Abilities Center Staff: Occupational Therapy Team

Dave Uchalik, OTR, is the Therapy Services Coordinator at the Abilities Center. He has been a pediatric occupational therapist with the center since 1999. Dave is a trainer for Interactive Metronome, the computer based technology which has been found to improve attention, motor planning and timing. He is also American Heart Association trained CPR instructor as well. Dave is a guitarist/singer-songwriter and performs with the popular local rock-parody band "The Polish Muslims".

Gayle Munro, COTA, is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant with the Abilities Center since 1994. Involvement with Occupational Therapy for 20 years has provided Gayle with experience in psychiatric services, physically challenged both young and old, and the public schools. Gayle has received extensive training in Therapeutic Listening, and has been involved with home modifications for the physically challenged. With this diversified training, Gayle has experienced many successes using the Sensory Integrative Approach with children here at The Abilities Center. Gayle enjoys spending time with her husband and 3 sons.

Hi! I'm Louise Green, OTR, I am married and have two darling adolescent daughters who keep me running. I have been an O.T. since 1980, when I graduated from Wayne State. I have worked in pediatrics since 1986 and I love these kids! I have SI and NDT training, and have worked in hospitals, schools and home care-but The Abilities Center is my favorite job ever!

Karen Goss, OTR, is a registered Occupational Therapist who graduated from New York University in 1984. She began her career at Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center in California. Since moving to Michigan in 1995, she has been working at Abilities Center. As part of her experience working in Pediatric OT, Karen is certified to perform the Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT), and is certified in Infant Massage. She also has additional training in Therapeutic Listening, Beckman Oral Motor Assessment, feeding, and Stanley Greenspan's DIR (Developmentally Based Individual Relationship) model for treatment of children on the autistic spectrum.

Jennifer Murphy, OTR, graduated from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy. Jennifer has been a member of The Abilities Center team since November 2005. As an occupational therapist Jennifer has obtained most of her experience working with children with special needs in the clinic, at home, and in school. Jennifer is certified in the Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT), is Level 1 Handwriting Without Tears certified, and trained and certified in the Interactive Metronome. Jennifer has special trainings in Kay Toomey's S.O.S Approach to Feeding, Therapeutic Listening, Love and Logic and Brain Gym.

Lindsay Buckley Ludtke, MS, OTR, graduated from Grand Valley State University with a Bachelors of Science degree in Biopsychology and a Masters of Science degree in Occupational Therapy.  She provides assessment and intervention for children ranging from birth to eighteen years of age with diagnosis such as autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, sensory processing disorder, cerebral palsy, fetal alcohol syndrome, Down syndrome, developmental delay, and cognitive impairment. She has been trained in fine motor skill development in addition to being Handwriting Without Tears®, Level 1 certified. Lindsay has been trained in the Kay Toomey SOS picky eaters and problem feeders approach and has had additional training in pediatric feeding and swallowing. She has had additional training in Brain Gym, Love and Logic, the use of visual strategies to support learning and development, and intervention strategies for children with autism including the Stanley Greenspan's DIR (Developmentally Based Individual Relationship) model.