Meet Our Team

Acorn Children’s Therapy was started in 2021 when Jill and Aley acted on a long-term dream to open their own clinic. They wanted to build a community to offer multidisciplinary care to families, while educating and nurturing a team of therapists.

Jill Solomon

MS, CCC-SLP | NLA-Trained

Jill received her undergraduate degree in speech and language sciences from Indiana University in Bloomington. She received a master’s in communication disorders from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa and is certified in Natural Language Acquisition (gestalt and analytical). Jill has worked in the Saint Louis area since 2000. She has had the opportunity to work with children from birth through high school and also into adulthood. Jill has had over 20 years of experience with autism spectrum disorders and pragmatic language. Other areas of expertise include:

  • Sound system disorders

  • Expressive and receptive language

  • Apraxia

  • Dysfluency

  • Voice disorders

  • Helping toddlers reach verbal milestones

Her favorite part of therapy is watching the growth of the client and experiencing this joy with the family.

Aley Babb-Keeble

MS, OTR/L

Aley received her undergraduate degree in biochemistry, cell and molecular biology at Drake University in Des Moines. She received her Master of Science degree in occupational therapy from Washington University in St Louis. Aley has experience working in public schools, private practice, home health, and early intervention (First Steps). She has had the opportunity to work with children from birth to early adulthood and loves helping families transition to new phases of life. Aley has completed extensive training in:

  • Sensory integration

  • Handwriting

  • Feeding

  • Pediatric pelvic health/toilet training

  • Emotional regulation and interoception

She is SOS and Beckman Oral Motor certified and is a provider of Integrated Listening Systems, The Listening Program, and Handwriting Without Tears.

Jenna Beth Black

MS, CCC-SLP | NLA-Trained

Jenna Beth received her bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and disorders at Auburn University. She went on to receive her master’s in speech language pathology at the University of South Florida and is certified in Natural Language Acquisition (gestalt and analytical). Jenna Beth worked in the school setting for 4 years before transitioning to private practice in the fall of 2021. Jenna Beth has worked with patients all across the lifespan but has particular experience and interest in pediatrics. Jenna Beth has experience with a variety of speech language disorders, including:

  • Childhood apraxia of speech

  • Gestalt language processing

  • Expressive and receptive language

  • Speech sound disorders

  • Early language

Brittney Huck

MSOT

Brittney received her undergraduate degree in early childhood special education from Lindenwood University in St. Charles, where she was certified to teach children from birth through 3rd grade. She then received her Master of Science degree in occupational therapy from Washington University in St. Louis. Brittney has experience working with children of all ages and adults, in educational, medical, and community settings. Brittney has a strong passion for and interest in emotional regulation, early intervention, and supporting families in all areas of development through the use of play, creativity, and learning. She has experience with:

  • Developmental delay

  • Fine motor development

  • Emotional regulation

  • Sensory processing

  • Handwriting

  • Emotional regulation and interoception

Marisa Julius

MA, CCC-SLP | NLA-Trained

Marisa Julius is a speech-language pathologist that has worked in the St. Louis area since 2019. She is a Missouri native and earned two bachelor’s degrees from Truman State University in communication disorders and German studies. She received her master’s degree in communication sciences and disorders from Saint Louis University. Marisa has experience working in school and clinical settings with children with complex communication needs. Her favorite part of the job is experiencing the joy of children connecting with their loved ones through language. In her free time, you can find her cooking, reading, hiking, or showing everyone unsolicited pictures of her dog. Areas of expertise include:

  • Augmentative and alternative communication

  • Expressive and receptive language

  • Speech sound system disorders

  • Apraxia

  • Dysfluency

Audrey Peppin

MS OTR/L

Audrey received her undergraduate degree in psychology and biomedical sciences at Missouri State University in Springfield. She worked as a certified occupational therapy assistant for 4 years before obtaining her Master of Science degree in occupational therapy from Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine. She has experience working in public schools, private outpatient therapy, aquatic therapy, and home health. Audrey has personal experience as a mother of a child who had to work extra hard to achieve milestones; this experience has drawn her to pediatric therapy, where she aspires to connect and help families experiencing similar struggles. Audrey loves the collaborative nature of pediatric occupational therapy and enjoys supporting children and their families in developing the skills they need to give the child the best possible start.

Audrey has treated a wide range of diagnoses and ages spanning from birth to age 21. She has experience with:

  • Developmental delay

  • Fine motor development

  • Handwriting

  • NICU graduate transition to home

  • Sensory integration

  • Executive function

  • Get Permission Approach for feeding anxious eaters

  • Emotional regulation and interoception

Andrea Schnelker

DPT, PT

Andrea received her undergraduate degree in health sciences from University of Missouri-Columbia in 2014. She received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Rockhurst University in 2018. Andrea has experience treating pediatric patients from birth to 21 and has spent her entire career working in various pediatric settings. She has experience with:

  • Infant and toddler development

  • Neurological and genetic disorders

  • Toe-walking

  • Torticollis

  • Many other diagnoses indicating the need for physical therapy

Sara Sindelar

COTA/L

Sara received her undergraduate degree in exercise physiology with a minor in nutrition from Missouri State University. She completed her occupational therapy assistant degree at Meramec Community College. Sara has experience working with all age groups: elementary children, teens, as well as adults with disabilities. She has worked primarily in the hospital setting, but has always had a strong passion for working with and helping children. Sara is excited and very happy to have joined a practice where she can develop one-on-one collaborations with children and their families. Her areas of expertise include:

  • Emotional regulation and interoception

  • Fine motor development

  • Emotional regulation and interoception

  • Sensory processing

Gabbie Eyler

OTD OTR/L

Gabbie is a St. Louis native. She received her Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Washington University in St. Louis in 2019. She completed her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy in 2023 also at Washington University in St. Louis. She completed 26 weeks of clinical rotations at Acorn Children’s Therapy prior to joining the team. Gabbie discovered her passion for helping children engage in meaningful occupations while volunteering at Equine Assisted Therapy. She loves how occupational therapy is disguised as play! Her areas of expertise include:

  • Developmental delay

  • Emotional regulation

  • Fine motor development

  • Sensory Processing

Meigan Winfield

COTA/L

Meigan received her undergraduate degree from St. Charles Community College. She has experience working with kids of all ages as well as adults in educational, medical, and outpatient settings. She has over 8 years of experience working with kids in a variety of community settings. Meigan is excited and very happy to have joined a practice where she can develop one-on-one collaborations with children and their families. Her areas of expertise include:

  • Emotional regulation and interoception

  • Fine motor development

  • Sensory processing

  • Handwriting

  • Executive function

Mary Larkin Rumbarger

M.S. CCC-SLP

Mary received her undergraduate degree in communication sciences and disorders and her master’s degree in speech-language pathology (SLP) from the University of Mississippi. She has worked for private practices and children’s hospitals with populations from newborn to adults. Mary has extensive training in swallowing diagnostics and school implementations of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). She loves working with children and supporting their families through therapy and beyond. Areas of knowledge include:

  • Early language articulation

  • Executive function

  • Expressive and receptive language

  • Autism spectrum disorder

Kerri McFarland

M.S., CCC-SLP

Kerri received her undergraduate degree in communication sciences and disorders from Southeast Missouri State and her master’s degree in speech-language pathology (SLP) from Fontbonne University. Kerri has experience in both school and private settings with children of all ages. She is passionate about working with kids using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and developing language, and she enjoys watching kids grow and use their language at home with their friends and family. Areas of knowledge include:

  • Speech sound disorders

  • Augmentative and alternative communication

Gen Streeter

M.S., CCC-SLP

Gen received her undergraduate degree in communication sciences and disorders from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and her master’s degree in speech-language pathology (SLP) from Fontbonne University. Gen’s favorite thing about working in private practice is the collaboration with families and other therapists to support each child individually. By meeting each child where they are, she gets to enjoy witnessing the growth of each child as they meet new milestones. Areas of knowledge include:

  • Speech sound disorders

  • Expressive and receptive language

  • Social pragmatic disorders

  • Augmentative and alternative communication

Ashley Cheatham

Front Desk

When she isn’t out playing with her puppy or hiking, you will find Ashley behind the front desk making sure all of your needs are being met! She has worked in patient care for over 7 years and enjoys working with kids of all ages. Along with her positive attitude, Ashley strives to adapt and learn in any situation she is put in!

Sara Schlansker

Sarah is a medical billing and coding specialist. She graduated with a Bachelors of Science in healthcare informatics and has worked in the healthcare industry for 24 years doing quality control and coding. Sara is in the process of completing her neuromovement certification.

Kaitlyn

Kaitlyn has a birthday this week! She graduated from Ladue High School. Go Rams! Kaitlyn loves music, hip-hop dancing, gymnastics, and performing.

Above + Beyond

Aley and Jill went above and beyond helping us learn strategies to incorporate at home, helped us seek outside resources when needed, and at any time of day are always up for answering questions/concerns. We are forever grateful for the time they took with our son and our entire family.

They have truly made a difference!