Pediatric Therapy Services & Autism Evaluations in Wheaton, IL (South)
1725 S Naperville Rd #110
Wheaton, IL 60189
331-224-3085
wheatonsouth@westsidect.com
630-793-8401
8 AM-7 PM Mon-Fri
Trusted Care for Children Ages 5 & Under
As one of Westside’s original locations, Wheaton South has built lasting relationships with families across the area. OT, PT, speech, and feeding therapy are all available under one roof, along with fully remote autism evaluations.
Get a fast, clear starting point when early concerns arise with a team of experienced therapists who’ve been part of the Westside family for years.
Answers, Faster • Built for the Early Years • All Care, One Place • Unified Team
When Should You Consider an Autism Evaluation?
Early identification is important, especially for kids under age 5. Potential signs of autism or another developmental difference include:
- Delayed speech or limited vocabulary
- Repetitive behaviors (e.g., lining up toys, repeating words/phrases, etc.)
- Limited eye contact or difficulty engaging with others
- Strong reliance on routines or becoming upset with small changes
- Sensory sensitivities, such as being overwhelmed by sounds, textures, or lights
If you’re considering an autism evaluation in Wheaton, our team is here to support you. We offer virtual diagnostic testing so you can get answers sooner, and from the comfort of home.
The Westside Way at Wheaton (South)
At our Wheaton (South) clinic, relationships come first. Our team takes the time to know your child, partner with your family, and celebrate every milestone along the way. You’ll find a collaborative team that brings genuine enthusiasm to every session and creates a place where kids are excited to walk through our doors.
What Therapy Services Does Westside Offer in Wheaton South?
At Westside, therapy is designed to support your child in the moments that matter most—daily routines, communication, and everyday independence. Families exploring child therapy in Wheaton South will find a team focused on practical progress, helping children build confidence and skills that carry into home, school, and community life.
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Getting clarity early can make a meaningful difference in how you support your child. Westside Children’s Therapy offers fast access to autism evaluations with results in just a few days. We help you understand what those results mean and guide you through the next steps, so you can move forward with confidence and the right support in place.
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Feeding therapy helps children who may struggle with picky eating, sensory sensitivities, or difficulty chewing and swallowing. Using a gentle, step-by-step approach, we help children feel more comfortable with new foods and build positive mealtime routines. The goal is to reduce stress and create a more enjoyable, confident experience around eating for both children and families.
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Occupational therapy supports children in developing the skills they need for everyday independence. As part of child therapy in Wheaton South, sessions focus on fine motor coordination, sensory processing, self-care, and play. Activities are engaging and goal-oriented, helping children build confidence and participate more comfortably in daily routines.
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Physical therapy helps children improve strength, balance, coordination, and overall movement. Through interactive, movement-based activities, sessions support motor development and address challenges with posture, mobility, and physical confidence. The focus is on helping children feel more capable and comfortable in their everyday environments.
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Speech therapy supports children in developing stronger communication skills, from language understanding to expressive and social communication. Through play-based, interactive sessions, children build confidence using their voice, connecting with others, and participating more fully in daily conversations.
Why Parents in Wheaton South Choose Westside Children’s Therapy
Choosing the right therapy provider is one of the most important decisions a family can make. Every parent deserves a team they can trust, a plan that makes sense, and progress they can actually see. Here's what keeps families choosing Westside:
- Faster Autism Evaluations: Getting answers early can shape the support your child receives. Westside Children's Therapy offers fast access to autism evaluations with results in days, giving Wheaton South families a clear starting point.
- Specialized Early Intervention (Ages 5 & Under): Early childhood is when targeted support has the greatest impact. We help young children build foundational skills in communication, movement, and daily living during this critical stage through child therapy in Wheaton South.
- Full-Service Pediatric Therapy — All in One Place: Westside Wheaton South offers OT, PT, speech therapy, and feeding therapy under one roof, with a coordinated team that works together around your child's goals.
- Coordinated Care Team: Therapists at Wheaton South collaborate closely across disciplines. Progress in one area connects to and reinforces growth in another, giving children a more well-rounded path forward.
- A Supportive, Engaging Environment: Sessions are hands-on, play-based, and designed to keep children engaged. The clinic is warm and welcoming, and children are treated as individuals, not just cases, every single visit.
- Family-Focused Approach: Parents and caregivers are active partners in the process. We communicate clearly, involve families in goal-setting, and provide strategies that help progress carry into daily life at home.
Encourage Your Child’s Development in Wheaton South
Getting started with pediatric therapy should feel simple and supportive. Here’s what to expect:
1. Contact our team
Reach us at 331-224-3085 or submit a contact form, and a team member will be in touch to schedule intake.
2. Intake call
We’ll discuss your child’s needs, verify insurance and answer any questions you may have.
3. Service matching
From there, we can recommend the right pediatric therapy services & create a custom plan for your child.
Meet Our Clinical Team
Ali McCarrell
OT
Ali McCarrell
OT
Alison (Ali) McCarrell, MOT, OTR/L earned her Master’s in Occupational Therapy from Governors State University. She serves as the Director of Occupational Therapy and brings experience from Giant Steps Therapeutic Day School in Lisle, IL.
Ali’s clinical interests include neurodevelopmental disorders such as ASD and ADHD, sensory processing & integration, mental health & trauma, complex neurological and genetic cases, and infants. She is passionate about helping each child and family build meaningful skills for everyday life through individualized, playful, engaging, collaborative, and supportive therapy.
Outside of work, you can usually find Ali listening to music, making her own sourdough, or spending time with her two dogs Izzy and Lainey. She appreciates simplicity, enjoys the outdoors and sports (playing and watching), and loves being with the people closest to her—especially her adorable nephew.
Allison Geary
SLP
Allison Geary
SLP
Allison Geary is a Speech-Language Pathologist who holds a B.S. Degree in Communication Science and Disorders from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and a M.S. Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Rush University.
She has experience working in early intervention and outpatient pediatric settings, as well as serving as a team lead prior to becoming a Speech Director. Her clinical specialties include craniofacial concerns including nasality/resonance difficulties, motor speech/apraxia of speech, and early language. She is also a feeding therapist with a focus on dysphagia/oral motor concerns, myofunctional therapy, and infant feeding.
Outside of work, Allison enjoys reading, crocheting, and taking walks with her dog.
Alyssa Sanders
OT
Alyssa Sanders
OT
Alyssa Sanders holds a Masters of Occupational Therapy and serves as a Regional Occupational Therapy Director (OTR/L) at Westside. She brings experience from both outpatient pediatrics and school-based therapy settings, supporting children and families across a variety of needs and environments.
Alyssa’s clinical specialties include sensory processing and modulation, emotional regulation, fine motor skill development, visual motor integration, and executive functioning. She works to help children build practical skills and confidence that carry over into daily routines at home, in school, and in the community.
Outside of work, Alyssa enjoys sports, traveling, and exploring new food in Chicago.
Bradford Czochara
Diagnostics
Bradford Czochara
Diagnostics
Bradford Czochara, Psy.D., ABN, LPC, CGP, earned his Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from Midwestern University. He brings a strong clinical foundation to his work, with experience spanning neuropsychology and rehab psychology across the lifespan.
Bradford’s clinical interests include neurodevelopmental disorders, as well as providing individual psychotherapy and group therapy. He is committed to offering thoughtful, practical support tailored to each person’s needs and strengths.
Outside of his clinical work, Bradford enjoys music, video games, reading, and spending time with his family.
Emily Shearer, Ph.D., Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Diagnostics
Emily Shearer, Ph.D., Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Diagnostics
Emily Shearer is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with a passion for helping children and families better understand their unique strengths and needs. She earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Iowa and has extensive experience providing assessment and psychological services across a variety of clinical settings.
Throughout her career, Dr. Shearer has worked at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in the Learning and Attention Disorders Clinic, Child and Adolescent Psychology, and the Center for Disabilities and Development. She has also provided services through University of Iowa Counseling Services, LittleStar ABA Therapy, and private practice.
Dr. Shearer specializes in the evaluation and diagnosis of autism, ADHD, and intellectual disabilities. She is dedicated to providing compassionate, evidence-based care that helps families gain clarity, access resources, and confidently move forward with the support their child needs.
Outside of work, Dr. Shearer enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, playing pickleball, and staying active through regular workouts.
Eun-Yeop Lee, Ph.D., NCSP, BCBA
Diagnostics
Eun-Yeop Lee, Ph.D., NCSP, BCBA
Diagnostics
Eun-Yeop Lee, Ph.D., NCSP, BCBA, is a Massachusetts and Illinois licensed psychologist, PsyPACT-authorized psychologist, pediatric neuropsychologist, Nationally Certified School Psychologist, and Board Certified Behavior Analyst with more than 10 years of experience in residential schools, hospitals, private practices, and therapy centers across several states.
Most recently, Dr. Lee served as a pediatric neuropsychologist at Northwestern Medicine’s Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital and the Rush NeuroBehavioral Center. She is dedicated to understanding how neuropsychological profiles and medical conditions impact learning and behavior in children and adolescents.
Dr. Lee earned her doctorate in School Psychology from the University of South Florida, completed her internship in Pediatric Neuropsychology at The Watson Institute, specializing in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis, and completed her postdoctoral training at McLean Hospital in Boston.
She has conducted comprehensive neuropsychological and educational evaluations for children with ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, learning disabilities, and other developmental concerns, providing families with individualized educational and behavioral recommendations. Since graduate school, Dr. Lee has been especially passionate about working with the Early Intervention population (birth to 3 years), with specialized interests in ASD diagnosis and training in the administration of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS).
Outside of work, Dr. Lee enjoys traveling, staying active through sports and fitness, and is currently improving her surfing and golfing skills.
Kara Steiskal, Psy.D
Diagnostics
Kara Steiskal, Psy.D
Diagnostics
Kara Steiskal holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from DePaul University, as well as a Master of Arts and Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology from Adler University. She is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in Illinois (License #071-022326) and began her clinical work as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) before expanding her role during doctoral training to include diagnostic assessment and therapy services across community mental health centers, schools, and multi-disciplinary practices.
Kara specializes in diagnostic assessments for children ages 2–16, providing diagnostic clarification for concerns such as autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, and mood disorders. She also offers individualized and family-centered feedback sessions to review results and share tailored recommendations and resources. In therapy, Kara works with children ages 5–17 and supports a range of concerns including autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, anxiety and depressive disorders, restricted/avoidant food intake disorder, adjustment concerns, attachment disruptions, and school avoidance. She provides individual therapy, parent training and support, and family therapy, using an integrative approach that draws from cognitive and behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, motivational interviewing, and play therapy techniques.
Outside of work, Kara enjoys spending time with family and friends, spending time outdoors, cooking and baking, skin-care, and shopping.
Kellie Tarra
OT
Kellie Tarra
OT
Kellie Tarra earned her degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Illinois State University and went on to complete her Master of Science at Saint Xavier University in 2016. She is a licensed and ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist (M.S., CCC-SLP/L) with experience serving children from preschool through 8th grade in the school system from 2016–2022. Kellie joined Westside Children’s Therapy in 2022 and is now one of the speech directors. Kellie oversees speech therapists at other Westside locations.
Kellie enjoys supporting children and families across a range of communication needs, with special interests in AAC—having previously served as an AAC evaluator—as well as childhood apraxia of speech, pragmatic language, early language development, speech sound disorders, and fluency.
Outside of work, Kellie loves spending quality time with her almost-one-year-old daughter, her husband, and their two dogs, and she also enjoys doing puzzles.
Kristalyn Turner
SLP
Kristalyn Turner
SLP
Kristalyn Turner, M.S., CCC-SLP, completed both her undergraduate and graduate studies at Eastern Illinois University. She began her career as a classroom aide before moving into a school-based speech-language pathologist role, building a strong foundation supporting children across a range of communication needs.
Kristalyn later joined Westside as a full-time SLP, advanced to clinic supervisor, and now serves as Speech Director. She has a special clinical interest in pediatric feeding disorders, including dysphagia, and enjoys supporting children with autism and their families with practical, compassionate care.
Nimisha Perumpel
OT
Nimisha Perumpel
OT
Misha Perumpel holds a Master of Occupational Therapy and is a licensed occupational therapist (MOT, OTR/L) and Regional OT Director at Westside, with experience in both outpatient pediatrics and acute care. She brings a thoughtful, child-centered approach to supporting children and families across a variety of needs and settings.
Misha’s clinical interests include handwriting, fine motor and visual motor integration, executive functioning, and self-care/ADLs, with experience working with infants and toddlers as well. She enjoys helping children build practical skills and confidence through engaging, meaningful activities.
Outside of work, Misha loves traveling, hiking, and art.
Pamela Kooi
SLP
Pamela Kooi
SLP
Pamela Kooi earned her Master’s degree in Speech/Language Pathology after attending Eastern Illinois University and Marquette University. She holds the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) and is a Licensed Speech Pathologist in the State of Illinois. Pam brings a broad range of experience to her work, including working the past 11 years at Westside Children’s Therapy. While working at Westside, she has been a Lead Speech Therapist and currently fills the role of a Director of Speech Therapy.
Pamela specializes in supporting children with language disorders, phonological disorders, childhood apraxia of speech, and gestalt language processing. She is known for a thoughtful, individualized approach that helps children build communication skills and confidence while partnering closely with families.
Outside of the clinic, Pamela enjoys spending time with family and friends, rescuing senior dogs and supporting the Chicago Cubs!
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs
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How long does it take to get an autism evaluation in Wheaton?
Westside Children’s Therapy offers fast access to autism evaluations. Most families complete the full evaluation process in 2 to 3 days—compared to the months-long waits typical at many providers. The entire process is conducted virtually, so there’s no need to travel or take time off work for in-person appointments.
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How much does an autism evaluation cost?
At Westside, autism diagnostic testing is billed to your insurance. Our team will work with your provider to verify coverage and costs upfront, so there are no surprises. There’s no obligation to continue with any services after testing is complete. We believe early answers shouldn’t come with unnecessary barriers.
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What ages do you treat at your Wheaton, IL (South) location?
We cater to children of all ages, starting from early childhood to adolescence and the teenage years. Our treatment plans are tailored to meet your child’s specific development challenges, enabling them to be on par with their peers.
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Can parents observe or participate in therapy sessions?
Yes, family participation is an important part of our therapy sessions. We encourage families to actively support their child in reaching their goals. We believe that with the right family support, you can help your child feel safe, confident, and happy while they learn and grow.
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How do I know which therapy is right for my child?
Our team thoroughly evaluates your child’s strengths, challenges, and developmental needs to understand which therapy is the right fit. Based on these findings, we recommend the therapy or a combination of therapies that will best support their growth.
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How does occupational therapy help children with daily skills?
Occupational therapy helps children develop essential skills for everyday activities, including motor coordination, sensory processing, self-care, play, and school tasks. Through fun, purposeful activities, these therapies build confidence, independence, and functional ability.
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Are therapy plans personalized for each child?
Yes, our therapy plans are personalized for each child. We understand that one-size-fits-all doesn’t work, as every child has their unique needs. Our expert pediatric therapists design each treatment plan to address your child’s specific development goals.
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Do you accept insurance for pediatric therapy services?
Yes, we accept insurance for our pediatric therapy services. Coverage can vary depending on your provider and plan, so our team is happy to walk you through your benefits and help you understand what’s included. Feel free to reach out at 331-224-3085.