FAQs Archive

Q: Is Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) available?

Yes , Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is available at Blue Bird Day, and our expert team of therapists will incorporate ABA into your child’s treatment plan based on their goals. There are a wide v ariety of companies that only offer ABA treatment and schedule children for 30- 40 hours of ABA per week. We prefer to take a more holistic approach that incorporat es best practices from Behavior Therapy , Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Developmental Therapy, and Nutrition and Feeding Therapy Speech Therapy to support your child as a whole .

Q: What if my child is too young or too old for Blue Bird Day?

We have a variety of programs to support your child at any age. Our s ister company, Eyas Landing , provides therapies for children ages 0 and up at our West Loop, Chicago clinic, in-home, at-school, and virtually. Merlin Day Academy , our therapeutic day school in Avondale, Chicago , supports children ages 6-14 with special education and therapeutic supports.

Q: What age(s) do you support?

Blue Bird Day supports children from ages 2-7 years old . We originally started Blue Bird as a preschool readiness program for children ageing out of Early Intervention therapies on their 3 rd birthdays and it has grown to be a supportive bridge to prepare children for success in school. As your child progressed through our program, their therapy team will work with you to identify next-steps to continue their growth and learning. Blue Bird graduates have gone on a variety of paths including traditional classrooms with and without IEP, in classroom therapies and supports, therapeutic day schools, and more.

Q: What is the enrollment process?

We start with our families filling out the registration form, then caregivers come in for a tour at the location you want your child to attend, then caregiver and child comes in for a playdate with one of our social workers / developmental therapists (these are our teachers), and the last step is a group evaluation with your child’s team.

Q: Where are you located?

Blue Bird Day has three branches in Chicago’s West Loop and Northcenter neighborhoods and Wheaton, I llinois.

Q: Do I need a diagnosis?

You do not need a formal diagnosis to enroll at Blue Bird Day, but we do need a script for services from your child's pediatrician so we can bill insurance for our therapeutic services. W hile a diagnosis c ould never sum up your wholly unique child, it can be a useful tool to access more supports and resources. If you are interested in diagnostic testing, we have a Clinical Psychologist on staff with over 20 years of experience that can hel p your family to better understand your child’s strengths and struggles. You can learn more on our Diagnostic Testing and Assessment page .

Q: What services does my child need?

Each child is different, which is why we design a tailored treatment plan for each child. During the enrollment process, our therapists will meet with your child to better understand their strengths, struggles, and your family’s goals. O ur expert therapists will design a treatment plan just for you. A s your child grows their skills, we'll update their treatment plan to continue to support their growth and development.

Q: Is Blue Bird Day a daycare?

Blue Bird Day is designed to look and feel like a school, but we’re actually an intensive therapeutic program where all the “teachers” are therapists! We support children with developmental differences including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), ADHD, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Apraxia or speech disorders such as stuttering, feeding disorders and many other physical and cognitive developmental delays.