TEAM

Katie Shaffer, OTR/L - Clinical Director/Owner
Katie has a passion for helping children overcome life's challenges! Katie received her Bachelor of Health Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She has over 14 years experience in the field of Pediatric Occupational Therapy with expertise in Early Childhood Intervention, oral sensory/motor feeding difficulties, Autism, and Sensory Integration Dysfunction. Katie has worked in a variety of therapeutic settings including inpatient/NICU, outpatient, home & school-based environments. She has been involved with Handwriting, Feeding Aversion, and Sensory Diet program development while practicing in Southern California for over 6 years. She has received post-graduate certification for the administration & interpretation of the Sensory Integration & Praxis Test, including therapeutic intervention programs using Sensory Integration Techniques. Katie has specialty certification and training in the following areas:

• Advanced Training in the assessment and treatment of Sensory Integration Disorders, Behavior Disorders, self-regulation, attention, praxis, and other child-centered, relationship-based therapeutic interventions. SIPT Certification #1216
• Clinical Instructor for Level 1 and 2 Occupational Therapy Fieldwork Students affiliated with UTMB-Galveston, UT Health Science Center-San Antonio, Texas Women's University-Denton
• Certified Interactive Metronome (IM) provider
• Advanced Training in Oral Motor and Oral Sensory Feeding Disorders
• Completion of Austin Eye Gym Level 1 and 2 certification course for Managing DevelopmentalVisual Deficits in Children
• Trained and Certified to administer the Therapeutic Listening Program, Vital Links provider # M4785
  
  Katie’s special interest areas include: Auditory Integration Therapy, Pediatric Yoga, Music Therapy, and Relationship Development Intervention for children on the Autistic Spectrum.

 

Cindy Martin, OTR/L - Clinical Supervisor / Occupational Therapist
Cindy Martin, OTR graduated from University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston with a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy in 1989. She has been practicing in Texas ever since, working extensively in both adult and pediatric settings. She has a passion for children and improving their and their families' lives and has been practicing with children exclusively since 2001. Cindy has expertise in acute care, trauma care, rehabilitation, psychiatric, outpatient and home health settings. She has extensive experience working with brain injury, feeding and developmental care in the Neonatal Intensive Care, splinting, infants and children with developmental delay and sensory processing difficulties. She was the Student Fieldwork Coordinator and a Clinical Instructor for several years at Brackenridge Hospital in Austin, Texas. She loves supervising Occupational Therapy Student during their clinical rotations and helping new therapists enter the field fully ready to serve their clients. Cindy has a wonderful 18 year old son who wants to be a high school teacher. She loves to read, watch classic and contemporary movies, play out of doors and thoroughly enjoys living in Central Texas.

Jenny Kim, MOTR/L - Occupational Therapist
Jenny received her Bachelor in Psychology and Social Behavior from the University of California, Irvine. She studied abroad in Melbourne, Australia for one year, where she discovered her love for OT. Jenny received her Masters in Occupational Therapy from the University of Southern California. She is trained in Handwriting without Tears and Applied Behavior Analysis through Working with Autism in California. She also worked at Lindamood Bell Learning Processes, where she was trained in their LIPS program, Seeing Stars, Visualizing and Verbalizing programs. She has worked with children of all ages, from newborns to teenagers, in a variety of settings that include schools, in-home, inpatient rehabilitation, and outpatient clinic settings.

Mindi Li, MOTR/L - Occupational Therapist
Mindy received her Masters in Occupational Therapy from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. She has always had a passion for working with children and chose her path in Occupational therapy to help others achieve the profession's motto of "Living life to its fullest". She began her path to be an Occupational therapist as a therapy technician at OT Connection in 2009. Since then she has gained experience through multiple pediatric outpatient clinics in Texas. Mindy has clinical experience working with a variety of diagnosis including Autism spectrum disorders, Cerebral palsy (Tetraplegia, Paraplegia), Agenesis of Corpus Callosum, Sensory processing disorder, Learning and behavior disorders, and developmental delays in gross and fine motor skills, visual perceptual skills, self-care skills, social skills, and play skills. She loves working with children and their families and using play to help them overcome their life challenges. In her spare time she enjoys cheering on the Longhorns, discovering new foods, and spending time with family and friends.
Languages Spoken: Conversational in Mandarin Chinese

Megan Hanna MOTR/L - Occupational Therapist
Megan received her Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of St. Augustine in San Diego, California. She has a passion for working with children and their families in a fun and creative environment that enables children to learn, grow, and succeed in all areas of their lives. Megan is certified in various treatment tools including the Interactive Metronome, Astronaut Training, and Therapeutic Listening. She has attended various courses in the areas of neurokinesthetic approach to handwriting, movement and posture disorganization, and functional vision evaluation and intervention. Megan had the invaluable experience of completing an internship under the mentorship of Sheila Frick OTR/L, who created Therapeutic Listening, and continues to be a leading educator in pediatric therapy to therapists and other professionals worldwide. During this time, Megan worked amongst children with autism, sensory processing disorder, learning disorders, developmental dyspraxia, and more; it was through this experience that she developed an interest in social and relationship development treatments. In the future, Megan also hopes to expand her skills into implementing community integration and transitional work and school programs for the teenage population.

Megan recently moved to Austin, where she plans on enjoying the live music scene, outdoors, and the unique culture that Texas has to offer.

 

Maggie Thompson, MOTR/L - Occupational Therapist
Maggie is passionate about helping kids achieve success! She received her Master's degree in Occupational Therapy from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport. Maggie truly enjoys the spontaneity and creativity involved in helping kids with special needs succeed in everyday life by overcoming their unique challenges. Maggie has experience treating children with sensory processing disorders, autism spectrum disorders, learning and behavior disorders, and developmental delays in gross and fine motor skills, visual perceptual skills, handwriting skills, self-care skills, social skills, and play skills. She also has experience utilizing evidence-based therapeutic protocols such as Handwriting Without Tears, Interactive Metronome, Auditory Integration Training, Integrative Listening Systems, and the Picture Exchange Communication System. Maggie's clinical focus is based on implementing unique, child-directed, sensory integration-based treatment utilizing floor time techniques. Her hope is that the children and families she works with will see occupational therapy as a resource for facilitating optimal quality of life!

Originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Maggie recently moved to the Austin area. In her spare time, Maggie enjoys hiking, exploring the nature, food, and fun that Austin has to offer, arts and crafts activities, watching LSU Football, and spending time with her family.

 

Yelin Kim, MOTR/L - Occupational Therapist
Yelin graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Philosophy before she received a Master's Degree in Occupational Therapy from The University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, TX . She has experience working with children with Autism, Down Syndrome, Fine Motor Delays, Sensory Processing Disorders, Learning Disorders, and more. She has attended courses in the areas of sensory processing, Eye Gym for vision-related difficulties in children, and Handwriting Without Tears. She is certified in Interactive Metronome (IM) and has attended an advanced pediatric IM course. Yelin loves being around children and using play to help them learn and grow! She enjoys hanging out with her fiancé, Chris, and their two pups: Bella and Arthus.
Languages Spoken: Conversational in Spanish

 

Stacey Rosensteel, CCC-SLP - Clinical Supervisor / Speech-Language Pathologist
Stacey received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders from San Diego State University. She received her Master's in Clinical Speech Pathology from Northern Arizona University. She holds a Certificate of Clinical competence (CCC-SLP) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Stacey has practiced in private pediatric clinics, children's hospitals and public schools with children of all ages, ranging from infancy through middle school. She has clinical expertise working with a variety of diagnoses to include oral-motor dysfunction/feeding therapy, articulation disorders, language disorders, fluency, voice, Down Syndrome and Autism. Stacey is Level 1 PROMPT trained and has attended seminars that examine the evaluation and management of patients with Tracheostomys and Artificial Airways , picky eaters and Dysphagia management. Her special interest areas include Autism spectrum disorders, articulation disorders, language impairments, voice, feeding/oral-motor dysfunction and Down Syndrome. Stacey loves the field of Speech Therapy and is happy to be a part of such a wonderful team.

 

Katie Michner, CCC-SLP - Speech-Language Pathologist
A native of the Midwest, Katie graduated from Butler University in Indianapolis, IN with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a minor in Spanish. She went on to receive her Master of Arts in Speech Language Pathology from the University of Texas at Austin. Katie holds a Texas license in speech-language pathology and has ASHA certification. Her experience includes working with pediatric patients in both the public school and clinical settings. In addition to working with children who have articulation and expressive/receptive language delays, Katie has experience working with children who have Autism Spectrum Disorders, fluency disorders, developmental delays, and feeding disorders. Katie and her husband Evan live in North Austin. In their spare time they enjoy cheering on the Longhorns, running, spending time with friends and family, and discovering new Mexican restaurants.

 

Jayme Ferguson, MS,CCC-SLP - Speech-Language Pathologist
Jayme was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. She received her undergraduate and graduate degree from the University of Montevallo, the highest ranked public master's level university in Alabama. While obtaining her graduate degree, Jayme had the opportunity to participate in Project Transteam at the University of Alabama where she closely worked with occupational and physical therapists to better understand and develop methods of working together with children. Upon receiving her graduate degree, she was presented with an award for outstanding clinical excellency. She completed five externships in different settings working as a Graduate Student Speech Clinician and has experience in the assessment and treatment of receptive and expressive language disorders, articulation, voice, fluency, swallowing, and cognitive deficits in both adults and children. In her spare time, she loves to travel with her husband and children, spend time with family and friends, read, and search for her next favorite restaurant! Jayme loves the unexpected and enjoys working with children who also teach her something new every day. She is very excited to be a part of OT Connection!

 

Kendall Fritsch, M.S., SLP - Speech-Language Pathologist
Kendall received a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and a minor in Sociology from Texas A&M University in College Station. Whoop! After her undergraduate studies, she discovered the wonderful field of Speech-Language Pathology and absolutely loved it. She went on to obtain a Master of Science degree in Communication Disorders from Texas State University in San Marcos, TX. She has clinical experience serving children with diverse backgrounds and providing assessment and therapeutic services for a range of communication disorders, including the areas of expressive/receptive language, articulation, pragmatics, fluency, and cognitive aspects. In addition, she has worked in the public school setting and has worked with children who have Autism Spectrum Disorders, Down Syndrome, Learning Disorders, Cerebral Palsy, and more. Her passion for working with the pediatric population began at an early age and she is excited to continue working with this population at OT Connection! Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband, driving to San Antonio to visit family, playing games, and reading.

 

Monica Woods, MS,CCC-SLP - Speech-Language Pathologist
Monica was born and raised in Indiana where she attended Purdue University and earned her Bachelor's Degree in Communication. She went on to receive her Master's in Speech- Language Pathology from Nova Southeastern University. Monica truly enjoys working with children of all ages and abilities. She has clinical experience with providing comprehensive diagnostic assessments and therapeutic services for children with autism, articulation disorders,phonological disorders, voice disorders, and stuttering. In addition, she has worked with children and teachers in providing intervention and hands-on consultation for Special Education students within the Preschool Program for Children with Disabilities, and Functional Academic Classrooms. Monica also has a passion for the sport of gymnastics. She has coached gymnastics to children of all ages including toddler, preschool, school-age, and pre-team for over 20 years. When she is at home she enjoys spending time with her husband and two children as well as their new puppy.

 

Gayle Covington, PT - Physical Therapist
Gayle is a 1979 graduate of Texas Woman's University with a degree in Physical Therapy. She is a native Austinite, attending AISD schools and the University of Texas at Austin before entering the Physical Therapy program at TWU. She has practiced physical therapy in various settings in her 25 + years of experience including: acute care, neonatal intensive care, home health - both adult and pediatric, outpatient rehabilitation, and in the public school setting. Her interest in pediatrics began in the NICU unit at Seton and she has spent the majority of her career in pediatrics. Gayle was an adjunct instructor at Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University) for several years and has expertise in the areas of neonatal intensive care, neuro-developmental treatment, sensory integration dysfunction, visual/auditory/vestibular integration, and therapeutic exercise. Infants and pre-schoolers are her passion and she is privileged to have the opportunity to impact children and their families through physical therapy.

 

Janet Magajna, PT - Physical Therapist
Janet is a graduate of the physical therapy program at State University of New York - Stony Brook. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in physical therapy in 1998. Janet has since worked exclusively with the pediatric population in the outpatient, school and home based settings. She moved to Austin in 2005, and is a licensed P.T. in both Texas and New York. She has evaluated and treated children, from birth to teenage years, with a variety of diagnoses including, but not limited to, torticollis, developmental delay, hypotonia, cerebral palsy, idiopathic toe walking, William's Syndrome, Down Syndrome and Cri du Chat Syndrome. Janet greatly enjoys working with children and their families and making a positive impact in their lives. She also enjoys the arts, traveling, hiking, endurance bike riding and entertaining her cat, Flaco.

 

Helen Nguyen, PTA - Physical Therapy Assistant
Helen (Hien) Nguyen earned her Associated Degree of Physical Therapy Assistant from Austin Community College in May of 2011. She has greatly enjoyed her work in the pediatric setting.  She has experience treating children with Down’s Syndrome, Spina Bifida, Development Delays, Torticollis, generalized muscle weakness, low back pain, Cerbral Palsy (Hemiplagia, Paralagia), abnormal gait pattern, Idiophathic Toe Walking, Autism, dyspraxia, and more. She enjoys working with children and their families to see positive changes in their lives. In her free time, Helen enjoys watching movies, reading love stories, and going to the beach.
Lanuages Spoken: Fluent in Vietnamese

 

Katie White, MAT - Behavior Therapist
Katie White received her Bachelor of Arts and Science in Interdisciplinary Studies, and her Masters of Arts in Teaching from Dallas Baptist University. She is certified in teaching Early Childhood-Fourth grade education, and is currently in the process of becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Katie has had a passion to work with children for as long as she can remember! She has volunteered in orphanages and clinics in various countries around the world; such as Kenya, Bulgaria, Mexico, South Africa, China and South Korea. She has also led many church children's programs, taught as a pre-school teacher, as well as directed children's summer camps. After completing her Master's degree, Katie spent one year living abroad in South Korea working as an English teacher. She has a passion and love for learning about other cultures, and seeing as much of the world as possible! Katie is currently working as a therapist in Applied Behavior Analysis and finds absolute joy in seeing the growth and progress of the wonderful children she works with. She has experience working with infant to teenagers with a variety of diagnoses such as: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Downs Syndrome and Asperger Syndrome. She has worked in a variety of settings including schools, outpatient clinics, and in-home programs. She is extremely excited to be a part of offering ABA services through OT Connection, and enjoys working with the wonderful team of therapists on staff here. In her free time Katie enjoys spending time with her husband and dogs, traveling, reading, hiking, biking, cooking, and attempting to garden.

 

Laura Saldana, M. ED. - Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Laura Saldana is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. She received her undergraduate degree in Psychology and went on to receive her Masters in Early Childhood Special Education with a focus in Autism and Developmental Disabilities. She is approaching her 9 th year leading intensive interventions for children with autism. Utilizing the principles of applied behavior analysis and Skinner’s verbal behavior, Laura has experience designing programs for the home, school, and clinical settings. Her experience ranges from working with children of all ages but specifically has extensive training in working with children 18months to 7 years of age. She specializes in intensive early childhood programs with an emphasis in language development through her extensive work with non-verbal children. In addition to designing programs,
Laura has experience with direct instruction, potty training, and training of parents, teachers, and behavior therapists. Laura has been certified in a range of specializations including the acclaimed Handwriting Without Tears. On her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, traveling, and longhorn football.

 

Amy Hart - Practice Manager
Amy has over 10 years experience in medical billing, and healthcare management. She enjoys working in the pediatric setting, and is more than happy to help answer your account questions. Amy is currently receiving her Bachelors in Psychology from University Of Phoenix. Amy, and her son reside in Pflugerville. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, cooking, and gardening.

 

Neaomi Quartucci - Assistant Office Manager
Neaomi relocated here with her husband and two children from Maui, Hawaii 6 years ago. Shortly after moving here she found herself drawn to the medical field with her main interest in customer care. With a strong background in medical, customer service, and child care she is a perfect fit for OT Connection. You can count on Neaomi to greet you with a friendly smile, and assist you with your scheduling needs. Outside of work Neaomi enjoys spending time with her family, participating in physical fitness, attending sporting events, traveling, reading, and culinary delights.

 

Chelsea Rumbo - Front Desk Administrative Assistant
Chelsea Rumbo began working at OT Connection in August of 2009. She has gladly returned to the clinic after a short stent in Atlanta, Georgia where she conducted sleep apnea studies as a technician. She graduated from Southwestern University in Georgetown in May 2010 with a major in Communication Studies and minor in Psychology. She has been applying to various graduate schools in Texas to obtain her master's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a focus in Speech Language Pathology. From therapy technician to assisting in the front office, she has experienced and continues to enjoy the many facets of a pediatric therapeutic practice. Additionally, Chelsea enjoys canoeing/kayaking racing, bowling, going to the beach, volunteering, and spending time with family and friends.