Strengthening Mealtimes
Screentime Do’s and Don’ts
Join a Speech-Language Pathologist and a Occupational Therapist as they cover the do’s and don’ts of screen time, including developmental implications, alternative activities, and how to create your child’s own digit diet.
Echolalia
Join a Speech-Language Pathologist as she covers the commonly questioned topic of echolalia: Why is my child imitating what I say and how can I shape it into functional and meaningful language?
Supporting the Family
Join these Child Development Specialists as they cover how best to support siblings and build relationships, healthy family dynamics, and strategies to support the overall family unit.
Ask Birdie
Watch our panel of Blue Bird Day therapists, including an Occupational Therapist, Speech Therapist, and Social Worker, answer questions and provide advice during our Beyond the Nest caregiver training featuring Ask Birdie.
Posture in the Home
Watch as a Physical therapist gives a caregiver education presentation on Posture in the Home. Learn postural modifications for tabletop activities in the home, ideas for comfortable and supportive seating, and creative seating alternatives.
Building and Expanding on Play Skills
Join a Developmental Therapist for a caregiver educational workshop on Play Skills as she discusses the usage of household items for play.
Developing Consistent Routines
Watch Behavior Technicians give an educational caregiver workshop focusing on Developing Consistent Routines!
Open Enrollment
Guest speaker John Novi, Vice President, Cosmat Insurance, guides you through the ins and outs of the insurance marketplace.
Functional Play and Playdates
Join Blue Bird Day and Neighborhood Parents Network for a virtual workshop and learn more about Functional Play and Playdates from a Developmental Therapist and a Therapy Case Manager.
Getting Your Child an Appropriate IEP
Watch guest speaker Matt Cohen, Founder of Matt Cohen & Associates, discuss Individualized Education Programs to help you decide if you want to pursue an IEP for your child.
Toileting Trouble: How Can Physical Therapy Help?
Join Physical Therapists for an educational caregiver workshop as they cover potential physiological barriers to successful toilet training and how to address them.
Re-Evaluating Fruits and Vegetables
Watch our caregiver education workshop on Re-Evaluating Fruits and Vegetables – What Does my Child Really Need? Dietitian Nutritionists will cover 1) The benefits of fruits and vegetables for young children. 2) The ideal serving size of fruits and vegetables for preschoolers and kindergartners. 3) The best source of fiber for diarrhea versus constipation. 4) Ways to include more fruit and vegetables for picky eaters.
Joining in with Your Child’s Play
Watch our caregiver education workshop on Joining in with Your Child’s Play! Does your child play with the same toy, the same way, all day? Several Speech-Language Pathologists cover ways to join your child’s play.
IEP Panel Q&A
Listen as our panel of experts — the Director of Merlin Day Academy, a Disability Rights Lawyer, and a Parent who has gone through the IEP Process — give a caregiver educational workshop and Q&A on IEPs.
Bedtime Routines
Watch our educational caregiver workshop on Building a Bedtime Routine. Occupational therapists cover the benefits of a bedtime routine and how to build a healthy routine including sensory, environmental, and social emotional strategies that can improve your child’s quality of sleep.
Basics of Sensory Processing and Integration within the Home
Sister company Eyas Landing’s Occupational Therapists are guest hosting this month! The OTs will cover the basic principles of the seven sensory systems, the different ways dysregulation presents within these sensory systems, and strategies to work on increasing a child’s sensory processing and modulation skills within the home environment.
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) at Blue Bird Day
Behavior Analysts answer Common Questions Asked When Beginning ABA Services along with Common Evidence Based Strategies Used in ABA at Blue Bird Day.
Simple Signing and Functional Communication
Watch our educational caregiver workshop on Simple Signing and Functional Communication Speech-Language Pathologists and a Behavior Technician cover ways to support your child’s communication beyond just speaking. Topics include American Sign Language, visuals/choices, and schedules with time to practice new signs and ask questions.
Building Positive Mealtimes
A Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and a Speech-Language Pathologist cover recommendations for meal and snack time, tips for creating a positive mealtime at home, and how to foster food exploration!
Dual Lenses: My Perspective as a Special Needs Mom and a Therapist
Join a Physical Therapist Assistant as she shares with you what she’s learned as the parent of a daughter with autism, as well as the insight she’s gained as a therapist.
Chicago Autism Network Resources for Families
Kimi Matsumura is CEO and Founder of the Chicago Autism Network (CAN) and a former Blue Bird Day parent. CAN offers grants to help Chicago area families access insurance coverage for their children.
Open Enrollment
Does your child need therapies? Make sure you’re getting the coverage your family needs this Open Enrollment! Join Cosmat Insurance’s John Novi and Blue Bird Day’s Billing Lead to learn more about Open Enrollment, the ins and outs of the insurance marketplace, and Blue Bird Day’s concierge administrative team, with time for Q&A to answer questions about the process.
Scaffolding: How we Help our Children to Independence
Join us for a virtual Beyond the Nest educational and caregiver workshop on Scaffolding: How we Help our Children to Independence. Eyas Landing’s Speech-Language Pathologist will cover what scaffolding is, the hierarchy of help, and how to use these tools to assist your children in meeting their goals and building skills.
Going to the Dentist
Watch our virtual Beyond the Nest educational and caregiver workshop on Going to the Dentist. Dr. Amanda Pappas Shaffer and Dr. Deric Truskoski, Board Certified Pediatric Dentists at Floss Academy, and Alexis, Blue Bird Day’s Senior Occupational Therapist, will cover: cavities and treatment options available at Floss Academy, oral hygiene tips, how Floss Academy will help facilitate a smooth dental visit for your child, and an Occupational Therapist’s role in going to the dentist (including considerations for picking offices, preparation activities, and sensory supports for meetings).
Multimodal Communication and AAC
Merlin Day Academy and Blue Bird Day Speech-Language Pathologists present on Multimodal Communication and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).
Blue Bird Day Caregiver Q&A
Looking into next steps for your child after early intervention? Want to learn more about therapeutic preschool and kindergarten programs to see if they’re the right fit for your family? Our virtual panel of current and former Blue Bird Day caregivers discuss: Early Intervention, diagnoses and services, shopping for the right provider, navigating transitions, parent support and resources, along with an audience Q&A.
Understanding Language through Scripting, Echolalia, and Stimming
Watch Speech-Language Pathologist Allyson (M.S., CCC-SLP) as she covers scripting, echolalia, and vocal stimming and how best to engage with these forms of communication in order to promote engagement and connection.
Individual Education Programs with Matt Cohen
Watch our virtual “Beyond the Nest” caregiver and educational workshop. Guest speaker Matt Cohen—Founder of Matt Cohen & Associates—will discuss everything you need to know about Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), including legal standards and practical considerations, as well as proposed/pending changes to the federal special education laws and what can be done about it.
