MEET OUR BOARD

Stephanie Cohen, M.A., CCC-SLP, CLC

Stephanie Cohen is a speech-language pathologist and lactation counselor in private practice who has worked with children with complex medical needs and their families for more than 19 years. Stephanie has advanced training in feeding and swallowing disorders; she specializes in working with the 0-3 population and is passionate about helping families of children with feeding and swallowing disorders find ways to make mealtimes more successful and enjoyable. Stephanie has a bachelor of arts and a master of science degree from Northwestern University. She is a credentialed evaluator and provider in IL Early Intervention. Stephanie speaks about a variety of topics, including typical and atypical feeding development, responsive feeding, and trauma-informed feeding assessment and treatment. She enjoys mentoring, collaborating, and teaching.  Stephanie lives in Northbrook with her husband and three children.

KAREN DILFER, MS, OTR/L, C/NDT

Karen is an occupational therapist, feeding specialist, and food enthusiast.  She has a strong pediatric background and loves to help children with motor, sensory, and mealtime challenges. Karen received her Masters of Science degree from Washington University in St. Louis and is Neurodevelopmental  Treatment (NDT) trained. She also completed post-graduate education in Sensory Integration. Karen has worked with Marsha Dunn Klein, M.Ed., OTR/L, a leading expert in the field of pediatric feeding and creator of the “Get Permission” Approach to Mealtimes.  Karen works in private practice and Early Intervention in the Chicagoland area.

RISA NASATIR, M.A., CCC-SLP

Risa Nasatir is a certified licensed speech-language pathologist with over 23 years of clinical experience.  Her areas of expertise include early intervention, speech, voice, and oral-motor/feeding issues. Risa is frequently quoted in speech-related articles, lectures in the area and is a contributing author to Voice Treatment for Children and Adolescents (Singular, 2001).  Risa has a wide range of professional experience from working in the neonatal intensive care units, acute care in hospitals, clinics, schools, and home care.  Currently, Risa has a private practice in Chicago, where she sees a variety of patients. Risa has instituted a one-of-a-kind Bottle Bootcamp to assist families in transitioning their children from breastfeeding to bottle-feeding, which has proved to be a successful initiative for the many families she services.  Risa earned her Master’s Degree at Indiana University and an undergraduate degree from Michigan State University. She is a member of the American Speech and Hearing Association and an Illinois Early Intervention Provider. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two children.