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Meet The Team

At EB Pediatric Resources, we are proud to be a multidisciplinary team of licensed professionals dedicated to fostering the growth and development of our clients. Our diverse backgrounds and expertise allow us to provide comprehensive, tailored support that meets the unique needs of each child and their family. With a shared commitment to excellence, our team collaborates closely to create an enriching environment that promotes learning, social skills, and emotional well-being. Together, we strive to empower children and their families, ensuring they have the tools and resources to thrive at home, in the community, and at school

Owner/Executive Director

Elizabeth Benney, MA, DT, CIMI

Elizabeth Benney is a Developmental Therapist and Evaluator for the Illinois Early Intervention Program as well as an IAIM-certified Infant Massage Instructor. She was the founder of the Illinois Developmental Therapy Association and served as Chair of Professional Development for several years. Her practice specializations include certification in the Interactive Metronome programTherapeutic Listening program (“Core/Listening with the Whole Body”), and Infant Massage Instruction. She has had extensive experience addressing atypical sensory integration and her practice specifically addresses sensorimotor stability and organization. She utilizes various modalities including DIR® model of Floor-time as well as ABA protocols to tailor her sessions to each individual child as appropriate.

Elizabeth earned her graduate degree from University of Chicago and collaborated with graduate schools to provide child development graduates and interns with supervised clinical experience and training. She opened the Learning through Play Center several years ago as a forum in which she and her staff could design a unique style of developmental playgroup, which utilizes structure in conjunction with various modes (art, music, movement) tailored specifically to help children organize, adapt, socialize, communicate, and learn effectively in group settings.

Clinical Administrator

Megan Panik

Megan is the Office Manager and runs the office like clockwork! She helps families work through the complications of commercial and state insurance policies. Although she is now part of our administrative team, Megan has provided ABA therapy services for several years. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Baker College in Jackson, Michigan. She served as Lead Therapist on an ABA team and received commendations for her leadership role in providing impactful coaching, mentorship, and training to ABA staff. She is very familiar with data collection and analysis, tracking progress, and implementing necessary adjustments to optimize therapy programs. Her last position was as Operations Supervisor Assistant in an Autism Center where she pioneered the creation of new roles for staff and empowered them to take on additional responsibilities in-house. If you cannot find an answer, Megan will help you find the best solution!

Associate Director

Kailey Rawston, BCBA

Kailey Rawston is a dedicated Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with five years of experience in applied behavior analysis. Before specializing in this field, she worked in elementary education through AmeriCorps, fostering a strong foundation in teaching and support. Kailey earned her Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology and holds an undergraduate degree in Sociology and Communication Disorders from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Throughout her career, Kailey has worked in diverse environments, including clinics, homes, and schools, gaining extensive expertise in behavioral management for individuals and groups. She has experience working with individuals across the lifespan, from ages 3 to 21, but has most recently focused on children aged 3 to 8. Kailey specializes in teaching adaptive skills such as dressing, toileting, and eating, as well as addressing food selectivity and establishing routines while reducing challenging behaviors.

Her work environments include individual 1:1 therapy, family and caregiver training, RBT training, and providing school supports. Kailey is deeply committed to collaborating with educators and school staff to enhance student outcomes, particularly for children with autism and their families. She is passionate about empowering each child to reach their fullest potential and creating a positive impact in their lives.

Speech Language Pathologist

Kellsey O’Rourke – CF, SLP

Kellsey is one of our Speech Language Pathologists! She earned her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology at Marquette University. Kellsey provides speech pathology services for our clients across a variety of settings and ages. She conducts evaluations and direct therapy for patients in our outpatient clinic and in patients’ homes for the birth-to-three Early Intervention Program. She enjoys working with EI families and focuses on the importance of parent coaching and counseling. While at the Academy of Accelerated Learning in Milwaukee, she evaluated and treated a caseload of students with varying abilities and diagnoses, created intervention plans for students in Pre-K to 5th grade, and conducted formal and informal assessments to document progress toward IEP goals. As a student, she participated in specialized clinical programs and employed evidence-based approaches including neuroplastic techniques, implementation of a literacy-based curriculum targeting phonological awareness and fluency skills; addressed social communication skills in functional activities with adolescents with developmental disabilities, and used evidence-based approaches in treatment targeting pitch, resonance, and intonation.

Speech Language Pathologist

Illiana Falkenstern – SLP, CCC

Illiana is experienced in assessing, diagnosing, and treating children ages 18 months to 18 years in linguistically diverse, fast-paced environments. Well-acquainted with sensory integration therapy and augmentative and alternative communication devices and programs. Skilled in assessment and treatment of bilingual children with concomitant language and speech disorders. Licensed for practice in Illinois, Michigan, Florida, and Texas with a Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP) from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association. Certified as a Teacher of English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) by TEFL.org (180 hour program with classroom component). Achieved advanced proficiency in Russian and intermediate proficiency in French, with an undergraduate background in Linguistics.

Speech Language Pathologist

Paige Boucher – CF, SLP

Paige is a Speech Language Pathologist/Clinical Fellow. She received her Master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Elmhurst University, with emphasis on fluency and praxis. She earned her undergraduate degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Marquette University. She has had clinical experience in a variety of environments. In her previous work, she has provided speech therapy to clients in schools, pediatric therapy clinics, rehabilitation centers, and completed child language acquisition research at Marquette University. With both pediatric and adult speech and hearing experience, we know she will be a great fit for our clients!

Speech Language Pathologist Assistant

Jacqueline Somers – SLPA

Jacqueline is an Illinois licensed Speech Language Pathology Assistant. She has had Montessori training and experience working in a classroom setting with children ages 3 months to 5 years, is CARES training certified, and has had clinical experience assisting SLPs with swallow studies, preparing materials, documentation, administering therapy sessions, and performing memory and cognition testing. She has experience in both outpatient and intensive inpatient services. Prior to returning to school for speech therapy, Jacqueline worked as a teacher in a Montessori preschool. She developed original and engaging Montessori method-based lessons plans and worked with parents of students in a sensitive and caring manner.

Occupational Therapist

Johanna Gregory – OT/R

Johanna is our Lead Occupational Therapist. She earned her Master’s in Occupational Therapy at Gannon University in Erie, PA where she was on the Dean’s List all semesters of her tenure. Her primary focus is pediatrics and she’s spent several years working with children across a variety of settings and with a variety of diagnoses. As part of the EBPR team, she provides OT direct service and group activities, evaluates children for needs, develops appropriate treatment plans and goals, and collaborates with teachers at school settings on classroom adaptations and therapeutic play activities. She has an innate gift for implementing sensory, motor, and social-emotional activities for children in clinics and schools.  As a preschool teacher, Johanna developed lesson plans and facilitated classroom activities that were developmentally appropriate for the student population. Whether she is working at preschools, child care centers, or pro bono clinics, Johanna is wonderful with children. Her enthusiasm and energy is boundless–as is demonstrated by her Varsity Volleyball Academic All-American status while at the university!

Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant

Iris Antunez – COTA

Iris has been an occupational therapy assistant since 2017 and received her Associates in Applied Science from Wilbur Wright College. She received her OTA licensure in Illinois and has gotten experience in a variety of settings including hospitals, post acute care units, a therapeutic day school, and early intervention. She is CPR certified, is fluent in both Spanish and English, and has collaborated with occupational therapists to plan, implement, and administer educational, vocational, and recreational programs to restore and enhance performance in individuals with functional impairments. Iris has shown a true passion for helping our clients improve their functional skills while having fun! Iris’ extensive occupational therapy experience has allowed her to thrive in the pediatric therapy setting!

Board Certified Behavior Analyst

Mareike Eydt-Beebe – BCBA

Mareike is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and your ABA Team Leader at EBPR. She has had several years of experience working as a BCBA as well as providing ABA therapy. She has a lifelong passion for working with children with  a broad range of abilities and their families! She received her Master’s degree in Special Education and Applied Behavior Analysis from Ball State University in 2019, and her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Cognitive Studies from Vanderbilt University in 2016. She has extensive experience delivering one on one support and facilitating group activities to improve communication, promote independence, and develop social skills. As your team leader, she is committed to collaborating with your therapeutic team and your family to make a lasting positive impact for your child!

Behavior Technician

Jillian Owens

Jillian is an experienced Behavior Technician who earned her Bachelor in Psychology with a concentration in Human Development and graduated with honors (Magna cum laude) from DePaul University.  She’s had over 5 years providing direct services in collaboration with occupational therapists to plan, implement, and administer educational, vocational, and recreational programs that restore or enhance performance in individuals with functional impairments. She has had experience in parent coaching, classroom planning/organization, and resolution of students’ behavior and/or academic problems.  Prior to that, she worked with the Chicago Cities Project as a mentor–her duties included crisis intervention, monitoring student progress, resolving behavioral, academic, and other problems, and working with parents and teachers to determine priorities for students and their resource needs.

Registered Behavior Technician

Abby Garcia – RBT

Abigail is currently working toward her degree in Psychology and will soon be finishing her requirements for her RBT certification. Her pediatric experience includes tutoring for middle school students and working at summer camps. She assisted in planning and implementing summer camp activities for students from preschool to 8th grade. She was a member of the National Honor Society and the local community service group, Young Leaders in Action, while in high school. Abby plans to earn her Master degree in Clinical Psychology. Her clients adore her!