Specialized Therapy Services

We are a group of well-trained, licensed therapists dedicated to help people achieve complete wellness.

Occupational Therapists

Mary, Director, OTR/L

Mary graduated with a bachelor's degree in occupational therapy from the University of North Dakota. Mary began her career as a staff occupational therapist at the Life Skills and Transition Center following graduation and has since taken on various roles at the agency. Since 1990, Mary has managed the occupational therapy department and in 2018 she assumed the director position overseeing occupational, physical and speech therapies as well as the adaptive equipment department. Mary's specialties in service delivery include pediatrics and seating and positioning. She is grateful for the opportunity to serve children and adults in a variety of capacities. 

Mary is a proud grandmother and enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling and being outdoors. Her favorite hobbies are baking and taking nature walks. 

Jacy, MOTR/L

Jacy graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and received her master’s degree in occupational therapy from the University of North Dakota. After graduation, Jacy started working as an occupational therapist at the Life Skills and Transition Center and has served the state of North Dakota for the past seven years. Jacy’s professional areas of interest include sensory integration, pediatrics and ergonomics. 

Outside of work, Jacy loves to spend quality time with her growing family and dog. In the winter, she likes to ride snowmobile with family and friends and in the summer, she enjoys going to the lake and golfing.

Jill, COTA/L 

Jill graduated with her associate's degree as a certified occupational therapy assistant from Northland Community and Technical College. She worked for Upper Valley Special Education in the school system setting in Grafton and the surrounding area for five years. She has worked at the Life Skills and Transition Center for 14 years. 

Jill grew up in Minto, ND and now lives in Grafton with her husband and four children. She enjoys following her kids in their sporting activities, which includes volleyball, hockey, baseball, football, cross country and track. She also enjoys traveling and spending her summers at Maple Lake, MN.  

John, MOT, OTR/L 

John graduated from the University of North Dakota with a master’s degree in occupational therapy. He specializes in adaptive equipment, molded seating and the treatment of lymphedema. Prior to working at the Life Skills and Transition Center, John worked in rural MN where he treated clients of all ages in outpatient, assisted living, home health and skilled nursing settings. 

John enjoys the outdoors, spending time with family and friends and traveling.  

Katie, MOTR/L

Katie received her master’s degree in occupational therapy from the University of North Dakota. Her previous clinical experience includes working for the early intervention program in the northeast region of North Dakota for eight years. For the past 10 years, she has worked at the Life Skills and Transition Center. Her professional interests include reflex integration, self-care and feeding. Katie’s passion is working with children and watching them grow and learn! 

When she is not working, Katie enjoys spending time with her family and stays busy running her kids around to their activities. In the summer, she enjoys camping and her family has a goal to visit all of the beautiful North Dakota state parks.    

Lisa, COTA/L

Lisa graduated with an associate's degree as a certified occupational therapy assistant from North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, ND. She worked in the Grand Forks Public School System for two years and at the North Dakota School for the Blind in Grand Forks for eight years. Lisa has worked at the Life Skills and Transition Center for the past 30 years.

Lisa grew up on a farm near Mayville, ND and now lives in Grand Forks with her husband. She enjoys spending time with her son, family and friends, doing puzzles, reading, attending car shows, boating and spending time at their cabin at Maple Lake, MN.

Teresa, COTA/L

Teresa graduated with an associate's degree as a certified occupational therapy assistant from North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, ND. She started her career at the Developmental Center (now known as the Life Skills and Transition Center) where she worked until 1993. She left to gain work experience with the geriatric population. She has worked in several Minnesota nursing homes, home care and hospital settings through her job with Health Dimensions Rehab (HDR) Inc. Since 2007, she has worked part-time at both the Life Skills and Transition Center and HDR. 

When not at work, Teresa enjoys spending time with her family and friends, taking her dog for walks, ATV riding and dancing. Most summer weekends are spent at her cabin in Pine Lake, MN.

Physical Therapists

Kathy, PT, MPT, MDT   

Kathy graduated from the University of North Dakota with a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy and a master’s degree in physical therapy. She has worked in various settings including acute care, rehab and private outpatient clinics. She has an advanced certification in the McKenzie Diagnosis and Treatment of Spinal and Extremity Disorders. Kathy has been with the Life Skills and Transition Center for eight years and enjoys the comprehensive care programming with people with physical and intellectual disabilities.

Kathy's personal goal is to be an avid pickleball player.  

McKayla, PT, DPT

McKayla received her bachelor's degree in exercise science from North Dakota State University and her doctorate in physical therapy from the University of Mary. McKayla has professional experience in skilled nursing, outpatient geriatrics settings and outpatient pediatric settings in addition to her experience working at the Life Skills and Transition center for the last six years. She is certified in reflex integration therapy and use of the universal exercise unit. McKayla takes great pride in helping the people she serves, and their families, achieve their therapy goals for better participation in everyday life.

In her free time, McKayla enjoys going to the lake, traveling and spending time with family and friends. 

Speech Therapists

Kelly, MS-CCC-SLP

Kelly received her bachelor's degree from North Dakota State University in communication disorders and her master's degree from Minot State University in speech-language pathology. Kelly has experience working with the preschool/school age, adult and geriatric populations and is certified in specialty techniques for Parkinson’s patients. She especially enjoys working with adults and geriatric patients to help them regain speech-language skills for independent living.

Kelly enjoys outdoor activities, reading, traveling, and spending time with her grandchildren. 

Tami, MS-CCC-SLP

Tami received her bachelor’s degree in communication disorders from the University of North Dakota and received her master’s degree in speech-language pathology from Minnesota State University Moorhead. She has years of experience working with both children and adults finding ways to improve their communication skills while building close relationships. Her work experience includes inpatient/outpatient rehab, skilled nursing and in schools. Tami has worked for the Life Skills and Transition Center since 2020. Communication looks different for every person, so she believes in using child-led play, encouraging communication through sensory approaches and tailoring the therapy to the interests of the person. Tami makes sure that learning is fun and rewarding to develop efficient and effective communication skills for all ages. 

Tami enjoys traveling and life on the farm.

Support Team

Molly, Administrative Assistant

Molly grew up in Grand Forks, ND, and graduated from Rasmussen University with a major in criminal justice. Molly worked in public safety in Grand Forks for 10 years before moving into her role as an administrative assistant at LSTC. Before public safety, Molly worked as a certified nursing assistant for two years.  

Molly has three children, two dogs and one cat. Molly loves reading, traveling, puzzles and being with family and friends!

 

 

Kelly, Administrative Assistant

Kelly grew up in Grafton, ND, and graduated from the University of North Dakota with a double major in elementary and special education. Kelly taught in Grafton, Grand Forks, and Winnipeg, Manitoba. She went back to school to receive certification in reading and math. Kelly taught special education for kindergarten through ninth grade for 15 years and also taught title reading and math in grades fourth through ninth for 20 years. Kelly retired from teaching in 2021. She then received her certification as a certified nursing assistant and took a job as an administrative assistant for the Life Skills and Transition Center therapy department. 

Kelly has been married for 37 years and she has two adult children and two dogs. Kelly loves traveling, being with family and friends, and shopping!

We understand that parents/guardians may have questions when researching therapy clinics. Here are a few answers to come frequently asked questions.

What insurance do you accept?
We accept several ND insurance plans including ND Medicaid, Medicare, Blue Cross Blue Shield of ND and Sanford Health Plan. If you have a different insurance, please ask us. 

Will my insurance cover therapy services?
Understanding your concerns is crucial. Many insurance plans cover therapies based on medical necessity. Some plans may have a maximum number of sessions per year. If you have additional questions or uncertainties, please feel free to reach out to the number on the back of your insurance card. We're here to help guide you through the process with compassion and support.

How do I get services?
Feel free to reach out using the information below. We're here to listen to your concerns, discuss your needs, and together, we can decide if an evaluation is necessary. Let's start this journey together.

What specific medical conditions do you treat?

Our team can treat conditions such as:

• Toe walking
• Torticollis/Plagiocephaly
• Down Syndrome 
• Cerebral Palsy 
• Developmental delays
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Sensory Processing Disorder
• Traumatic brain injury
• Neurological conditions
• Parkinson’s Disease

Do you have transportation assistance?
We collaborate with Walsh and Pembina County Transportation to find the most convenient way for you to attend. Rest assured, this service is covered by ND Medicaid, aiming to make your journey as accessible and stress-free as possible.

Will you come to my home?
Our therapy gym offers the highest level of care with easy access to specialized equipment, ensuring the best quality of service. In special circumstances, we understand that evaluations and assessments in the comfort of your home may be necessary, and we're here to accommodate those unique needs with compassion and understanding.

Does my child qualify for therapy services if they already receive services through early intervention or the school?
Every child's unique needs are at the heart of our approach. Qualification for these services is determined by their specific areas of need. In our therapy clinic, we offer medically-based outpatient services tailored to address these needs, and we're here to provide any additional support they may require. 

Your child's well-being is our priority, and we're committed to offering compassionate care.

What does the evaluation process look like? 
The evaluation duration depends on the number of disciplines involved (PT, OT, SLP). Therapists will conduct various assessments, working closely with the individual.

After completing the evaluation, they'll prepare a report and contact you or the parent/guardian within a week to discuss the treatment plan if suitable or inform you if services are not qualified. You might receive additional forms from each discipline for more information. 

Can my child attend all disciplines (PT, OT, and Speech) on the same day?
Absolutely! We understand the importance of accommodating family schedules, and our team is flexible enough to arrange back-to-back appointments for your convenience.