Our Mission

Aspire Pediatric Therapy, LLC provides family-based pediatric speech/language and occupational therapy using a unique partnership between child, parent, and therapist. Invest time with us to further your child’s abilities and enhance their development.

Therapy Approach

At Aspire Pediatric Therapy, we believe that parental involvement in goal setting and treatment planning is crucial to successful outcomes. We encourage parents and caregivers to attend sessions and ask questions.

Insurance Coverages

Aspire Pediatric Therapy, LLC is currently contracted with the following insurance carriers:

  • UPMC
  • UPMC for You
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • HIGHMARK Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Keystone Health Plan West
  • Aetna
  • Cigna
  • HealthAmerica
  • Gateway Health Plan
  • Unison Health Plan
  • MedPLUS+
  • CHIP

Occupational, Speech, and Feeding Therapy

Occupational Therapy focuses on maximizing independence in individual’s Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). In children, all aspects of self-care, play and school performance areas are considered ADLs. A few examples include dressing, teeth brushing, feeding, handwriting, managing buttons and fasteners, and playing with toys. Various assessment tools allow our therapists to determine a child’s functional abilities and what functional barriers exist. Our therapists strive to determine the “why?” a child is not able to perform ADL tasks independently.

Speech/language pathology specialize in complete speech/language diagnostic and therapeutic services. Each client’s needs are addressed individually, with sensitivity to the individual’s specific situation. Services are provided for a diverse population, treating children from birth through age 18. These services include assessment, intervention, and consultation for children with language delays, phonological disorders, developmental dyspraxia, articulation difficulties and social communication difficulties. Special treatment plans are designed for children with autism, syndromes, apraxia, and other neurogenic disorders and developmental delays.

Diagnoses

Our experienced occupational and speech therapists provide individualized skilled therapy services to children birth to 18 with the following and additional diagnoses:

  • Autism and Autism Spectrum
  • Down’s Syndrome
  • Developmental Delays
  • Sensory Integration/Processing Dysfunction
  • Dyspraxia/Coordination Disorders
  • Neurologic Disorders
  • Genetic Disorders
  • Oral Motor & Feeding Dysfunction
  • Apraxia & Articulation Deficits
  • Language Delays
  • Phonological Disorders
  • Social Communication Dysfunction
  • Learning Disabilities

Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapy focuses on maximizing independence in individual’s Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). In children, all aspects of self-care, play and school performance areas are considered ADLs. A few examples include dressing, teeth brushing, feeding, handwriting, managing buttons and fasteners, and playing with toys. Various assessment tools allow our therapists to determine a child’s functional abilities and what functional barriers exist. Our therapists strive to determine the “why?” a child is not able to perform ADL tasks independently.

Why should I seek private occupational therapy? | What is an Occupational Therapist?

Why should I seek private occupational therapy?

Research has indicated children demonstrate greater developmental success with early intervention. Parents are not limited to services offered through the school system. These services are typically covered under medical insurance plans.

What is an Occupational Therapist?

An occupational therapist is a licensed healthcare professional with a college degree in occupational therapy. When a child comes to work with an occupational therapist for the first time, a thorough evaluation of the child’s level of performance in critical developmental areas is completed. An individualized plan of treatment is developed which include skilled treatment interventions and goals. At Aspire Pediatric Therapy, we believe that parental/caregiver involvement is goal setting and treatment planning is crucial to successful outcomes. We encourage parents and caregivers to attend therapy sessions and ask questions. At Aspire Pediatric Therapy we choose toys and activities appropriate for the child’s age and abilities and every success is celebrated. At Aspire, we strive to reach success with each child.

Treatments


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Speech Therapy

Speech/language pathology specialize in complete speech/language diagnostic and therapeutic services. Each client’s needs are addressed individually, with sensitivity to the individual’s specific situation. Services are provided for a diverse population, treating children from birth through age 18. These services include assessment, intervention, and consultation for children with language delays, phonological disorders, developmental dyspraxia, articulation difficulties and social communication difficulties. Special treatment plans are designed for children with autism, syndromes, apraxia, and other neurogenic disorders and developmental delays.

Why should I seek private speech/language therapy and occupational therapy? | What is speech/language therapy? | What is a speech/language pathologist?

Why should I seek private speech/language therapy and occupational therapy?

Research has indicated children demonstrate greater developmental success with early intervention. Parents are not limited to services offered through the school system. These services are typically covered under medical insurance plans.

What is speech/language therapy?

It is a specialty that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of speech disorders. Therapy is implemented to increase the communication skills of an individual. Speech language pathologists work with both expressive (what a child says) and receptive (what a child understands) language skills.

What is a speech/language pathologist?

A speech-language pathologist is a professional who is trained in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of a variety of communication disorders including speech, language, voice, fluency and swallowing. Practicing speech-language pathologists are required to obtain a masters degree from an accredited college or university in conjunction with the National Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC). Communication disorders can be caused by a variety of factors which include, but are not limited to, brain injuries, neurological disorders, hearing loss, birth defects, physical impairments and mental retardation.

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Feeding Program

Aspire Pediatric Therapy is excited to offer the SOS Approach to Feeding to our clients. Please read below for more information and contact one of our offices with questions.

What is the SOS (Sequential Oral Sensory) Approach to Feeding?

The SOS program integrates sensory, motor, oral, behavioral/learning, medical and nutrional factors and approaches in order to comprehensively evaluate and treat children with feeding/growth problems. The foundation of this approach centers on developmental steps and skills of feeding found in typical developing childern. The overall goal for this program is teach the skill of eating with increased exposure to a variety of foods.

A few indications of a "problem eater":

  • Ongoing poor weight gain (rate re: percentiles falling) or weight loss
  • Aversion or avoidance of all foods in specific texture or food group
  • Ongoing choking, gagging or coughing during meals
  • Ongoing problems with vomitting
  • More than one incident of nasal reflux
  • History of traumatic choking incident
  • Food range of less than 20 foods, especially if foods are being dropped over time with no new foods replacing those lost
  • Family is fighting about food and feeding (i.e. meals are battles)
  • Parent repeatedly reports that the child is difficult for everyone to feed
  • Parental history of an eating disorder, with a child not meeting weight goals

Offices

Name Address Telephone Fax
West 890 Beaver Grade Road, Moon Twp, PA 15108 412-474-3566 Fax: 412-474-3575
South 666 Washington Road Pittsburgh, PA 15228 412-572-6761 Fax: 412-572-6762
North 135 Cumberland Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15237 412-367-7652 Fax: 412-367-7653

Milestones

If you have questions concerning your childs progress against established milestones, please refer to this age related guide.

Age Group
By age one
Between one and two
Between two and three
Between three and four
Between four and five
Between five and six
Between six and seven
Seven and Over

By Age One

  • Speech & Language
    • Recognizes name
    • Says 2-3 words besides "mama" and "dada"
    • Imitates familiar words
    • Understands simple instructions
    • Recognizes words as symbols for objects: Car - points to garage, cat - meows
  • Gross Motor - deals with large muscle groups such as walking
    • sits without support
    • crawls
    • pulls self to standing position and stands unaided
    • walks with aid
    • rolls a ball in imitation of adult
  • Fine Motor - incorporates the small muscles such as handwriting
    • reaches, grasps, puts object in mouth
    • picks things up with pincer grasp (thumb and one finger)
    • transfers object from one hand to the other
    • drops and picks up toy

Between one and two

  • Speech & Language
    • Understands "no"
    • Uses 10 to 20 words, including names
    • Combines two words such as "daddy bye-bye"
    • Waves good-bye and plays pat-a-cake
    • Makes the "sounds" of familiar animals
    • Gives a toy when asked
    • Uses words such as "more" to make wants known
    • Points to his or her toes, eyes, and nose
    • Brings object from another room when asked
  • Gross Motor - deals with large muscle groups such as walking
    • walks alone
    • walks backwards
    • picks up toys from floor without falling
    • pulls toys, pushes toys
    • seats self in child size chair
    • walks up and down stairs with hand held
    • moves to music
  • Fine Motor - incorporates the small muscles such as handwriting
    • builds tower of three small blocks
    • puts four rings on stick
    • places five pegs in pegboard
    • turns pages two or three at a time
    • scribbles
    • turns knobs
    • throws small ball
    • paints with whole arm movement, shifts hands, makes strokes
  • Self Care
    • Removes socks and pulls off shoes
    • Pushes arms through sleeves and legs through pants
    • Shows own shoes or clothing in response to verbal request (15 mo.)
    • Uses spoon, cup well

Between two and three

  • Speech & Language
    • Identifies body parts
    • Carries on 'conversation' with self and dolls
    • Asks "what's that?" And "where's my?"
    • Uses 2-word negative phrases such as "no want"
    • Forms some plurals by adding "s"; book, books
    • Has a 450 word vocabulary
    • Gives first name, holds up fingers to tell age
    • Combines nouns and verbs "mommy go"
    • Understands simple time concepts: "last night", "tomorrow"
    • Refers to self as "me" rather than by name
    • Tries to get adult attention: "watch me"
    • Likes to hear same story repeated
    • May say "no" when means "yes"
    • Talks to other children as well as adults
    • Solves problems by talking instead of hitting or crying
    • Answers "where" questions
    • Names common pictures and things
    • Uses short sentences like "me want more" or "me want cookie"
    • Matches 3-4 colors, knows big and little
  • Gross Motor - deals with large muscle groups such as walking
    • runs forward well
    • jumps in place with two feet together
    • stands on one foot (with aid)
    • walks on tiptoe
    • kicks a ball forward

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Between three and four

  • Speech & Language
    • Can tell a story
    • Has a sentence length of 4-5 words
    • Has a vocabulary of nearly 1000 words
    • Names at least one color
    • Understands "yesterday," "summer", "lunchtime", "tonight", "little-big"
    • Begins to obey requests like "put the block under the chair"
    • Knows his or her last name, name of street on which he/she lives and several nursery rhymes
  • Gross Motor - deals with large muscle groups such as walking
    • runs around obstacles
    • walks on a line
    • balances on one foot for five to ten seconds
    • hops on one foot
    • pushes, pulls, steers wheeled toys
    • rides tricycle
    • uses slide independently
    • jumps over six inch high object and lands on both feet together
    • throws ball overhead
    • catches a bounce ball
  • Fine Motor - incorporates the small muscles such as handwriting
    • builds tower of nine small blocks
    • drives nails and pegs
    • copies circle
    • imitates cross
    • manipulates clay material (rolls balls, snakes, cookies)

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Between four and five

  • Speech & Language
    • Has sentence length of 4-5 words
    • Uses past tense correctly
    • Has a vocabulary of nearly 1500 words
    • Points to colors red, blue, yellow and green
    • Identifies triangles, circles and squares
    • Understands "In the morning" , "next", "noontime"
    • Can speak of imaginary conditions such as "I hope"
    • Asks many questions, asks "who?" And "why?
  • Gross Motor - deals with large muscle groups such as walking
    • walks backward toe-heel
    • jumps forward 10 times without falling
    • walks up and down stair independently, alternating feet
    • turns somersault
  • Fine Motor - incorporates the small muscles such as handwriting
    • cuts on line continuously
    • copies cross
    • copies square
    • prints a some capital letters
  • Self-Care
    • Dressing
      • Knows front and back of clothing
      • Removes pullover garment independently
      • Puts on socks correctly
      • Puts on shoes with assistance tying laces
      • Manage buttons completely
      • Buckles shoes or belt
      • Puts belt in loops (4 ½)
      • Zips jacket zipper – zipper separated

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    Between five and six

    • Speech & Language
      • Has a sentence length of 5-6 words
      • Has a vocabulary of around 2000 words
      • Defines objects by their use (you eat with a fork) and can tell what objects are made of
      • Knows spatial relations like "on top", "behind", "far" and "near"
      • Knows her address
      • Identifies a penny, nickel and dime
      • Knows common opposites like "big/little"
      • Understands "same" and "different"
      • Counts ten objects
      • Asks questions for information
      • Distinguished left and right hand in herself
      • Uses all types of sentences, for example "let's go to the store after we eat"
    • Gross Motor - deals with large muscle groups such as walking
      • runs lightly on toes
      • walks on balance beam
      • can cover 2 meters hopping
      • skips on alternate feet
      • jumps rope
    • Fine Motor - incorporates the small muscles such as handwriting
      • cuts out simple shapes
      • copies triangle
      • traces diamond
      • copies first name
      • prints numerals 1 to 5
      • colors within lines
      • has adult (tripod) grasp of pencil
      • hand dominance well established
      • pastes and glues appropriately

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    Between six and seven

    • Self-Care
      • Can perform bedtime activities alone
      • Dressing
        • Ties shoe laces in bowknot (5-6 yrs.)
        • Closes back zipper, snaps back snaps,buttons back buttons
      • Feeding
        • Cuts with knife and fork
      • Household
        • Adjusts faucet temperature
        • Washes dishes with help

    Seven and older

    • Self-Care 7+
      • Dresses self completely
      • Can use household tools like a hammer or screwdriver
      • Can perform household chores: dusting taking out trash

    About us

    Aspire Pediatric Therapy, LLC is a outpatient pediatric practice specializing in providing speech/language and occupational therapy services to children from birth to age 18. We also porticipate in Early Intervention Programs through Allegheny County for qualified candidates (ages birth to three). Our licensed and certified therapists have over 15 years of experience with children having a varied range of developmental needs.

    Amy Morgan, SLP

    Co-owner of Aspire Pediatric Therapy, LLC, received her Masters degree in Speech Language Pathology from Duquesne University. Her clinical experience has addressed the needs of children with hearing impairments, Developmental Verbal Apraxia, seizure disorders, autism, and auditory processing disorders. Further career development includes over six years of early intervention throughout Allegheny County. This position entailed varying caseload including but not limited to individuals with Downs Syndrome, Rett's Syndrome, autism, cognitive deficits, developmental delays, Pervasive Developmental Disorders, pediatric stroke, and many other conditions. Amy's certifications include:

    • Board certified by The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
    • Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Licensed Speech Language Pathologist
    • Pennsylvania Professional Instructional teaching certification of Speech and Language Impaired

    Christine Zundel, OTR

    Co-owner of Aspire Pediatric Therapy, LLC, and a mother of three. Christine graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1993 with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Occupational Therapy. In her sixteen years of clinical experience, she has worked in a variety of settings. Christine has had the privilege of providing clinical interventions to children with autism spectrum disorders, Down’s syndrome, dyspraxia, developmental delays, sensory processing difficulties, various neurological and congenital deficits, trauma/burns, and orthopedic injuries. Christine has attended numerous continuing education courses including sensory processing disorder, visual-vestibular dysfunction, therapeutic listening, sensory integration, dysphagia, hand/upper extremity dysfunction, and physical agent modalities. Christine has been a presenter at the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association’s annual conference. Christine's certifications include:

    • Registered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy
    • Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Licensed Occupational Therapist
    • Certified in Therapeutic Listening

    Staff Administrative

    Angela Short

    Angela is the mother of two sons one of whom was diagnosed with Autism in 2002. She has been a Rescue Angel with Generation Rescue since 2005 and has worked as a coordinator for the Pittsburgh Autism Expo. She is also a founder of the "Pittsburgh Warrior Parents" support group which meets monthly at Aspire Pediatric Therapy's Moon office.

    Staff - Occupational Therapy

    Carrie Harold

    Carrie Harold, OTR/L graduated from Duquesne University in 2008 with her Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy and a minor in Special Education. Carrie's pediatric experience includes school based and acute care settings, with populations such as Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Angelman syndrome, oral motor dysfunction, neurological disorders, Cortical Visual Impairment, and other chromosomal disorders. Prior to joining Aspire Pediatric Therapy, Carrie worked in the adult acute care setting with neurological, traumatic, and orthopedic populations, and is experienced in fabricating custom hand splints. Carrie is registered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy and is licensed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

    Kristy Tait

    Kristy Tait, OTR/L, is a graduate of West Virginia University where she received her Masters of Occupational Therapy in 2004. After graduation she worked in Washington, D.C. for 5 years for a pediatric practice. She has worked with children ages 3-17 in school, clinic-based, and therapeutic camp settings. Kristy has also taught swim lessons to children with special needs, including motor planning deficits and sensory integrative dysfunction. She is certified as an Interactive Metronome provider. Kristy is registered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy and is licensed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

    Jennifer Miller

    Jennifer Miller, COTA, is a graduate from Kaplan Career Institute where she received an Associate’s Degree in Specialized Technology. Currently, Jenn is practicing as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). She is planning to pursue her Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy in the fall of 2010. Jenn’s clinical experiences include working with both children and adults in a variety of settings. Populations she has worked with include but are not limited to: Down Syndrome, Autism, Traumatic Brain Injuries, Cerebral Palsy, Stroke, amputations, Anxiety disorders, Learning Disabilities, domestic abuse, hip and knee replacements, and the natural aging process.

    Jenn's certifications include:
    • Pennsylvania state licensed
    • Certified by the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)
    • Therapeutic Listening

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    Staff - Speech Therapy

    Lisa Bailey

    Lisa Baily, Speech Therapist, graduated from West Virginia University with a Masters degree in 1997. Following graduation, she provided services for a variety of age groups including early intervention, preschool therapy, and the public schools before deciding in 2004 to move to Pittsburgh to take additional coursework in her special interest areas. Lisa now lives in the South Hills area with her four children and a variety of pets. She loves working with kids, spending time with her family & pets, being outdoors, and local sports.

    Jessica Shaffer

    Jessica Shaffer, Speech Therapist, is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, where she received her Master of Arts degree in Speech Language Pathology. Jessica previously worked as a Therapeutic Support Staff (TSS), and provided services for children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). After working with this population, she became passionate about communication and chose to focus her career on enhancing all and/or any type of communication in others. Jessica has experience in providing speech and language therapy for children and adults with ASD, Down syndrome, Traumatic Brain Injury, Stroke, ADHD, developmental delays, and/or speech and language disorders only.

    Jessica's certifications include:
    • Certificate of Clinical Competence issued by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association.
    • Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Licensed Speech Language Pathologist

    Kristi Smith

    Kristi Smith is a graduate of Duquesne University, where she received her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology. Kristi worked in the research and development department at Dynavox Technologies where she helped develop AAC page sets to improve communication for individuals with varying abilities. Kristi currently provides speech and language services in Allegheny County through the early intervention program. Her experience includes, but is not limited to, providing speech and language therapy to children with autism spectrum disorders, Down Syndrome, traumatic brain injury and developmental delays.

    Kristi’s professional certifications include:
    • Certificate of Clinical Competence issued by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
    • Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist
    • Board certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing-Association

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    Locations

    Please visit us at one of our three convenient Pittsburgh locations.


    Name Address Telephone Fax
    North 135 Cumberland Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15237 412-367-7652 Fax: 412-367-7653
    South 666 Washington Road Pittsburgh, PA 15228 412-572-6761 Fax: 412-572-6762
    West 890 Beaver Grade Road, Moon Twp, PA 15108 412-474-3566 Fax: 412-474-3575

    North

    135 Cumberland Road
    Pittsburgh, PA 15237
    (412) 367-7652
    Fax: (412) 367-7653

     
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    South

    666 Washington Rd.
    Pittsburgh, PA 15228
    (412) 572-6761
    Fax: (412) 572-6762

    View Directions/Map

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    West

    West Hills Professional Center
    890 Beaver Grade Rd.
    Moon Township, PA 15108 (412) 474-3566
    Fax: (412) 474-3575


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