Tanya Lotzof Topper
Tanya Lotzof Topper is a licensed speech-language pathologist who is devoted to making a difference in children’s lives. Tanya has worked in various settings including a preschool, a hospital, and a private practice. In the preschool she worked with preschool and pre-kindergarten children, whereas the hospital provided an opportunity to work with infants/babies, children and teenagers in the NICU and outpatient and inpatient settings.
Most recently, Tanya worked in a pediatric private practice. She worked with children between 12 months and 21 years of age with various speech and language disorders. Tanya is trained in the evidence-based Orton-Gillingham reading program and has worked with children with reading disorders, such as dyslexia. Her primary areas of expertise include expressive/receptive language delays and disorders, articulation and phonological disorders, feeding disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorders and Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS). At her prior company, Tanya was elected the lead technology expert for the practice, as she created and launched the company’s technology room. The innovative equipment in the room enabled therapists to utilize the most current technology in treatment sessions.
Tanya attends educational courses, delivers presentations and researches new therapeutic techniques in order to expand her knowledge base and keep herself updated with the latest information.
Tanya is a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and She is Early Intervention Credentialed in the State of Illinois. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Michigan and a Master’s degree in Speech and Language Pathology from Northwestern University.
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Katie Hesch
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Abbey Barrett
Katie is a licensed speech-language pathologist who prides herself on providing functional speech and language therapy to children and their families. Her clinical experience includes school, clinic, and in-patient and out-patient medical settings. For the past 4 years, she has served the pediatric population at a multidisciplinary clinic including children from the ages of 1-14, evaluating and treating those with expressive/receptive language disorders, pragmatic language disorders, speech sound disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Childhood Apraxia of Speech, reading disorders and dyslexia, and speech delays. Katie is trained in Introduction to PROMPT: Technique, the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), the Expanding Expression Tool, and the Orton-Gillingham Approach to reading instruction.
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Katie is a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, and she holds the Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL) and an Illinois Early Intervention Credential.
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Katie earned her B.S. at Purdue University and her M.S. from Indiana State University. She is a proud aunt to 4 nieces and nephews, and currently lives in Chicago with her boyfriend and puppy.
Abbey is a licensed speech-language pathologist who is passionate about helping children communicate. She has worked in a variety of settings including in a preschool school, elementary school, special education school, private practice, skilled nursing facility and a pediatric clinic. Abbey earned a Bachelor of Arts in Speech and Hearing Sciences from Indiana University, Bloomington. Abbey then moved back to the Chicagoland area to attend Graduate School. She earned Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology from Midwestern University in Downers Grove.
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In addition to working at Therapy Buddies, Abbey works as a full time speech-language pathologist in Chicago Public Schools. Abbey has worked with children in a variety of areas including: receptive and expressive language, articulation, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Childhood Apraxia of Speech, social communication, fluency, voice disorders, feeding and swallowing.
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Abbey is a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and holds a Professional Educator License for Illinois.
Devin Manning
Devin Manning is a licensed speech-language pathologist with a passion for working with the pediatric population and their families to foster strong communication abilities. She has a variety of clinical experiences including, private clinics, schools, teletherapy, and medical in-patient and out-patient settings. In addition to working at Therapy Buddies, Devin works full-time in a school setting treating children in a variety of areas including: expressive/receptive language disorders, speech sound disorders, Autism Spectrum disorders, and pragmatics. She is always looking to increase her knowledge in various areas of speech pathology by attending continuing education.
Devin is a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and holds the Profession Educators License (PEL) for Illinois.
Devin earned her B.S. And M.S. from Illinois State University in Bloomington-Normal, IL. She currently lives in Chicago, IL with her husband.
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Chelsea Hammond
Chelsea is a licensed speech​-language pathologist with experience providing evaluations and treatment for children in a variety of home, school, and clinic based settings.Chelsea enjoys working with children of all ages and has​ experience​ treating children ​​with expressive and receptive language disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorders, articulation and phonological disorders, pragmatic language disorders, Childhood Apraxia of Speech, feeding disorders, and ​those who use ​Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices. She has extensive experience working as part of multidisciplinary teams alongside behavior therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, psychologists, and pediatricians.
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Chelsea earned her B.S. and M.S. from Ithaca College in New York. She is a certified member of American Speech Hearing Association (ASHA) and is licensed with the State of Illinois.
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Gaby Sotelo
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Catlin Carroll
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Catlin is a licensed speech-language pathologist who is passionate about working with children to foster the development of functional communication skills. She has experience working in a variety of settings including school-based, outpatient clinic, and acute hospital. During her time in the clinical and hospital settings, Catlin gained experience diagnosing and treating aphasia, apraxia, dysarthria, dysphagia, cognitive-communication disorders, and voice disorders in addition to developmental disorders such as articulation/phonology, fluency, voice, and expressive/receptive language. When she is not working at Therapy Buddies, Catlin is providing school-based speech and language therapy to elementary students diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder where she has developed knowledge and a special interest in Augmentative and Alternative Communication, (AAC) for children with minimal verbal communication.
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Catlin is an active member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, (ASHA). She holds state licensure in both Illinois and California as well as the Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL). Catlin earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Speech and Hearing Sciences at the University of California, Santa Barbara and a Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders at St. Xavier University in Chicago.
Gaby is a licensed speech-language pathologist who is a firm believer in creating positive relationships with children and their families and enhancing functional and routine based activities. She is a bilingual speech-language pathologist who provides services in both English and Spanish. Her clinical experience includes early intervention, therapeutic day schools, and medical inpatient. She has served children in a variety of areas including receptive and expressive language, Autism Spectrum Disorder, developmental delays, Down Syndrome, Childhood Apraxia of Speech, social communication, articulation disorders, phonological disorders, fluency, and augmentative and alternative communication.
She moved to Chicago in 2017 from a northwestern suburb in Illinois. In her spare time, she loves to run at the lakefront, explore the many restaurants in the city, and spend time with her family.
Gaby earned her undergraduate and graduate degree from Northern Illinois University. She is an active member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and is an Accredited Early Intervention provider in the state of Illinois.
Katie Orzechowski
Katie Orzechowski is a licensed speech-language pathologist who is devoted to helping children become stronger communicators. Katie has experience working through the Illinois Early Intervention Program with children from birth to age three and in private practice settings with children ranging from birth to 15 years of age.
In addition to working for Therapy Buddies, Katie works as a speech-language pathologist in the western suburbs with children from birth to age three. She also supervises two speech-language pathology assistants. Katie also serves as an Adjunct Faculty member at College of DuPage teaching courses in their Speech Language Pathology Assistant Program. She is also a member of the Advisory Committee for that program. Katie is a fully credential initial evaluator and participates in co-treatment sessions with a variety of other professionals. She has given guest lectures at College of DuPage as well as Saint Xavier University.
Throughout her experiences, Katie has developed special interests in receptive/expressive language delays/disorders, articulation disorders and Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS). She is trained in the SOS Approach to Feeding method and has experience incorporating these techniques while working with feeding clients. Katie continually pursues opportunities to expand her knowledge of other new and developing therapeutic techniques.
Katie received a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders and Sciences from Eastern Illinois University and a Master’s degree in Speech and Language Pathology from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
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