Allie first discovered the field of occupational therapy while working as a tech at Ability KC. After watching how the OT supported children to participate in activities they had never been able to before, she knew that she wanted to pursue this field as her career. Allie earned her doctorate in occupational therapy from the University of Kansas Medical center. In her educational and professional experiences, she has a passion for supporting children succeed in their activities of daily living, especially in the areas of feeding and play. Allie has had the opportunity of developing and facilitating playgroups through her doctoral capstone experience.
In her free time, she loves spending time outdoors, drinking coffee with friends, and caring for her plants!
Taylor earned her Masters Degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Missouri-Columbia in May of 2019. Taylor holds her OT license in Kansas and Missouri and has previously worked across multiple settings, including school-based practice (serving elementary-aged students) and inpatient rehabilitation (serving young, middle-aged, and older adults). Her areas of expertise include emotional and self-regulation, sensory processing, motor skill development, crisis prevention and intervention, and trauma-informed care. She also has specialized training in feeding therapy through the SOS Approach to Feeding. During her graduate studies, Taylor gained experience through implementing behavioral therapy, adapting and modifying ride-on toy cars through GoBabyGo to create an alternative form of early childhood power mobility, and teaching sensory-friendly swimming lessons to children with autism. Taylor loves working with children and families to help them reach their full potential. She finds unique and fun ways to help children participate in a variety of activities to build upon their skills and maximize their strengths. She also enjoys mentoring other therapists in the field.
Taylor is from Kansas City, and outside of the clinic, she values spending time with her friends, family, and her dog. She also loves being outside, going for walks or hikes, traveling, and trying out new restaurants!
Hannah was born and raised in the Kansas City area. She earned her Master’s of Occupational Therapy degree from Rockhurst University. Hannah previously worked for a local school district and currently works PRN in in-patient acute care at Olathe Medical Center. Her areas of expertise include fine motor skills, handwriting, visual motor skills, adaptive skills, self-regulation, 504s/IEPs, sensory processing, and executive functioning. While working as a school-based OT, Hannah supported students from Pre-K through 12th grade with a wide variety of needs. She looks forward to utilizing her school-based background to help families navigate and advocate for appropriate services and accommodations in that setting. Hannah’s favorite part of her job is building relationships with children and their families while providing the support they need to reach their goals.
In her free time, Hannah enjoys spending time with her husband, son, and energetic German Shepherd!
Lauren grew up in Dallas, Texas, and earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas in Applied Behavioral Science. She then moved to Omaha, Nebraska, to pursue a Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree at Creighton University. Lauren has experience working with the pediatric population in the areas of Sensory Processing Disorder, Autism, Picky and Problem eaters, social-emotional regulation, and executive functioning and cognition. Lauren completed her Doctoral Capstone Experience with Playabilities specializing in advanced clinical practice and advocacy regarding Sensory Processing Disorder. Lauren continues to grow her passion for Sensory Processing Disorder and has completed the advanced level 1 mentorship program at the STAR institute. She continues to educate and work with community settings in the Kansas City community about Sensory Processing Disorder. She additionally has training in the SOS approach to feeding to address picky and problem eaters.
Lauren currently serves as the national secretary for Pi Theta Epsilon, the national occupational therapy honor society which functions to promote scholarship and research in the occupational therapy field. Lauren is passionate about working with children and their families to promote success in meaningful activities and achieving their goals.
In her free time, Lauren enjoys swimming, playing with her puppy, and spending time with friends and family.
Morgan is a Kansas City native who graduated from Kansas State University with a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Health. Morgan then moved to Omaha, Nebraska to obtain her Doctorate of Occupational Therapy degree from Creighton University. Throughout her education, Morgan gained multiple clinical experiences in pediatric settings including outpatient medical rehabilitation facilities, the school systems, hospital-based settings. She assisted in the development of the SENSE (Supporting & Enhancing NICU Sensory Experiences) Program at Saint Luke’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and completed her clinical fieldwork during occupational therapy school as a student at Playabilities. Morgan has experience working with children ages 1 to 21 with a variety of different diagnoses. Some of the diagnoses include Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Dysgraphia, Dyslexia, Muscular Dystrophy, Mowat-Wilson Syndrome, DiGeorge Syndrome, Williams Syndrome, Sensory Processing Disorder, children that are visually impaired, and with children with other fine motor and gross motor delays.
Morgan’s personal interests include sewing, paddleboarding, and spending time with family, friends and pets. Morgan loves working at Playabilities and is passionate about building relationships with children and family members and assisting clients in achieving their goals.
Elease is originally from Nebraska where she graduated from University of Nebraska Lincoln then moved to Kansas City to continue her education at Rockhurst University, earning a Master of Occupational Therapy degree. Since then she has worked in the pediatric outpatient setting gaining experience working with a diverse client population in both age & ability. She has continued educational experience in handwriting through Learning Without Tears, STAR PROCESS: Regulation, Relationship, and Sensory Processing, and feeding skills through SOS training. Elease is passionate about building meaningful relationships with children and their families while assisting them to achieve their goals.
In her free time she enjoys spending time in nature, trying new restaurants, and being with friends and family.
Giggy earned her Masters in Occupational Therapy from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Giggy holds her OT license in both Kansas and Missouri, and has worked across multiple settings including hospital settings (inpatient acute care and inpatient rehab), schools, and outpatient private practice. She has experience in the education system providing OT to children aged 4 – 19. Giggy has gained a variety of experiences and perspectives through volunteering at Camp Encourage, volunteering at a therapeutic horseback riding program, and by providing adaptive swim lessons in a low stimulation environment for kids with Autism. Giggy is dedicated to understanding the whole picture for each of her clients and developing relationships with clients and their families. She strives to provide relevant and valuable interventions by participating in various continuing education courses. She has completed the level 1 mentorship program at the STAR Institute in order to gain more knowledge on Sensory Processing Disorder to share with families and to use within treatments. Giggy has specialized training in feeding therapy through the SOS Approach to Feeding.
Giggy is from Kansas City and loves to spend her free time with her friends and family in the area. She also enjoys running, biking, yoga, and traveling to new places!
Bethany earned her Master of Occupational Therapy at the University of Kansas Medical Center, where she gained clinical experience working with adults with developmental disabilities and birth-preschool aged children with visual impairments. There she also completed the LEND program (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities), which provides interdisciplinary leadership training in clinical practice, research, and community outreach. Bethany has completed the STAR Institute’s Advanced Level I Mentorship for evaluating and treating children with Sensory Processing Disorder and the subsequent Level I Sensory Processing Proficiency Certification. Bethany’s other areas of expertise and interest include infant and toddler development, reflex integration, social-emotional skills, self-care, and visual and fine motor delays. She is passionate about helping children reach their full potential, partnering with families and team members, and making therapy meaningful and fun!
In her spare time she enjoys cheering on the Jayhawks, playing music, being outdoors, and spending time with her husband, son, and energetic Aussie/lab pup.
Jennafer graduated from the University of Wisconsin with her Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy. She currently holds a state license to practice in both Kansas and Missouri. She also is a registered, board-certified occupational therapist with the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). Jennafer’s concentration in occupational therapy has been outpatient pediatric practice, with additional experience in private elementary and high schools. She has advanced training in feeding therapy through the SOS Approach to Feeding, as well as training in the DIR/Floortime approach (play-based therapy).
Jennafer has worked with children with a variety of developmental, sensory, neurological, genetic, and psychological diagnoses. These have included Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Sensory Processing Disorder, Developmental Coordination Disorder, ADHD, Anxiety, and many others. Her areas of emphasis have been feeding therapy, fine motor and gross motor development, social-emotional skills, and sensory processing. For Jennafer, the essence of pediatric occupational therapy is “playing with a purpose.” She is passionate about helping children and their families find joy in every success – big or small – on their journey. Jennafer’s favorite therapy moments always take place when both she and her kiddos are laughing and learning all at once.
Jennafer now lives in Kansas City, MO, with her husband. In her free time, she can usually be found outside – biking, hiking, or simply blowing bubbles.
Natalie graduated from the University of Kansas with her highest degree being a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy. She is a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association and licensed in both Kansas and Missouri. During her clinical rotations, she had the opportunity to learn in a preschool for children with autism in Australia. This was just the beginning of her passion for working with kids. She has worked full time as a school-based therapist for 15 years and enjoys working at PlayAbilities after school and during the summers. She attended an Autism Interdisciplinary Team Training through “TASN Autism Tertiary Behavior and Supports” in 2016 and has attended various pediatric conferences throughout her years as an OT. Natalie hopes to support and facilitate children’s highest level of functioning within the natural environment. She has experience working with children targeting: fine motor skills, visual perception, leisure skills, social skills, sensory processing, behavior and emotional regulation.
In her spare time she enjoys yoga, cooking, traveling and spending time with her family and friends.
