Our Team
Taylor Janca (Janisch)
M.S CCC-SLP
Taylor Janisch, co-owner of Amplifying Potential Therapy, is a speech-language pathologist devoted to helping children and young adults reach their fullest potential in all areas of their lives. Taylor has a Bachelor of Science in special education from the University of Missouri and a Master of Science in communicative sciences and disorders from New York University. She is a certified Spelling to Communicate (S2C) practitioner and holds a certificate in cultural and linguistic diversity from Bilinguistics. She has a passion for working with autistic people, AAC users, bilingual learners, those with executive functioning challenges, and/or those with difficulty in expressive, receptive, and/or pragmatic language.
Taylor believes in the power of building meaningful relationships with each of her clients, as communication is far more powerful when supported by someone you trust and enjoy seeing. She encourages all clients to be themselves and share their personal goals, interests, priorities, and gifts so they build a communication style that is most aligned with who they are.
Co-Owner, Clinical Director, Speech-Language Pathologist
Louie DeMarco
Louie DeMarco is a certified Spelling to Communicate (S2C) practitioner and has a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and fine art, with a minor in biology from St. Ambrose University. He is skilled at fostering the ability to use a letterboard as communication and is enthusiastic about helping people achieve the fundamental right of communication.
Louie also helps clients express themselves with creative projects and activities that incorporate the letterboard. With communication comes community, something else he believes is fundamental. It is his hope that by fostering a safe and accepting space, clients will be able to learn, grow, and communicate while walking a path they set for themselves. His lessons and groups are formed to allow exploration of both the intellectual and creative sides of life, as well as foster strong interpersonal connections.
S2C Practitioner, Group Manager
Marianna Balabanos M.S CF-SLP
Marianna is a passionate and highly dedicated speech-language pathologist, who is committed to supporting her clients and families through a multidisciplinary approach. Marianna received her Bachelor’s Degree from Illinois State University, and received her Master’s Degree in Speech Language Pathology at Augustana College. Marianna is currently in-training to be a certified Spelling 2 Communicate (S2C) practitioner. Marianna has experience working with clients of various ages (young children to adulthood); who present with a variety of speech, language, and communication disorders.
Marianna is committed to improving the quality of her clients lives and helping them reach their full potential. She enjoys seeing her clients grow in their skills and celebrating their successes. She strives to empower caregivers to be active partners in the therapy process in order to optimize progress. Marianna enjoys building relationships with her clients and their families and wishes to promote a rich learning environment.
Speech-Language Pathologist
Kayla Adams MOT, OTR/L
Kayla is an occupational therapist committed to improving the well-being of individuals in all stages of life. Kayla holds a Bachelor of Science in Community Health from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Masters degree in Occupational Therapy from Midwestern University in Downers Grove. Kayla utilizes Kelly Mahler’s Interoception Curriculum during her sessions, and she is also certified in the Handwriting Without Tears program.
Kayla’s passion for her career developed from hands-on experience using sensory processing, visual-motor, and a motor-based approach. While working in schools she realized how crucial Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) is for fostering independence and meaningful functionality. Inspired by this, she decided to take her journey further in joining the team at APT.
Kayla’s approach to therapy is rooted in the belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to express themselves and engage fully in their daily lives. Her expertise extends to addressing the occupational needs of diverse populations, making her a valuable asset to the team. She is committed to improving the quality of life for her clients.
Occupational Therapist
Susan Robins, MsEd
Susan Robins, co-owner of Amplifying Potential Therapy, serves as the parent liaison of the practice and manages administration, billing, and scheduling. She is committed to strengthening and growing the community of those who spell as their primary communication modality. She is also driven to increase access to therapies that increase autonomy of apraxic and dyspraxic individuals.
She has a Master of Science in secondary education from Northwestern University and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Albion College. She was an Illinois-certified teacher before raising Gwyneth and Mitchell with her husband Phil. She considers herself an ally of those who are autistic, apraxic, and dyspraxic, as well as those with epilepsy and anxiety.
Co-Owner, Administrator, Parent Coordinator
Mitchell Robins
Mitchell Robins, a co-founder of Amplifying Potential, is the inspiration behind the practice. Mitchell graduated from Highland Park High School and currently attends Arizona State University in pursuit of a degree in Community Advocacy and Social Policy. He writes a well-regarded blog (Mitchell's Life with Autism), offering advice and insight on what he experiences and accomplishes as an autistic, non-speaking man. His blog has been featured on the front page of The Chicago Tribune and on CBS-Chicago news.
Mitchell believes decisions should not be made for autistic people without the input of autistic voices. Mitchell’s role at APT is to advocate for the non-speaking population of clients and share feedback with the practice on how to improve and make our environment and offerings as inclusive and supportive as possible.
Co-Founder, Non-Speaker Advocate