About Us

OT ETC

Val Plummer, OTR/L: owner, president of O.T. Etc., Inc., starting out in 1994. O.T. practice includes 25 years of direct pediatric experience, with 20 years at the Children's Hospital in San Diego. At least 10 of these years were also spent in the 24 hr. care pediatric convalescent hospital. SIPT certified, with strong expertise in sensory based problems affecting feeding/oral motor coordination, organization of behavior, anxieties, developmental delays, and a variety of syndromes. val@ot-etc.com

Jill Bordokoff, COTA : joined OT Etc. in June 2004, a graduate with honors from Grossmont College's Occupational Therapy Assistant program. Jill had worked as a Business Systems analyst for over 20 years before changing careers. Jill has been trained in the Handwriting Without Tears program and regularly attends professional seminars on Autism, DIR (Developmental, Individual-Difference, Relationship Based Model) and other topics geared towards pediatric intervention programs. She is gaining expertise in the areas of autism, PDD/NOS, Down Syndrome and D.D., and is a certified Interactive Metronome Provider. She is a member of AOTA and OTAC and has served the community as a hospice volunteer since 1998. Jill@ot-etc.com

Jill Sherman, OTR/L, HHC: graduated from Boston University in 2001 with a bachelor's degree in Occupational Therapy. She moved from New York City to San Diego in the summer of 2006. In NYC, Jill worked in a variety of settings including early intervention, home based services and center based/school setting. She has been working in the sensory integration gym setting with children and their families with developmental and learning disabilities. She focuses her practice on healing from the inside out incorporating healthy diet/nutrition and lifestyle in her treatment programs. She is a graduate from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition with a certification in Holistic Health Counseling and she is certified to teach kids yoga. She received her training and certification in Interactive Metronome in the summer of 2007.

EXCEL SPEECH

Katherine Louis, M.A. CCC-SLP: Katherine, owner of Excel Speech Therapy Center, completed her graduate studies at California State University Fresno and is an ASHA member and CA licensed speech-language pathologist. She has experience working in a variety of settings including early intervention, private practice, rehabilitation hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, and public schools. Katherine has clinical experience in the assessment and treatment of adults and children. Her experience in working with the pediatric population includes, feeding and swallowing disorders, language deficits, fluency, voice, autism spectrum disorders, developmental delays, and apraxia. Her adult experience includes diagnosis and treatment of aphasia, dysarthria, apraxia, and dysphagia. Katherine has completed the Introduction to PROMPT Technique workshop and believes in a multidisciplinary team approach. katmedeiros@sbcglobal.net

Heather Linenfelser, M.S. CCC-SLP: Heather graduated with her Masters of Science degree from Southern Illinois University in August of 2003 and joined Excel Speech Therapy Center in October of the same year. She is an ASHA member and CA licensed speech-language pathologist. Heather has clinical experience in the assessment and treatment of pediatric communication disorders, in both school and clinical settings. She has experience in working with pediatric patients with a variety of diagnosis including, but not limited to autism spectrum disorders, developmental delay, cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, apraxia, Rett Syndrome and   Angelman Syndrome. Heather is certified by The Hanen Programâ to teach It Takes To Talk, for parents of young children with language delays,  and More Than Words, for parents of young children with Autism. She has also received training in the Affect-Based Language Curriculum (ABLC) for young children with Autism. Heather has completed the Introduction to PROMPT Technique workshop and has been trained in Beckman Oral Motor Therapy. hlinenfelser@gmail.com

Brigid Ledenham, M.A., CCC-SLP, MT-BC:  Brigid is a board-certified music therapist, ASHA member and CA licensed speech-language pathologist.  She holds a baccalaureate degree in Music Therapy from Immaculata University in PA.  She completed her graduate studies and earned a Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology from The University of Memphis in 2005.  She has experience in working with children and adolescents with a variety of diagnoses including, but not limited to, voice disorders, autism spectrum disorders, developmental delay, cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, apraxia, and Angelman Syndrome.  Her clinical fellowship experience included applying the medical model to assess and treat the pre-school, school aged, and adolescent population in both school and clinical settings in east Tennessee.  Her personal interest is providing children with multiple learning pathways and modalities including music and movement to enhance perception and create a gestalt approach to treatment.  Brigid is certified by The Hanen Program® to teach It Takes Two To Talk course for parents.  She has completed the Introduction to PROMPT Technique Workshop.   

LuAnn H. Lower, M.A., CCC-SLP: LuAnn graduated from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio with a Master of Arts Degree in Speech-Language Pathology. She is an ASHA member and holds licenses in both California and New York State. She has over 19 years of diversified clinical experience in the diagnosis and treatment of children and adults with a wide range of communication and related disorders. Her experience includes but is not limited to the following diagnoses: autism, Down’s syndrome, developmental delays, fluency, voice disorders, articulation/phonology disorders, apraxia, aphasia, dysarthria, and dysphagia. LuAnn has worked in a variety of settings including developmental centers, hospitals, skilled nursing/rehabilitation centers, public schools, community clinics, a non-profit preschool, and private practice. Her guiding principal in treatment has always been a focus on functional communication skills. She is committed to continuing education and most recently attended workshops focusing on Early Intervention as well as the diagnosis and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders and Childhood Apraxia of Speech.

Jennifer Villena, M.A. CF-SLP: Jennifer completed her graduate studies at San Francisco State University and joined Excel Speech Therapy Center in August of 2007. Jennifer is currently completing her Clinical Fellowship Year (CFY). Her clinical experience includes, but is not limited to, treating and assessing individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, feeding and swallowing disorders, language disorders, fluency, articulation/phonological impairment, Apraxia, and voice disorders. Prior to becoming a Speech-Language Pathologist, Jennifer worked as a Behavioral Therapist and is trained in Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA). She plans to complete the Introduction to PROMPT Technique Workshop and become certified by The Hanen Program® to teach and implement It Takes Two To Talk for parents in November 2007. jennv321@yahoo.com

PT IN MOTION

Kristin Parsley, MPT, Co-Owner of PT in Motion, Inc.: Over 15 years of pediatric physical therapy experience. Career began at Children’s Hospital San Diego. Experience included treatment of all pediatric diagnoses, home care, and school based treatment however specialized in traumatic brain injury, as the lead physical therapist on the inpatient rehabilitation team. Kristin has been trained in treatment of the premature infant and worked for 5 years in the NICU at Children’s Hospital. While at Children’s, Kristin also consulted at Children’s Convalescent Hospital, worked in the JRA clinic and was a member of the NICU Developmental Team. Presently she continues to consult at San Diego Regional Center assisting in screening children 0-3. Acquired specialized skills in Cascade orthotics, treatment of torticollis, and the premature baby. Has a personal interest in developing a gymnastics class for children with low tone.

Roxanne Husson-Van Norman, MPT, Co-Owner of PT in Motion, Inc. : Over 15 years of therapy experience. Career began at Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center in Downey, CA. Experience there consisted of treatment of adults and adolescents with traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injuries. Roxanne transitioned to California Children’s Services in Santa Barbara in 1995 where she worked with pediatrics for 3 ½ years treating neurological as well as orthopedic diagnoses. In 1998 she continued her career with Children’s Hospital in San Diego where she worked for 6 years. She began as an outpatient therapist treating children along with adult stroke patients. After 2 ½ years, she transitioned to her role as the Inpatient Rehabilitation Coordinator for physical therapy. Roxanne has experience treating a variety of diagnoses including brain injury, spinal cord injury, orthopedic conditions, syndromes, developmental delay and torticollis among many others. She has specialized skills in the area of seating and equipment assessment, spasticity management, orthotics and bracing. Roxanne was a member of the “Spasticity Team” at Children’s, and has lectured for Allergen, the producers of Botox. She was an instructor for the “Advanced Neurology” Master’s course at Mount Saint Mary’s College; has lectured at Grossmont College; and organized and was a primary presenter for “Spinal Cord Injury in the Pediatric Client” at Children’s Hospital.

Renee Cinco, RPT: Renee has been a Physical Therapist for the past 17 years after graduating from the University of Connecticut in 1989. She has tremendous experience working with both children and adults. She has treated children with diagnoses including, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, muscle diseases, syndromes, developmental delay, TBI, SCI and specialized skills in treating children with torticollis. Renee also has extensive experience in working with the adult population, both orthopedic and neurological. She has treated patients with joint replacements, repairs, fractures, carpel tunnel, nerve entrapments, sprains/strains, disc dysfunction and many other diagnoses. She has worked in various clinics across the United States, most recently 10 years at Children’s Hospital, San Diego. She is also a certified Personal Trainer and teaches a post natal exercise program called “Baby Boot Camp”.

Karen R. Saggese, PTA: Karen studied physical therapy at Mesa College with an emphasis in pediatrics. Her education included an internship at Children’s Hospital in San Diego. She has been with “PT in Motion, Inc.” since the fall of 2005. Karen has experience in working with pediatric patients with a variety of diagnosis including, but not limited to developmental delay, various syndromes, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, and TBI and balance deficits. She also has experience in treating adult orthopedic conditions including, but not limited to spinal fusions, joint replacements, muscle/tendon repairs, disc dysfunction, sprains, fractures and gait abnormalities. Karen’s professional background includes working as a special education teaching assistant at Rancho Bernardo High School and coordinating special events and health and fitness programs for the city of Poway, CA.

Cathy Cortney, MPT: 10 years of pediatric and adolescent physical therapy experience.
Cathy has a BS degree from UCSD and Master's of Physical Therapy from Mt. St.
Mary's College. Her career began at California Children's Services San Diego County in
Chula Vista. Experience at CCS consisted of evaluation and treatment of children birth
to 21 with diagnoses including cerebral palsy, spina bifida, muscle diseases, JRA,
traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury and various congenital muscular-skeletal
disorders. Cathy worked as a Senior therapist for the past 6 years and developed
extensive skill in DME prescription and seating systems, school and caregiver education
for severely disabled individuals, observational gait analysis and therapeutic play
exercises. Cathy has worked with many pediatric specialists in the Children's, Kaiser
and Triwest systems through regular medical clinics and has strong working relationships with local orthotists and DME vendors. Cathy has been employed by PT in Motion, Inc. since October 2006 and services clients in both the Bonita and Kearny Mesa locations. She is a Senior therapist with this clinic and is skilled in treating children, adolescents and adults. Adolescent diagnoses include fractures, surgical corrections, muscles strains and tears, sprains, sports injuries among many others.

Theresa A. Lio, PT: Theresa graduated with her masters in Physical Therapy from the
University of Scranton, PA in 2004. She worked in New York at The Little Village
School, a school for children with special needs. She treated children from ages 2-12
with a variety of diagnoses including cerebral palsy, Down's syndrome, autism, and
genetic disorders. She also worked for a homecare agency in NY treating early
intervention and school aged children. She then worked for San Diego Unified School
District treating children from preschool to high school with similar diagnoses as
previously mentioned. Theresa now treats both children and adults with a variety of
diagnoses at P.T. in Motion,Inc.

Mary Powell. RPT: Mary Powell has practiced physical therapy for more than 20 years in
the San Diego area. She spent most of her career at Children's Hospital in San Diego,
where she started as a staff physical therapist and later progressed to Team Leader of the physical therapy department, where she supervised 35-40 staff members over the course of 13 years. She is Neurodevelopmental Therapy (NDT) certified and is trained in a variety of manual therapy techniques including Cranio-Sacral Therapy (CST). Mary is
skilled in treating all pediatric diagnoses, and provides evaluations and treatment for
adolescents and adults with acute orthopedic and sports injuries. She has expertise in the areas of chronic pain diagnoses and arthritic conditions as well as problems with the foot and ankle. Mary lectures nationally on a variety of diagnosis in particular topics related to problems with the foot and ankle, and specializes in custom orthotic evaluation and fabrication. For more information on craniosacral therapy, please visit:

www.craniosacraltherapv.org
www.upledger.com

Contact PT in Motion, Inc. management for an appointment.

Cris Rash, PT: Graduated from Mesa College in 2004. Cris began her career at Sharp
Memorial Hospital in San Diego and has been employed with PT in Motion, Inc for over
two years. Cris has experience and expertise in treating a variety of pediatric diagnoses
including developmental delay, cerebral palsy, various syndromes, spina bifida, traumatic
brain injury and torticollis. Cris has additional experience in treating a variety of
adolescent orthopedic conditions along with adult diagnoses including post surgical
conditions, back pain, fractures, and various joint problems.

Kim Kendler,PTA: Graduated from San Diego State in 1998, and received her PTA degree from Carroll Community College, Maryland in 2003. Kim worked for Littlefield Physical Therapy which specializes in Pediatrics. In addition, she has worked in the home and school setting providing services for children. Kim has experience with a variety of diagnoses including developmental delays, syndromes, cerebral palsy and sensory dysfunction. In addition to pediatrics, Kim has experience in the area of adult treatment with an emphasis on fitness and comprehensive exercise programs.