Together Everyone Achieves More

Speech / Language Pathologists

Christina Scalise-Morrissey, MS., CCC - SLP
​Founder & Director
​Licensed & Certified Speech/Language Pathologist and Feeding Therapist

Empowering children to be the very best they can be is what drives Christina.  Christina opened her private practice in 1997 after serving as the Creator and Department Head of Pediatric Therapy Services at Elmhurst Memorial Hospital. Read more.

Miss Carrie, MA., CCC - SLP
​Licensed and Certified Speech/Language Pathologist

Carrie is the lead teacher for our therapeutic preschool, Hummingbird Academy. The Academy provides a fun and nurturing environment accompanied by speech, occupational and physical therapy along with social skills incorporated into our educational curriculum. Read more.

Miss Brenna, MS., CCC - SLP
​Licensed and Certified Speech/Language Pathologist

Brenna has passion for helping children achieve their goals and enhancing their ability to communicate with others! She strives to make therapy a fun experience as well as a creating a nurturing environment to grow. Brenna strongly believes in a team approach and enjoys collaborating with Hummingbird colleagues, families and other professionals. Read more.

Miss Annette, MS., CCC - SLP
​Licensed and Certified Speech/Language Pathologist

Annette is a warm, fun-loving and dedicated therapist. Her compassion and concern for her children and families is evident in each of her sessions. Annette provides a challenging but enjoyable environment to ensure success for each one of her kiddos. Read more.

 Miss Liz, MS, CCC - SLP
Licensed and Certified Speech/Language Pathologist

Liz, Speech/Language Pathologist, is an attentive and energetic therapist dedicated to helping children. Her therapy sessions are individualized, engaging and fun, allowing each child to progress at his/her own pace. Liz believes in involving parents in the process, educating and collaborating with them to ensure a successful outcome for their child. Liz is very passionate about helping children achieve their goals and it is evident through her warm smile and cheerful demeanor.  Read more.

Miss Judy, MS., CCC - SLP
Licensed and Certified Speech/Language Pathologist

Judy, speech/language therapist and feeding therapist, believes in highlighting a child's strengths to address areas for growth and development. She loves working with children, making them feel special, successful and confident. Read more.

Miss Jill, M.A. CCC - SLP
Licensed and Certified Speech and Language Pathologist

Miss Jill is a speech therapist who provides one on one therapy and also serves as the lead teacher in our afternoon therapeutic academy. She believes that children learn best when they are actively engaged and having fun! Jill's enthusiasm and dedication is obvious as she uses a variety of materials, technology, creative lesson plans and the input of all team members to create the most positive learning experience. Read more.

Miss Amanda, M.S. CF Speech and Language Therapist

Amanda applies a naturalistic play-based approach to therapy. She incorporates each child's goals into playful activities to create a natural environment that facilitates language, social skills and feeding! Amanda enjoys working with children because of their ability to persevere and make significant progress. Read more.

Occupational Therapists

Miss Adriana, MOT, OTR/L
​Licensed Occupational Therapist

Adriana focuses on providing a fun and captivating environment where children are actively engaged in therapy.  Her warm and kind-hearted spirit attracts even the most apprehensive child. Adriana’s child-directed approach to therapy is popular both with parents and children alike. Read more.

Miss Jamie, MOT, OTR/L
​Licensed Occupational Therapist and Feeding Therapist

Jamie greets each of her kids with a warm and welcoming smile! She inspires family participation through her energetic and inviting charm. She enjoys working with children and their families to help each child reach their full potential. From fine motor activities like painting and cutting to gross motor activities like playing in our professionally designed sensory gym, Jamie tailors her therapy to each child’s needs. Read more.

Miss Jamie, MSOT, OTR/L
Licensed Occupational Therapist

Jamie has a passion for helping children develop their independence and skill development. She utilizes a play-based approach to motivate each child to meet his/her goals without even realizing they are working. She enjoys getting down to their level and including a variety of fine motor, visual motor and sensory processing activities within play schemes to encourage participation. Read more.

Miss Jen, MOT, OTR/L
​Licensed Occupational Therapist

Jenifer is a pediatric occupational therapist who really enjoys helping kids!  She is committed to working closely with families and teachers to facilitate each child’s independence in school and in the home.  Jen has an unbelievable ability to get children working on their goals without them even realizing they are! Read more.

Miss Tara, MS, OTR/L
Licensed Occupational Therapist

Tara's approach to therapy is helping kids grow and learn through their main "occupation" of play. Her creative, adaptable, kind and fun-loving personality is evident in all she does. Tara believes it is important to look at the whole child (gross motor, fine motor, visual motor, sensory processing and social - emotional skills). Read more.

Miss Lizz, MSOT, OTR/L
Licensed Occupational Therapist

Physical Therapists

Miss Marisa, DPT
​Licensed Physical Therapist

Marisa is a pediatric physical therapist who brings creativity and energy to each one of her sessions. She is dedicated to applying her unique experiences in collaboration with other members of the interdisciplinary team, to provide quality care to her patients and families. Read more.

Miss Laura, MPT
Licensed Physical Therapist

Bio to come.

Miss Sarah, DPT
Licensed Physical Therapist

Bio to come.

Developmental Therapists

Miss Evon, M.Ed
​Licensed Developmental Therapist

Evon is a very nurturing and caring therapist who is passionate about helping children. She has many years of experience working with children and their families. She looks at how a child is developing globally (cognitive skills, language and communication, social-emotional, behavioral, and gross and fine motor skills) and develops play activities to provide children with the tools they need to navigate their world. Read more.

Enrichment

Ed Newman
​Professional Animator

Ed, a retired professional animator, brings his incredible talent and compassionate heart here to Hummingbird. He has an extensive background, working for Hanna Barbera Studios, Disney and then creating his own animation company with his wife, Calabash Animation. Read more.

Instructional Aides

Miss Bette, Classroom Aide

Miss Bette comes to Hummingbird with many years of experience both working in a therapeutic classroom and also in various health care settings. Her approach to therapy is to give children a feeling of accomplishment and self-confidence so they can feel successful, especially when doing things that may be challenging for them. Bette has always enjoyed being around children since her babysitting days when she was a young girl. She feels it is so rewarding to see them grown and overcome challenges and develop a belief in themselves. "I love their spirits, their eagerness to learn, their kind hearts and their smiles and laughter. Working with children brings joy to my days".

Bette and her husband have two grown children and two precious granddaughters. Her hobbies include dancing, reading and word games but her most favorite thing to do is spend time with family and friends.

"You must be the change you want to see in the world" - Gandhi

Neuropsychologists

Nichole L. Dawson, PhD

Dr. Dawson was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska.  She graduated with honors from the University of Iowa before pursuing her graduate education at the Illinois Institute of Technology, where she received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, specializing in pediatric neuropsychology. Read more.

Maribeth Rossini, PhD, NCSP

Dr. Rossini earned her doctoral degree from Loyola University Chicago.  She is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) and has an Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL) with a school psychology endorsement.  Dr. Rossini began her career working in the inner City of Chicago. Read more.

Child and Family Therapists

Sarah Ahlm, MA, LCSW
​Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Sarah holds a Master’s degree in clinical social work from the University of Chicago, School of Social Service Administration.  She has been working with children and families for over 20 years specializing in understanding the impact of developmental differences on behavior.  Read more.

Devon Dal Degan, MEd, MA, LSW
Licensed Social Worker

Devon holds a Master’s degree in clinical social work from the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration.  She has been working with children and families for over ten years in both therapeutic and educational settings.  Prior to joining the Nest Family Therapy Team, Devon worked as a therapy provider within the school setting and specialized in working with children living with grief, loss, and trauma-related behavioral disorders.  She also facilitated reflective teacher consultation groups for educators and providers to help them process children’s behaviors and classroom management. 
 
Devon specializes in relational focused psychotherapy, working with the “whole child” through modalities such as play, movement, sensory therapies and reflection to aid in the recognition of difficult emotions and expression of a child’s internal experience. Devon believes that each therapeutic relationship is unique and is built on mutual trust and a freedom from judgement.  Through a supportive therapeutic relationship, Devon helps children process their emotional experiences and learn to become regulated while experiencing a full range of emotions.

Bianca Dassinger, MA, LCSW
​Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Bianca holds an undergraduate degree in psychology from the Julius-Maximilians-Universität in Wűrzburg, Germany. She earned her Master’s degree in social work from the University of Chicago, School of Social Service Administration where she focused her studies on clinical social work with a specialization in family support practice and school-based social work. Read more.

Others that help us take flight!

Linda Bernal​, MA
Family Advocate

Linda, our Family Advocate, warmly welcomes each family with her compassionate demeanor and contagious smile. She coordinates the schedule, assists with billing and insurance and introduces all to the family-centered environment that we strive to provide here at Hummingbird. Read more.

Amy Tinerella
​Director of Fun & Marketing

Amy Tinerella, Director of Fun! From planning the various activities for families and the staff, Amy also helps with the Hummingbird website and marketing efforts. She understands the importance of pediatric therapy as her son received services for many years. Amy is a part time employee but 100% committed to Hummingbird’s mission. Read more.