for helping young children communicate and gain confidence in their developmental milestones. She enjoys supporting families in both English and Spanish and finds great joy in connecting with people from a wide range of cultures and backgrounds.
Outside of school and work, Chloe enjoys practicing yoga, dancing, reading new books with friends, spending time with family, and cuddling her cat, Stormi. She is grateful to be part of the PSA team and looks forward to continuing her journey in supporting children and families!
Kaelyn Hobbs graduated from Ball State University in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in family and child studies with a concentration in child development. Kaelyn has enjoyed being a part of the PSA team since August of 2023. As a developmental therapist, Kaelyn strives to promote developmentally appropriate practices while fostering creativity and confidence in children to maximize learning and growth! When Kaelyn is not working, she enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and pets, cooking, traveling, and has plans to further her education in the near future while continuing to serve families as a DT with PSA!
Kelcie Small has been a Developmental Therapist with PSA since 2014. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Family and Consumer Sciences with a concentration in Child Development. With over a decade of hands-on experience, Kelcie is passionate about supporting young children and their families through early intervention and developmental support.
She loves working one-on-one with families, getting to know them personally, and learning about their backgrounds and cultures. Building meaningful connections is one of her favorite parts of the job.
Outside of her work, Kelcie enjoys traveling, backpacking, staying active with CrossFit, and spending quality time with her family.
Kris Wu graduated from Indiana University in 1997 with a Kindergarten-Primary Degree as well as an Early Childhood Degree. Kris has had a wide variety of teaching experiences since graduating which have proven to be helpful with gaining perspective on the early childhood age as well as goals for children as they reach elementary age in a classroom. She taught third grade in Indianapolis for three years following by second grade in Oak Park, IL. She and her husband then moved to San Diego where she taught preschool and Kindergarten, and finally settled down in Indiana where they have raised their two boys. Once back in Indiana, Kris worked in a preschool classroom with two year olds for five years. During this time, she developed a passion for teaching, nurturing, and working with this early childhood age group and their families. In 2013, she began working for Pediatric Specialty Associates as a Developmental Therapist! Kris has enjoyed her time with the agency and all of the families she has met and worked with closely. She believes in working as a team with each family in a positive and encouraging environment and communicating regularly. Kris feels that by partnering alongside with the parents she can help them gain confidence and strategies to better meet their child’s goals
Kristine is a mom to six kids, three who were adopted as older siblings from foster care. Her oldest kiddo has special needs and lives in a supported living home nearby, and two of her adopted children has fetal alcohol syndrome and attachment disorders. These experiences have contributed to her having a strong passion for families who are dealing with trauma or with special needs. After college Kristine worked full time in the public schools for a decade, plus part time in early intervention with a small stint in elder care before deciding that being a stay-at-home mom was best for her family situation. Fast forward twenty years later, and she re-entered the job scene and found PSA which she says is the best job she’s ever had hand’s down. At her age having the support and the autonomy that PSA provides is priceless, and she loves working as a team with the other amazing therapists and staff in addition to providing support, education, and resources to the parents. Working for PSA could not be a better fit!
Outside of work, Kristine has a passion for volunteering and has volunteered for over 20 years at ICAN (Indiana Canine Assistance Network, which is the only accredited service dog organization in Indiana), and she is the Head Chairperson for the Human Rights Committee at Sycamore Services ensuring that no rights are being violated in all of the behavior plans that go through the organization. Her past volunteer jobs included being a foster parent for 12 years and volunteering at Deaf Camp for 10 years. In her free time you might find her hacking at balls on the golf course, reading a book, riding a horse, spending time with her dogs, or having fun with her family and partner, Randy.
Marie Lothamer is a developmental therapist who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and Exceptional Needs from Purdue University in 2020. She enjoys supporting many families throughout Indianapolis with their children’s developmental needs. Marie has been working with children in First Steps since 2022 and before that worked as a teacher for IPS. Marie has always believed all children deserve a chance to grow and flourish and wants to give families the tools they need to make that a reality. When she is not busy supporting children and their families, Marie likes to spend her time crafting, thrifting, and trying out new board games and tabletop games!
Sharon has been a developmental therapist with PSA since the fall of 2013. She has a bachelors degree in both special education and elementary education. Her masters degree is in early childhood education.
Sharon has experience teaching third grade as well as pre-kindergarten. Early intervention is her niche and her passion. Sharon loves helping each individual child take the next step to reach their milestones and supporting families along the way. Sharon loves to get to partner with each family on her caseload to meet their specific goals.
When she is not working, Sharon loves to knit, spend time with family, and invest in relationships with the people she loves.
Allison Mender received her Bachelors in Social Work from Indiana University. She has always been passionate about working with children, briefly working with the Department of Child Services. She was frequently making referrals for children on her caseload to receive occupational therapy and saw first-hand the direct change OT could make for the child and family. This led Allison to pursue her Masters in Occupational Therapy from Maryville University in St. Louis. Upon graduation, she moved to South Carolina for her husband’s job, where she gained experience with pediatrics of all ages with a hybrid role in clinics and natural environment.
Allison joined the PSA team when she moved back to Indiana in 2022. She loves working on all things related to feeding, sensory processing, play, and milestones that lead to function. She is a mom of two and struggled with feeding her older son when he was born. She understands the stress first hand and loves being able to step in to support families so they can feel more confident taking care of their little ones. Allison completed the FGRBI training in 2023-24 and enjoys guiding families to find solutions that work best for them.
In her free time, Allison’s favorite thing to do is spend time with her boys, becoming an expert on all the local play places through the lens of her own active, WILD toddler. She’s become an obstacle course master and loves trying (and failing) at new heavy work ideas at home before introducing them in therapy sessions. She successfully avoided Cocomelon in her home but had her guard down and now holds the record for most times a person can view Toy Story 3 (no, the others won’t do).
Alyssa Amore graduated from University of Southern Indiana with her Master’s in Occupational Therapy in 2019. She has worked in pediatrics since graduating from college and joined the PSA team in June 2023. Alyssa enjoys working with individuals of all ages and abilities, but is most passionate about helping children with sensory processing differences and challenging behaviors. Before attending grad school, she was a behavioral therapist for children with autism and worked with children/teens that have experienced trauma. She loves helping families identify strategies to support their children’s needs, striving to find that “just right challenge” in their everyday activities. In her free time, she loves spending time with her family and friends, walking her dogs, being outside, boating, watching way too much Netflix, and going to Pacers games!
Amber Knies is a dedicated pediatric occupational therapist with a passion for helping children thrive through play. With nearly a decade of experience at Ascension St. Vincent and Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital, she brings a warm, hands-on approach to supporting kids and their families through every stage of development.
Amber earned her undergraduate degree in Exercise Science from Indiana University Bloomington and went on to complete her master’s in Occupational Therapy at Indiana State University. Over the years, she has pursued specialized training in SOS feeding, primitive reflex integration, and hippotherapy—adding depth and versatility to her therapy toolkit.
She currently serves families through the First Steps early intervention program, working closely with young children to build foundational skills that foster independence, confidence, and joy. Whether it’s through sensory play, movement-based therapy, or equine-assisted sessions, Amber believes in meeting each child where they are and helping them reach their fullest potential.
Outside of work, Amber is always on the move—literally. She loves running, swimming, hiking, and reading whenever she can find a quiet moment. Most of all, she enjoys spending time with her two young boys, who keep her playful spirit alive and inspire her every day.
Amber Yarbrough is originally from Brookville, Indiana. After obtaining her bachelor’s degree, She worked a year as an exercise physiologist in cardiac rehab in Florida. Amber then went on to get her Masters degree in Occupational Therapy at IUPUI in 2009. Amber has worked in hospitals and outpatient settings. Her passion became early intervention when she saw how impactful services were for her neice and nephew who received First Steps.
She has been with First Steps with the PSA team for 9 years now and always works to meet the family and child where they are at. Amber loves the family centered approach and enjoys collaborating with families. Amber works with a variety of conditions and diagnosis including but not limited to; down syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, feeding difficulties, prematurity, neonatal abstinence syndrome, global developmental delay, genetic disorders, sensory processing difficulties.
Amber lives with her husband Eric, and her 2 children and puppy Luna. She loves outdoor activities, reading, and spending time with family and friends!
Chelsea attended Purdue University in 2014 where she received her Bachelor’s of Science in Movement and Sports Sciences and continued to Indiana Wesleyan University receiving her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy in 2018. Chelsea has worked with the pediatric population throughout her career, previously providing OT services within the outpatient, ABA, and school settings before transitioning to early intervention. She has experience working with children with a variety of needs including but not limited to sensory processing differences, feeding difficulties, emotional regulation difficulties, developmental delays, autism, ADHD, fine motor/visual motor weakness, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and spina bifida. Chelsea is passionate about supporting children and families to reach their maximum potential and strives to make each session full of fun and play!
She currently lives in Greenwood, IN with her husband, James, toddler son, Sawyer, and golden retriever dog, Rory. In her free time, Chelsea enjoys spending time with her family, trying out new coffee shops, visiting farmers markets, and reading.
Hello! My name is Danielle & I have been an OT since 2017. I earned my Master’s Degree at Indiana State University. I have been an OT in a variety of settings including schools, home health, outpatient, and Autism Centers. I joined PSA this past December & I am so glad I did!
I am currently working towards becoming a certified autism specialist. My hopes for 2024 is to take on more feeding/swallowing kiddos and become more educated in this area; as well as continue to support those with ASD. I am currently working with kiddos who have sensory, feeding/swallowing, fine motor, gross motor, & behavioral needs.
In my spare time I enjoy cuddling my three pups, working out, drinking coffee, gardening, being in nature, and spending time with friends and family. My husband and I love to go see live music and comedy shows. I am currently training for my third spartan race. My goal eventually is to do another Mini or Triathlon. We also hope to travel to the Netherlands next year!
My name is Jennifer Ferrell. I graduated from Hanover College with an undergraduate in Psychology in 2004 and with my Masters in Occupational Therapy in 2011 from Indiana University. After graduation I worked with adults and children at St. Vincent Hospital both in inpatient and in outpatient therapy. Then I worked for many years at the Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana mainly specializing in Stroke and Spinal Cord rehab. I started working for PSA in 2021. I truly love being able to work with the children in their most natural environments and provide education to their caregivers. I love seeing so much growth throughout my time with the kids and working alongside the parents to help create goals that are meaningful to them. I enjoy working with all kinds of kids but especially with areas such as autism and sensory processing. I also love working together with other therapists and co-treating to find what is best for each kid we serve.
When I’m not working I enjoy spending time with my husband and 2 kids. You can see me cheering my kids on at all their sporting events. We love getting outside and exploring new parks, going on bike rides and swimming in the summer time. I found out about PSA when my daughter received Speech services through PSA when she was little. I also love to read and volunteer at church and at my kid’s schools.
Jen Mocarski has been with PSA since 2007. She earned her bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy in 1994 from Eastern Michigan University. Her years of experience have been working with the pediatric population in the school system and outpatient clinics. She is passionate about supporting the developmental needs of infants and young children through the First Steps Program. Jen feels privileged to work with families to empower them with the tools needed to support their child’s development and help them to thrive.
Outside of work, Jen enjoys teaching yoga, gardening, volunteering at church and spending time with her amazing family.
I’m a pediatric occupational therapist and have been helping children thrive since 2017. My passion for OT comes from a deep desire to support children in reaching their full potential, no matter their diagnosis. I love collaborating with families to create meaningful strategies that fit their unique needs. I’ve gained a diverse skill set through my work in acute care, outpatient and now First Steps, allowing me to adapt my approach to meet each child’s unique needs. I have experience working with children with sensory processing challenges, cerebral palsy, brachial plexus, Autism, fine motor skills, feeding, emotional regulation and infant milestones.
Outside of work, you’ll find me in my garden, painting, thrifting or spending time with friends, family and dog Marley!
Julia Murray is a licensed occupational therapist with over a decade of experience supporting infants, toddlers, and their families. She earned her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Indiana University in 2013 and has been a dedicated provider with PSA ever since.
Throughout her career, Julia has pursued extensive continuing education to better serve young children with a wide range of needs. Her specialized training includes feeding and oral motor development, sensory processing, reflex integration, brachial plexus injury treatment, motor control and posture, and supporting children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). She became certified in the SOS (Sequential Oral Sensory) Approach to Feeding in 2014.
Julia served in board and committee roles with the Indiana Occupational Therapy Association for eight years. In her current role as PSA’s Lead Occupational Therapist, she supports the professional growth of her colleagues by facilitating new hire training and coordinating continuing education opportunities for providers.
Julia is passionate about helping families feel supported, empowered, and informed throughout the therapy journey. She strives to create a positive and nurturing experience for every child and caregiver she works with.
Julia lives in Westfield with her husband and their three children. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time outdoors, reading, tackling home improvement projects, and making lasting memories with her family and friends.
Katrina Smith earned a Bachelors Degree in Speech & Hearing Sciences from Purdue University and an Masters Degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Indianapolis. After honing her skills in long-term care, the schools, and part-time work at First Steps, Katrina decided to dedicate her attention full time to First Steps. She joined Pediatric Specialty Associates back in 2003, and absolutely loves working with the little ones and their families. She’s fascinated by the incredible changes a child goes through from birth to three years old and tailors her sessions to meet their unique needs, as well as the needs of their family. These little ones amaze her and she feels she learns something new from them every single day! Over the years, Katrina has had the privilege of working with a diverse range of children with developmental delays, prematurity, and children who just need a little extra support. She’s attended numerous seminars on motor development, prematurity, sensorimotor, visual motor, feeding, and more.
In her spare time, you can find Katrina enjoying life at home with her two adorable dogs, Max and Patches and loves to catch up with friends and family. She also enjoys reading, watching movies and shows, listening to music, working out, and when she has extra time, researching her family history.
Kim Forehand graduated from Ohio State University with her Masters in Occupational Therapy in 2014. She has thoroughly enjoyed working with little ones for her entire OT career and does not see that changing anytime soon! She has worked in First Steps in Northern Indiana, a pediatric outpatient clinic in both Goshen, Indiana and Knoxville, Tennessee and now with PSA since January 2023. Prior to OT school, Kim worked in a developmental preschool and a center for autistic children. Her interest areas include sensory processing, autism, feeding—especially sensory feeding difficulties, regulation/calming strategies for toddlers and families, and celebrating every step in fine and gross motor skill development. She enjoys walking alongside parents and caregivers through encouragement, coaching, and problem solving all areas of child development. When she is not working, she loves spending time with her two daughters, her husband, and her cat. She enjoys spending as much time outside as possible, exploring new parks and playgrounds with her family, biking, hiking, and swimming, reading, and finding local treasures around Central, Indiana, and beyond.
Meg Parton, OTR/L is a licensed occupational therapist with a strong foundation in early intervention and a passion for whole-child care. She specializes in nervous system regulation, craniosacral therapy, and sensory integration approaches tailored to infants and toddlers. Megan believes in meeting each child where they are and supporting families through compassionate, evidence- informed strategies that promote connection, development, and every day function. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her children and staying active through climbing, yoga, and creative pursuits.
Morgan Backes received her bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies from IU in 2014 and her Master of Science in occupational therapy degree from IUPUI in 2016. She started working for PSA in 2016 following her graduation and board exam. Morgan chose to work in early intervention because she values working with children in their home environment and being able to include caregivers every step of the way. She has worked with children to increase their independence with sensory regulation, eating, fine motor milestones, and daily routines. Morgan enjoys finding creative ways to help expand a child’s diet, incorporating household items in play, and helping families create strategies to help make day to day routines easier. Morgan lives in Zionsville with her husband, 3 kids, and dog. In her free time, she enjoys making new memories with her kids, participating in book club with her college friends, running, and attending IU sporting events.
Natalie Agliato has been an OT with PSA since March 2022. Natalie earned a Bachelors of Science in Psychology from Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 2015 then pursued a Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa. After graduating in 2020, Natalie returned to her hometown in the Chicago suburbs and began working in a school district with elementary and pre-school aged students. During the fall of 2021, Natalie followed her husband to Indiana where she first worked in outpatient pediatrics before beginning work in First Steps with PSA.
Natalie has a passion for providing family- and child-led, neurodiversity affirming therapy. Natalie has special interests in sensory regulation and ASD.
In her free time, Natalie enjoys reading, working out, and spending time with friends and family which includes her husband, their small dog, and their son.
Natalie Wietholter is an occupational therapist on mission to help others feel seen and heard so that they feel safe enough to grow. She graduated from Hope College with her undergraduate degree in psychology in 2014 and Western Michigan University with her masters degree in occupational therapy in 2017. The focus of her career has been in pediatrics and worked at an outpatient pediatric clinic through a local hospital system prior to joining PSA in 2023. Natalie has experience in working with a wide range of challenges impacting development, however, specializes in regulation and sensory processing issues as it relates to children with complex developmental trauma, autism, ADHD and other neurodivergent populations. She has training in sensory processing, DIR Floortime, Handwriting Without Tears, the Polyvagal Theory, and is a Trust-Based Relationship Intervention (TBRI) Practitioner. Natalie’s approach is rooted in connected relationship and client-centered play so that children can grow in all areas of development.
Natalie’s favorite days typically involve family, friends, nature, and coffee.
Paige Boggs graduated from IUPUI with her Masters in Occupational Therapy in 2018. Upon graduation, Paige started working with PSA. Paige loves working with the 0-3 population and supporting parents on how to best meet their child’s needs. Paige enjoys supporting families to help their child be as independent as possible with their daily routines. Interest areas for early intervention include oral motor and oral sensory feeding, sensory co-regulation, fine motor development, and self-care routine skills. She has also completes the AEIOU feeding course. When she isn’t working, Paige enjoys spending time with her husband, two year old son, and 4 month old daughter. She is looking forward to the warmer weather to spend lots of time outside swimming, boating, going to parks and spending time with friends and family. Fun fact about Paige is she is an introverted extrovert-yes it’s possible!
Teresa Smith graduated from University of Indianapolis Occupational therapy school in 1995. She worked in long term care for 3 years when graduating and has worked within the First Steps system for the remainder of her career. She started working within the First Steps System in 1998. She has been with PSA since 2011. Her favorite part of her job is meeting families where they are in their journey with their child. She enjoys making connections with families and empowering them to be proactive for their child and instilling confidence in ways to help their child develop in their home environment. Teresa especially enjoys working with feeding challenges, sensorimotor impairments, and children born prematurely and has participated in numerous trainings in these areas.
When not working, she enjoys spending time with her family to include her husband, Dave, her grown children, Chloe and Caitlyn, and their 13 year old rescue dog, Lokie. Her family loves to travel and adventure together. They love to hike National Parks together as well as have a relaxing vacation at the beach. She also enjoys to read and going to church. She loves to walk and has used this passion to participate in the Susan G. Komen 3 day, 60 mile walk for the past 7 years. In this walk she has raised $20,000 to fight cancer which is a cause close to her heart.
Alison graduated with a BS in Physical Therapy from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX in 1992. She has worked in acute care, adult rehab, long term care and early childhood in Texas, Montana, Wyoming, and now Indiana. Wyoming was her first early childhood experience, and she worked in both part B and C programs with the developmental preschool. Alison has a special interest in medically complex children and torticollis. Alison started with PSA in November 2023 after moving to Indiana with her husband. They have two children, lived in 6 different states and 2 foreign countries (Singapore and Canada), and enjoy traveling and trying new things. She volunteers within the neighborhood association, sings in the church choir, and plays in the handbell choir.
Brooke has been a PT for 15 years. Receiving her undergraduate degree at the University of Tennessee in Exercise Science in 2006 and Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in 2010 from A.T. Still University. She worked at Riley Hospital for Children for 14 years covering acute rehab as well as every unit in the hospital except NICU. She has a wealth of knowledge in a variety of conditions, even specialized in the burn unit and covered their outpatient clinic for scar management. Starting in 2024, she joined PSA to focus on early intervention and fulfill her deep love for the birth to 3 year-old age group. Brooke has been married for 13 years and has 4 daughters and 2 dogs who keep her very busy as well as running a family business, 4G Shirt Co, providing business apparel & local spirit wear. In her rare free time, she loves to be active, work out, hike, and play golf.
Jamie earned her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Indiana University in 2018. She knew early in her academic journey that she wanted to work with pediatrics, and she actively pursued experiences with children through clubs and coursework. Jamie had the unique opportunity to complete her final clinical experience with PSA and was eager to join the team upon graduation!
While Jamie has dedicated much of her career to the early intervention population, she brings valuable experience from school-based therapy, pediatric outpatient settings, and adult acute care. She has worked with a broad range of diagnoses, including but not limited to cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, genetic disorders, torticollis, plagiocephaly, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), hip dysplasia, hypo/hypertonia, developmental delays, extreme prematurity, prenatal substance exposure, and visual impairments.
Jamie takes pride in creating sessions that are fun, engaging, and tailored to each child’s unique interests and goals. She is committed to providing families with practical therapeutic tools and strategies that can be integrated into their daily routines. Her goal is to empower caregivers to feel confident and capable in supporting their child’s development and reach their full potential.
In her free time, Jamie enjoys spending time with her husband and son. As a family, they enjoy traveling, hiking, and visiting local coffee shops!
Kaitlyn graduated from the University of Indianapolis with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science in 2019. She then graduated with her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the Indiana University School of Health and Human Sciences in 2022. Since 2022, Kaitlyn has worked for Pediatric Specialty Associates, specializing in pediatrics. Kaitlyn has several years of experience working with children aged 0-3 years old. Kaitlyn has had the privilege of working with children with various diagnoses including but not limited to torticollis, plagiocephaly, epilepsy, Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder, brachial plexus injury, prematurity, prenatal substance exposure, visual impairments, low/high muscle tone, gross motor delay, and developmental delay. Kaitlyn thoroughly enjoys working in early intervention and building relationships with a variety of families. Kaitlyn is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).
Outside of working, Kaitlyn enjoys walking and running, spending time with her family and friends, and baking. Kaitlyn currently lives on the north side with her golden retriever puppy, Pretzel. She also thoroughly enjoys spending lots of time outside on walks and playing with Pretzel in her free time.
Kari graduated from Indiana University in 2008 where she received her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Doctor of Physical therapy from IU’s program in 2012. Kari has experience in multiple settings including outpatient orthopedic and home health care. She has been with PSA since 2019 and really enjoys working in early intervention and providing individualized care to patients in their home. Kari lives in Clayton, IN with her husband Chris and their two children (ages 8 and 6).
Katelyn attended the University of Cincinnati in 2017 where she received her Bachelor’s of Science in Health Sciences. She then continued her education at IU’s program at IUPUI where she received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy. Upon, graduation, Katelyn joined the PSA team. She has found a passion for educating and empowering parents and caregivers on how they can best support their children to reach their full mobility potential. She has experience working with children with down syndrome, torticollis, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, autism, toe walking, gross motor delay, and hydrocephalus. She currently lives in Fortville, IN with her fiancé who she will be marrying in August of this year. In her free time, Katelyn enjoys working out, baking, and spending time outdoors either hiking or fishing.
Meet Katie, a mom of four living in Indianapolis! She earned a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Evansville in 2011. She also has a Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training, which she earned back in 2009. While she was in grad school, she worked as an Athletic Trainer in youth sports.
Katie started her physical therapy career in adult orthopedics and geriatrics. But when her first child started showing developmental delays, the family jumped into early intervention services to support their son and the whole family. This experience ignited a new passion for her – early intervention! She became super dedicated to helping her own son, exploring different modalities like sensory processing disorder, visual-vestibular training, and coordination disorder training.
With the encouragement of the First Steps therapists, Katie started working as a therapist for First Steps Indiana in 2016. During this time, she completed specialized training in Masgatova Neurosensorimotor Reflex Integration (MNRI), a therapy method that uses sensory-motor techniques to improve motor functions. As a therapist, she’s always on the lookout for new ways to support the families she works with, treating conditions like torticollis, plagiocephaly, and early intervention for ASD and ADHD.
Since 2016, Katie has welcomed three more children into her life, and her experience with infants and child development has grown exponentially. She’s particularly drawn to fetal and infant development from a natural and evolutionary perspective. She loves exploring theories and their implications for her life and work. And when she’s not helping others, you can find her on her front porch, watching her kids play in the yard, greeting neighbors, or exploring the city’s parks, libraries, and hiking or biking trails. She usually ends up stomping in a creek somewhere along the way!
Kelsey is passionate about early intervention & her role as lead physical therapist for PSA. She received her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Indiana University in 2009 and Doctor of Physical Therapy from IU’s program at IUPUI in 2012. She has been working for Pediatric Specialty Associates since 2012, also having experience in inpatient & outpatient pediatrics and a brief stint in the school system. Kelsey is DMI level C certified, also offering in-home pediatric intensives along with colleague Miranda Paris. She lives in Indianapolis with her husband, two young daughters and golden retriever, enjoying running, yoga, reading and spending time with friends and family. Feel free to reach out to her for any questions related to PSA, EI or gross motor skills in general – she loves chatting about these topics!
Mindy Burke is passionate about empowering families and supporting children as they grow and develop. She graduated from the University of Evansville in 2002 and began her career as a Physical Therapist with Indiana First Steps, where she has been dedicated to serving children in central Indiana ever since. Mindy loves helping families understand their child’s development and celebrating progress along the way.
With experience working with a wide range of diagnoses, Mindy provides child- and family-centered physical therapy sessions. She believes in creating a warm, engaging environment where families feel supported and children can thrive. She sees every child as a unique individual, focusing on their strengths while making therapy both meaningful and fun.
When she’s not working, Mindy enjoys spending time with her husband, two children, and their noisy (but lovable) rescued Bluetick Coonhound. She loves reading, coffee, being outdoors, and cooking. You can often find her cheering on her daughter in soccer and cross country or her son in swimming. She is proud to have worked with the wonderful agency of PSA for 20 years!
Miranda is a board certified specialist in pediatrics and is an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). She graduated with a BS in Kinesiology from Indiana University in 2006. She has been working for Pediatric Specialty Associates ever since receiving her doctorate in physical therapy in 2009 from Mount St Joseph University in Cincinnati. Miranda has also worked for Riley Hospital for Children, gaining years of experience working with medically complex children. She has also been trained in Dynamic Movement Intervention (DMI) and incorporates it into therapy on a daily basis. Her experience also includes working with children with SMA, achondroplasia, arthrogryposis, spina bifida, tracheostomies, congenital heart disease, intracranial hemorrhage, prenatal substance exposure, torticollis, cerebral palsy, down syndrome and many other genetic conditions and developmental delays. Miranda lives in Indianapolis with her husband and two children, aged 4 and 7. She loves to read and do Pilates (but mostly read) if she manages to find any spare time to herself.
Paige received her Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from Indiana University in 2010. She received her Doctor of Physical Therapy from Indiana University in 2013. Paige has experience in multiple settings including outpatient orthopedics and acute care. Paige’s interest in pediatrics was sparked at a young age while accompanying her brother who has Downs Syndrome to his speech, OT, and PT sessions. Paige enjoys creating fun, purposeful therapy sessions to help families reach their goals.
Paige lives in Indianapolis with her husband, 3 young children, and her dog. In her free time, she loves to exercise and enjoy the outdoors. She loves HIIT classes, running, walking, swimming, and hiking. She especially enjoys spending time with family and friends.
Stephanie has been working as a Physical Therapist with PSA since 2019 and is passionate about supporting children and their families through early intervention! Stephanie was born and raised in Central Indiana and grew up learning about the world of First Steps from her mother, who was also a First Steps PT. She graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in Dance Performance from University of South Carolina in 2015 and then came home to Indiana to earn her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Indiana University in 2018. During her last year of physical therapy school, Stephanie was selected to participate in Riley Childhood Development Center’s Leadership & Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) fellowship program, which broadened her abilities to provide support to families and work as a part of an interdisciplinary team. Stephanie has a wide range of experience in pediatrics including work in early intervention, outpatient pediatrics, NICU, hippotherapy, and robotic-assisted gait training. She has completed advanced continuing education in DMI (Dynamic Movement Intervention), Myofascial Release, Torticollis, and reflex integration. Stephanie loves continuing to learn to meet the needs of the children she works with!
Stephanie lives in Westfield with her husband and three energetic young boys. She loves spending time in cozy coffee shops, walking along the Monon trail, cooking and baking for her family, being active in her church, and exploring the many family-friendly spots throughout Indy! Stephanie is passionate about educating families and finding fun ways to promote motor development at home and in the community. She enjoys building relationships with each of the families she works with and helping children reach their highest potentials!
Tracey graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with her Master’s in Physical Therapy in 2001. She is a dedicated Physical Therapist who has worked with the pediatric population since 2002. She specializes in early intervention from birth to 3 years of age and currently works for Pediatric Specialty Associates with the First Steps Program. She has worked with a variety of diagnoses, including but not limited to developmental delay, torticollis, prematurity, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, arthrogryposis, rare genetic conditions, plagiocephaly, Down Syndrome, congenital heart defects, congenital malformations, visual impairments, plagiocephaly, and prenatal substance abuse, to name a few. She is comfortable working with kids with complex medical needs such as tracheostomies, feeding tubes, oxygen, etc. She has experience working with orthoses, reshaping helmet, de-rotation straps, Kinesio taping, and adaptive equipment. Tracey is very comfortable working with families of multiples, with nursing care, and with daycare providers.
Tracey is passionate about providing physical therapy services for children in need because she believes early intervention is vital to their development and future outcomes. She is very compassionate and caring as she can relate to many of her parents’ worries and concerns. She personally has had a child in therapy services and another who underwent extensive medical interventions.
Tracey currently lives in Carmel, IN with her husband, boy/girl twins, and dog. She also has a son in Heaven who passed away from brain tumors at the age of 6. She is a strong advocate for childhood cancer research and raises money in her son’s honor for The St. Baldrick’s Foundation.
Amy Riego has been serving the children of Indiana since earning her Masters Degree in Speech Language Pathology from Purdue University in 2000. She spent a majority of her career treating children ages 0-18 in a hospital and outpatient setting, but decided to focus on early intervention by joining PSA in 2022. This decision has been a game changer for it has afforded her the opportunity to work with children and their families in their most natural environment, home! Her areas of specialty include treatment of speech and language disorders including apraxia of speech and stuttering, social pragmatic language disorders associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and pediatric dysphagia. Amy has experienced therapy from both sides, for she is the parent of two children who required a push in their early years of development. This has allowed her to become more functional with her care and has made her a stronger professional. Outside of therapy, Amy enjoys participating in any form of exercise. She loves to travel near and far and wishes that she could cook as well as she can eat. Her favorite thing in the world is watching her children grow up and experience life. You will find her on the cross country courses in the Fall and in the stands at track meets in the Spring and, of course, she is cheering.
Carrie graduated from Purdue University (Boiler Up!) in 2022 with bachelor’s degrees in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences and Spanish. She then continued her educational journey at Purdue, earning a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology in 2024. Following graduation, Carrie completed her clinical fellowship at Children’s Therapy Connection in Indianapolis, gaining valuable experience in both the outpatient and early intervention settings. Through this experience, Carrie discovered her love for the First Steps program and was thrilled to join the PSA team in 2025 to specialize in supporting early language learners and their families.
Carrie is passionate about supporting multilingual children, connecting with toddlers through play, and coaching and encouraging caregivers. She has experience working with toddlers with a range of communication needs, including expressive and receptive language disorders, suspected childhood apraxia of speech, autism spectrum disorder, and hearing impairment. It is a joy to play a role in building little ones’ early communication skills!
When not stacking blocks/ blowing bubbles/ singing songs within intervention, Carrie enjoys spending time with her husband and sisters, trying new restaurants in the Indy area, and staying active by walking, biking, and taking group fitness classes.
Courtney attended Ball State University, where she earned a B.S. in Speech Pathology & Audiology in 2014, and an M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology in 2016. She began her career at a hospital treating adult and geriatric patients in the inpatient and acute rehab settings, followed by a brief tenure at a skilled nursing facility. From there she knew that she wanted to return to her original passion — working with kids. She transitioned to pediatrics in 2020 when she started a position at an outpatient clinic. She began her journey with First Steps when she joined PSA’s team in June of 2022. One of Courtney’s favorite parts of her job is building connections with families and their toddlers. She loves engaging in child-led play-based therapy while using a neurodiversity-affirming approach. It is her goal to help find the mode of communication that is best-suited for each child. She also values the importance of encouraging families to target emotional regulation, including using co-regulation strategies to help their little ones feel safe and calm. In her free time Courtney loves going to concerts, taking road trips, doing word puzzles, and hanging out with her friends, family, and high school sweetheart, Ty.
Emilee Sherrow-Aguilar is an SLP that has been with PSA since 2018. She completed her undergraduate degree at Indiana University in 2015 and finished her Master’s program at Saint Mary’s College in 2017. She lives on the southside of Indianapolis with her husband, Jorge. Along with doing First Steps, she has worked in Perry Township schools for most of her career. In 2022, she discovered her passion for working with autistic children who use delayed echolalia and AAC, which led her to start her own private practice on the side. She’s also a big advocate for child-led and play-based therapy because she believes kids thrive when they’re comfortable and having fun! In her spare time, she enjoys going to concerts and playing volleyball. She also spends a lot of time with her family, especially her 3 nieces.
Erin completed her Bachelor’s degree in Speech and Hearing Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2010. She graduated with her Master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Western Carolina University in 2013. Erin has worked in the public schools as well as skilled nursing settings, but early intervention is by far her favorite! She has been with PSA since August 2015 and continues to be so thankful for the opportunity to do what she loves. Erin has experience working with children with a wide range of communication difficulties, but has recently been interested in learning more about and implementing a neurodiversity affirming framework. Erin uses a child-led approach, focusing on incorporating the child’s interests and supporting regulation while encouraging all forms of communication! Erin strives to help parents focus on their child’s strengths, prioritizing “connection over compliance,” and using these strengths to help build upon relationships and skills! Erin understands that the world of therapy can be scary and overwhelming to families; meeting the family and child where they are is of the utmost importance. When not working, Erin stays busy at home with her husband and 4 young children! She enjoys traveling, running, and cheering on the Fighting Illini!
Hello, my name is Hillary Lupo. I’ve been a First Steps speech therapist since 2018. I graduated from Indiana University with a bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and Disorders and then went on to earn my master’s degree in communication sciences and Disorders from the University of South Carolina in 2018.
I’ve always been passionate about working with children, especially in early intervention. I believe that communication development is crucial during this stage of life, and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of children in the birth to three population.
I love working with families, teaching them effective strategies for play and communication with their children, and witnessing their children’s growth and development. It’s truly rewarding to see how much they can learn and progress at such a young age.
In addition to my professional work, I’m married to my husband, Max, and we have two beautiful baby girls. Having children of my own has made me a better pediatric speech-language pathologist. It taught me valuable lessons about patience, compassion, and the importance of nurturing children’s growth.
In my free time, I enjoy working out, walking, spending time with friends and family, and puzzling. These activities help me relax and recharge, and they also provide me with opportunities to engage in activities that I enjoy.
I’ve been with PSA since 2010 and have a wide breadth of experience over the past 19 years as an SLP. I love professional learning. I read voraciously and am often on the hunt for new evidence-based approaches and interventions. I also enjoy learning from my fellow therapists and you, the family, who bring so much to the table. I utilize a parent forward, routines-based approach which makes you and your unique priorities the most important part of the therapy process. Most importantly, I love to play! Play is the foundation of learning – especially language learning. The best part of my job is teaching parents and kids how to engage with each other and how to utilize the therapy tools already in your toy bin (or kitchen drawer, recycling bin, etc.) I live in Westfield with my husband and spoiled pup. I am an adoptive parent, former foster parent, former homeschooling parent, and proud mom to 3 amazing kids. I look forward to partnering with you to help your child be their very best.
Kelley Davis has been a speech pathologist with the PSA team since January 2020. Prior to joining PSA, Kelley gathered over 13 years of experience at St Vincent Hospital as a speech therapist in both inpatient / outpatient pediatrics, as well as NICU. During her years at St Vincent, Kelley served on the multi-disciplinary Craniofacial / Cleft Lip & Palate team. Because of this, Kelley has a passion for working with families of cleft kids, helping them with both feeding and speech outcomes. In addition to this area of expertise, special skills include: infant feeding, video swallow studies, FEES, Passy-Muir speaking valve, and nasopharyngoscopy to assess palate function for speech. Kelley also enjoys working with young children with speech-sound disorders, including childhood apraxia of speech (CAS).
In her spare time, Kelley loves reading, traveling with her family, and cuddling with her cat, Sputnik (who hates cuddles!). Kelley’s son and daughter keep her very busy, but when she has the chance, she loves to go out salsa dancing, which is how she met her husband, Josh!
Kimberly Moreno is a dedicated Speech and Language Pathologist with over 20 years of experience specializing in early childhood development, with a focus on children ages 0–5. She has worked in a variety of both school and clinical settings, including both early intervention and developmental preschool. Her approach is centered on evidence-based practices, child-led and relationship-centered care and supporting strengths to build on multi-modality communication skills. She draws from a wide range of coursework and training such as Natural Language Acquisition, DIRFloortime®, Family Guided Routine Based Intervention (FGRBI), Oral-Motor Placement Therapy, and the Inside Out Sensory Intensive SLPs.
Kimberly is passionate about helping young children build meaningful communication skills through play, connection, and family involvement. As a mom of 5, she understands how busy daily life can be. She works closely with families to create supportive, individualized and neurodiversity affirming strategies that fit naturally into daily routines. She supports focusing on the joy of learning through spontaneous play, meaningful interactions and celebrating each new step forward.
Outside of her professional life, Kimberly enjoys traveling, hiking, art and spending quality time with her family—activities that fuel her curiosity and joy for life.
Lauren Harper joined the PSA team as a speech-language pathologist in April 2022. Before joining PSA, Lauren served the pediatric population at St Vincent’s outpatient clinic. She has also worked at Kids Count Therapy, where she provided services in their outpatient department and through their associated charter schools. While at St Vincent, Lauren gathered infant and pediatric feeding knowledge, as well as sensory feeding knowledge. Kids Count furthered Lauren’s knowledge of different behavior types and how to appropriately manage behaviors, expanded her knowledge of AAC devices, and strengthened her early language play skills. Lauren has a passion for assisting children with speech sound disorders and or language impairments. Hearing a child say a word, for the first time either verbally or via a device is music to her ears! In her spare time, Lauren enjoys spending time with her family and her dog, Oliver. She also enjoys yoga, walking, and reading – when she’s not participating in her 3-year-old daughter’s play agenda!
Lauren Isabell (McKinney) is an Indianapolis, IN native. She is a proud Pike High School graduate. She obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences from Indiana University in 2014 and a Master’s Degree in Speech Language Pathology from the University of Cincinnati in 2016. Lauren has experience working as a culturally responsive, trauma informed speech-language pathologist with a passion for supporting families and children in historically excluded communities. Lauren has provided services in a variety of settings to include public schools (Chicago, IL), private clinic (San Jose, CA), early intervention, and most recently outpatient care at Riley Hosptial for Children where she treated a variety of complex communication disorders. She especially enjoyed evaluating and treating fluency disorders and vocal cord dysfunction. Lauren previously worked for PSA from 2018-2020. She rejoined PSA in March 2023 eager to return to meeting caregivers where they are and educating, empowering, and supporting their ability to foster communication skills in their toddlers with confidence.
Outside of supporting families in her community, Lauren enjoys spending quality time with her husband, daughter, friends, and family. She loves traveling, theme parks, coaching preschool gymnastics, listening to memoirs and suspenseful “who done it” books on Audible, and a good Netflix binge (she loves a good story)! Lauren is an active member of her church and strives to get up early in the morning to workout at the Orhtoindy YMCA!
Liz received both her undergraduate (2017) and masters degrees (2020) from Purdue University where she first learned her passion for Early Intervention. She worked in the schools for nearly 3 years with students ages 3-12 while working part time at a private clinic before joining PSA in 2023. Liz appreciates being able to advocate for families/caregivers and prepare them for the future if their children qualify for services through the public school system upon turning 3 years of age & beyond. Liz has a lifelong passion for making therapy practical for families & helping incorporate speech/language strategies into everyday routines & play. Liz has experience working with a wide range of speech/language disorders & complex diagnoses.
Liz lives in Carmel with her husband & dog, Millie. In her free time, Liz enjoys spending time with friends & family, cheering on the Boilermakers, vacationing anywhere with a beach, & doing house projects with her husband.
Meg graduated from Rockhurst University in Kansas City in 2011 with a Master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. In Missouri, she worked with young children in a variety of settings, including school district early childhood programs, a therapeutic preschool, and Missouri’s First Steps program.
In 2017, Meg moved from Kansas to Indiana and joined the PSA team. She is passionate about early childhood development and fostering a love of language and literacy in the birth-to-three population. Her favorite part of working in early intervention is partnering with families to build communication skills through everyday routines. She loves helping caregivers feel confident and empowered — and believes the best therapy happens through play with the toys, books, and materials already found at home. You’ll often hear her joke that she holds a Ph.D. in books, blocks, and bubbles!
Meg is a lifelong learner and is always seeking out new ideas, skills, and strategies — both as a therapist and as a homeschooling mom. She’s passionate about helping children, including her own, develop into curious, creative, lifelong learners. Outside of work, Meg enjoys life with her husband and children on a small homestead where you’ll often find her gardening, baking, or planning her next farm project!
Nicole, an Indianapolis native, received her BS in Speech and Hearing Sciences from IU Bloomington and MA in Speech-Language Pathology from Ohio State University in 2017. She has worked in a variety of pediatric settings, including early intervention programs in both Ohio and Illinois, a center/school for children with developmental disabilities, outpatient therapy, and hippotherapy. She currently splits her time between first steps and Riley Hospital for Children, where she works as an inpatient SLP. She has a wide range of clinical interests, including complex feeding disorders, speaking valves, AAC, early childhood language delays/disorders, motor speech disorders, social/pragmatic support, cognition, and articulation/phonological disorders. Nicole lives with her husband of almost 6 years, Corben, and her one-eyed rescue dog, Pierre! She loves tending to her houseplants, snowboarding, and listening to audiobooks. Over the last year, she has gotten involved in community theater and absolutely adores it!
Hi my name is Savannah! I moved to Indianapolis in May 2022 and have been with PSA ever since. Prior to moving to Indy, I worked as an SLP in my home city of Chicago at an outpatient pediatric clinic and in the public schools. I have a passion for working with young children and enjoy coaching families on how to best support their child’s communication development. My special interests in the field include: neurodiversity affirming practices, autism spectrum disorder, dual language development, gestalt language processing, and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). I also serve as PSA’s lead Speech Therapist assisting with training, coordinating in-services, and various admin tasks. In my free time I enjoy biking on the Monon Trail, trying new restaurants, and decorating my home using thrifted pieces.
Stacey Vitale, M.S., CCC-SLP, is a licensed speech-language pathologist who joined PSA in June 2023. She earned her degree from Indiana State University and brings over 25 years of clinical experience to the team.
Stacey previously lived in Illinois, where she served as a Lead Therapist for more than 14 years. Her background includes providing speech services to both adult and pediatric populations across a variety of settings, including inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, schools, and home-based interventions.
In 2016, Stacey relocated to the Indianapolis area and joined Peyton Manning Children’s Outpatient Rehabilitation Services. She has a strong clinical interest in working with infants and children with dysphagia, complex feeding disorders, and sensory/behavioral feeding challenges. Stacey has presented on feeding and swallowing topics at Sarah Bush Lincoln Hospital, the East Central Illinois Speech and Hearing Association Conference, and as a guest speaker at Eastern Illinois University.
Stacey currently divides her time between Peyton Manning and providing early intervention services through First Steps in Indiana. She lives in Zionsville, IN, with her husband, three children, and three pets. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and cheering on the Chicago Cubs. Stacey finds joy in the little things—something both her family and PSA/First Steps have helped her appreciate.
Stephanie Odaffer has been a part of PSA since June of 2014. She received her Masters in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology from Ball State University in 2008. Stephanie worked with the adult population in a rehabilitation setting right out of school but after a few years decided to pursue her passion of working with children in the birth-3 population. She believes that parents and caregivers play an integral role in their child’s speech and language development. Stephanie recently completed training for FGRBI and strives to empower families by coaching them on solutions that best support them and their child to thrive at home. Areas of interest and expertise include but are not limited to: receptive and expressive language delays, motor speech disorders, feeding disorders, autism spectrum disorder, and Down syndrome.
Stephanie lives with her husband of 14 years, Chad, and their 4 very active children. When not working and providing taxi services to her children, Stephanie enjoys spending time with her husband and friends, taking her dog for walks, reading, and watching movies.
Sydney Scamihorn is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist who specializes in early intervention. She earned her Master’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Eastern Illinois University in 2018. She completed her 9-month Clinical Fellowship working with children from birth to age three.
With over four years of full-time experience in early intervention, Sydney has worked extensively with toddlers presenting with a range of communication needs, including Late Language Emergence, Mixed Receptive-Expressive Language Disorders, Suspected Childhood Apraxia of Speech, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Down Syndrome. She is deeply committed to empowering families by partnering closely with parents and caregivers to support their child’s communication development in their natural environment. Sydney considers it a privilege to be invited into a family’s daily life to help their child connect and communicate more effectively.
Outside of her professional work, Sydney enjoys spending time with family and friends, walking her dog, working out, reading, doing puzzles, and traveling.
