Our team of therapists is dedicated to providing your child with the “just right” services to optimize their potential.
Cassandra McManus, MOT, OTR/L
Cassandra graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelors Degree in Psychology and a Minor in Aging. She obtained her Master’s of Occupational Therapy from Midwestern University in Downers Grove, IL.
Cassandra is a co-owner of CDOT. She has both personal and professional experience working with children with disabilities. During and after graduate school, she participated in the Tiered Occupational Therapy (TOT) grant program to further develop her expertise in providing both individualized and group services related to child mental health via a Response to Intervention or (RtI) approach. This grant program was directly created as a result of the growing evidence on how to identify and address the needs of students with and at risk for learning disorders.
She has occupational therapy experience in both the outpatient pediatric setting and school setting. She is certified in Handwriting Without Tears and Youth Mental Health First Aid. She is also certified in the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP).
In her free time, Cassandra enjoys taking her cat on walks, rollerblading, finding new movies and TV shows to watch, exploring Chicago, and spending time with her family and friends.
“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.” - Fred Rogers
PEDIATRIC OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
Neha Iqbal, MOT, OTR/L
Neha graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a Bachelors Degree in Psychology and a Minor in Disability Studies. She obtained her Master’s of Occupational Therapy from Midwestern University in Downers Grove, IL.
Neha is a co-owner of CDOT. She also directed MCC academy’s Special Needs Islamic weekend school, Strive Together. Here, she helped establish an adapted curriculum to promote inclusion in an Islamic education for Muslim children with special needs.
She has attended conferences, travelled nationally, and internationally to support and promote accessibility and inclusion for Muslims with disabilities.
Neha has 13 years of experience working with children with disabilities. She has occupational therapy experience in outpatient pediatric settings and is certified in Children’s Yoga, Handwriting Without Tears, and Interactive Metronome. She is also credentialed to provide occupational therapy services through the Early Intervention Program of Illinois.
In her free time, Neha enjoys rollerblading, yoga sculpt, exploring new restaurants, and spending time with her family and friends.
“Play is the soil from which a child grows. Let her flower naturally, organically and in her own timing.” - Vince Gowmon
PEDIATRIC OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
Heather Hook, MS, OTD, OTR/L
Heather graduated from Carthage College with her bachelors degree in psychology. She graduated with her masters in occupational therapy from Rush University. Following six years of practice, Heather decided to go back for her doctorate in occupational therapy from Texas Woman’s University.
Heather has had the privilege of working within the pediatric world for the last 14 years, in out-patient clinics, schools, daycares, and homes. She has worked with people ages ranging from 3 months to 40 years of age, with a wide variety of different diagnoses. Through her time as a clinician, Heather has found a love for caregiver education and helping families implement realistic strategies within their routines to help a child reach their highest level of potential.
In her free time Heather is spending time with her family and friends, going on adventures with her kids, trying out new restaurants, traveling, vegging on the coach, and spending time outside.
"Play is fundamentally important for learning 21st century skills, such as problem solving, collaboration, and creativity.” American Academy of Pediatrics
PEDIATRIC OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
