Staff Bios

Directors SLPs OTs Developmental and Social-Emotional Therapists

Sherri Cawn (M.A., CCC-SLP)

C0-Director
For over 38 years Sherri Cawn has specialized in the assessment and treatment of infants, toddlers, and school-aged children with developmental challenges. Sherri is a leading practitioner of the DIR/Floortime® model in speech and language development, having trained extensively with Drs. Greenspan and Weider; she is also a faculty member at the DIR/Floortime® institute and trains other professionals throughout the US, Europe, and Asia on the theoretical and clinical concepts of DIR/Floortime®. Sherri serves on the advisory board of the Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental Learning Disorders (ICDL) and is currently an adjunct faculty member at the Erikson Institute of Infant Mental Health in Chicago. She received her graduate and undergraduate degrees at the University of Illinois; she has also received additional degrees and certification in infancy and early childhood development and educational administration. Email Sherri

Jerri Z. Krantz (M.A., CCC-SLP)

C0-Director
For over 25 years Jerri Krantz has specialized in treating children with communication challenges. Her extensive training and experience has been instrumental in the development of programs to treat children with feeding difficulties. Jerri leads workshops for educators on the impact and relationship of auditory processing on language-based learning and social communication. She has presented to Children's Memorial Hospital on language therapy with a Floortime® model. Jerri has been featured on ABC TV for her work on the Peer Buddies program, as well as for her work with auditory processing difficulties in preschool- and school-aged children. She is completing her final requirements for DIR/Floortime® certification; she is also working on a book about the auditory processing difficulties of preschool- and school-aged children. She received her graduate degree from Northwestern University and holds additional certification in infancy and early childhood development. Email Jerri

Speech and Language Therapists

Gwen Reilly (M.A., CCC-SLP)

Coordinator of Listening Therapies & AIT/Speech and Language Pathologist
Gwen's professional focus includes the assessment and treatment of children on the autistic spectrum continuum and related disorders. She has worked with preschool and school-aged children in both the public school and private clinic setting. Gwen has received specialized training and recognition in several listening therapies, including Auditory Integrative Training^TM (AIT), Therapeutic Listening^TM, The Listening Program, PROMPT, and the Lindamood Bell Visualization and Verbalization® program. Gwen received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from
                                                                  Northern Illinois University. Email Gwen

Lee Hoffman Paul (M.S., CCC-SLP)

Speech and Language Pathologist
Lee assesses and treats infants through school-age children, with a particular focus on children in the birth-to-six population who demonstrate speech, language, and communication challenges. Her experience includes treating children with language disorders; disorders of relating; social pragmatic disorders; autism; apraxia of speech; and feeding, articulation, and phonological disorders. Lee emphasizes a play-based family approach to treatment and utilizes multiple treatment approaches—including DIR/Floortime® and the S.O.S. Approach—to
                                                        help each child meet his/her optimal potential. Lee 
                                                        received her B.S. in Human Development from Cornell 
                                                        University and her M.S. in Communication Sciences and
                                                        Disorders from Emerson College. She is a candidate in the
                                                        DIR/Floortime® certificate program and a member of both
                                                        the American Speech Language Hearing Association
                                                        (ASHA) and the Interdisciplinary Council on
                                                        Developmental and Learning Disorders (ICDL). Email Lee

Alyssa Capeling-Kligman (M.A., CCC-SLP)

Co-Coordinator of Peer Buddies/ Social Language Groups/Speech and Language Pathologist
Alyssa specializes in the assessment and treatment of children and teens with a variety of communication disorders. Alyssa‘s work with children and teens diagnosed along the autism spectrum includes the development and coordination of social language groups and parent support groups. She is trained in PROMPT, Beckman's Oral Motor Program, and Hodson's Cycles Approach. She has presented at conferences for the Illinois Speech Language Hearing Association (ISLHA), Autism Society of America, and various parent support groups. Alyssa also has a special interest in speech disorders, particularly apraxia. She received her Masters degree in Speech and Language Pathology from Michigan State University. Email Alyssa

Michelle Schwantz (M.A., CCC-SLP)

Speech and Language Pathologist
Michelle’s professional focus includes the assessment and treatment of a variety of communication disorders within the pediatric population, with a special focus on children ages birth through six. She specializes in providing family-centered therapy both in the home and clinic setting. Michelle’s special interests include the assessment and treatment of children with feeding difficulties, as well as working with children on the autism spectrum.  She is certified in the S.O.S. approach and receives training in DIR/Floortime. Prior to joining the team at
                                                                         Cawn/Krantz, Michelle worked within the
                                                                         Illinois Early Intervention system and provided
                                                                         therapy within a clinical setting. Michelle
                                                                         received her undergraduate degree in Speech
                                                                         and Hearing Science from the U of Illinois and  
                                                                         her Masters in Speech Pathology from the
                                                                         University of Iowa. Email Michelle

Meghan Moser (M.A., CCC-SLP)

Speech and Language Pathologist
In addition to providing speech and language services to children in the Arlington Heights school district, Meghan works with preschool- and school-aged children who possess speech and language difficulties. Her educational and clinical experience includes preschool and school-aged stuttering; language-based learning disabilities, including auditory processing; writing organization; and pre-literacy and reading skills. During the summer, Meghan leads the planning and intervention of social language groups. Meghan received her undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois and her Master's degree from Northwestern University. Contact Meghan (847) 480-8890 x22.

Lauran Cordaro

Speech-Language Assistant/Co-Therapist
Lauran is a speech-language assistant and a co-therapist in social dyads, speech-language groups, and feeding programs. At Cawn/Krantz she provides assistance in the development of social language therapy; she is training in the DIR/Floortime® model and the S.O.S Approach. Lauran graduated from the University of Iowa with a B.S. in Speech and Hearing. Email Lauran

Occupational Therapists

Kim Brahm (OTR/L)

Coordinator: Occupational Therapy and Sensory Integration Programs/Occupational Therapist
Kim's advanced training includes extensive work in DIR/Floortime®, Therapeutic Listening^TM, certification in training in Vestibular-Visual Processing and Core Activation, and the use of Carol Gray Social Stories^TM; she is also certified in the Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT) and Yoga for the Special Child®. Kim integrates Interactive Metronome® and Handwriting Without Tears® into her therapies. She has extensive experience providing in-services to both parent and preschool groups on topics such as basic sensory integration concepts and self-regulation. Kim received her Bachelors degree in occupational therapy from the University of Southern California. Email Kim

Nancy Rudnick (M.S., OTR/L)

Occupational Therapist
Nancy works with children of all ages, supporting their regulation and attention so that they can participate in a variety of daily functional activities. Nancy has advanced training in sensory integration, including Therapeutic Listening^TM, the Astronaut Program, and vestibular-visual processing. She also receives training in DIR/Floortime®. Prior to joining Cawn/Krantz Nancy treated for the Illinois Early Intervention system and provided therapy services to young children in a clinical setting. Nancy completed
                                                                    graduate work in occupational therapy at the
                                                                    University of Indianapolis. Email Nancy

Angie Goudschaal (M.S., OTR/L)

Occupational Therapist
Angie is an experienced clinician trained in sensory integration and certified in Samona's Sound Therapy, Therapeutic Listening^TM, and Interactive Metronome®. She is currently a DIR/Floortime® Certificate Level III candidate. Her clinical training also includes sensory modulation, visual-motor, grapho-motor, and oral-motor interventions. Angie works with a variety of children on the developmental spectrum, including infants and pre-adolescents. Contact Angie (847) 480-8890 x22.

Developmental and Social-Emotional Therapists

Mike Ruggles (M.A.)

Developmental Therapist
Mike has worked extensively with preschool-to-high-school aged children, interacting with them in a variety of learning, social, developmental environments. At Cawn/Krantz he provides social and play support to children in the home and clinic environments; he also provides interventions within social groups and social dyads. Mike has previously worked as a preschool teacher, a sports and activity director for children with special needs, and as an individual developmental interventionist in home and school environments. Mike currently stars in the ABC reality series Super-Manny, which premiered in the Fall of 2008. He completed his graduate work at California State University. Contact Mike at (847) 480-8890 x22.

Simona Bommarito (LCSW)

Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Simona specializes in play therapy, family therapy, dyadic treatment with young children and their parents, group therapy, and parental guidance and support. She has over fifteen years of experience providing psychotherapy, consultation, and intensive supportive services. Simona's diverse professional background includes work experiences at several social service agencies providing advocacy, case management, clinical supervision, and psychotherapy; additionally, she has assisted a residential treatment center that serves emotionally disturbed children. She has also provided on-site consultation to early childhood programs in the city and surrounding suburbs. Simona completed graduate work in social work at the University of Chicago. Contact Simona (847) 480-8890 x22.

Caroline Millan

Office Manager
Caroline Millan oversees all non-clinical aspects of Cawn/Krantz operations, including accounts receivable managements, billing, and effective operations. Caroline received her degree in Therapeutic Recreation and has managed business offices in various industries. Email Caroline

Speech and Language Therapy Occupational Therapy Developmental Therapy DIR/Floortime® Special Programs