8 Fantastic Holiday Gifts for Fine Motor Coordination

Joanna Pasheluk

Joanna Pasheluk, MS, OTR/L, is a registered and licensed occupational therapist who brings specialized pediatric expertise and infectious enthusiasm to every therapy session at Chicago Pediatric Therapy & Wellness Center. Since joining the team in 2017, Joanna has helped hundreds of children develop the foundational skills they need to participate fully in daily life—from self-care routines to classroom activities to playground interactions. Joanna's educational foundation began at the College of Charleston, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Spanish in 2010. This background in communication studies laid important groundwork for her future work helping children express needs, follow directions, and engage socially. She went on to complete her Master of Occupational Therapy at the University of Illinois Chicago in 2015, where she developed expertise in pediatric development, sensory processing, and therapeutic interventions. In her clinical practice, Joanna specializes in several key areas: sensory integration therapy for children who struggle to process sensory information, fine motor skills development including handwriting, cutting, and manipulation tasks, self-care skill building such as dressing, feeding, and hygiene, and social interaction skills that help children connect with peers and adults. Her treatment philosophy centers on play-based interventions—she believes the best therapy doesn't feel like work. Instead, Joanna designs activities that children find genuinely engaging while secretly targeting therapeutic goals. Beyond direct patient care, Joanna serves as co-leader of Chicago Pediatric Therapy & Wellness Center's multidisciplinary team. In this role, she facilitates collaboration between occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, and behavior analysts, ensuring each child benefits from coordinated expertise. She champions evidence-based practices and continuous learning within the team. Joanna's family-centered approach means parents aren't observers—they're partners. She actively involves caregivers in treatment planning and provides coaching so skills transfer beyond the clinic walls into real-world settings where children live and learn.