Our Pediatric Therapeutic Approach

At Blue Bird Day, our pediatric therapeutic approach blends evidence-based practices with compassionate care to support children with autism and developmental differences in a school-like, engaging environment. We bring together occupational therapy, speech therapy, physical therapy, feeding support, social work, and optional ABA into one coordinated, individualized program that meets each child where they are. Designed to build communication, confidence, and independence, our approach helps children thrive academically, socially, and behaviorally. All while providing families with measurable progress and peace of mind.

Child smiling at his therapist while sitting at a table at blue bird day west loop.

Individualized Treatment Plans

Each child at Blue Bird Day will have a team of experienced therapists developing their individual treatment plans. Our staff consist of:

  • Certified Early Childhood Development Therapists
  • Speech Therapists
  • Physical Therapists
  • Occupational Therapists
  • ABA Therapists
  • Licensed Clinical Social Workers
  • Feeding Therapists
  • Registered Dietitian Nutritionists
  • Therapeutic Assistants

Each plan is created to encourage peer interaction, socialization, learning skills, sensory integration, and speech development based on the needs of each child.

Therapeutic Programs Customized for your Child

Blue Bird Day is an intensive pediatric therapy program designed to foster socialization, sensory regulation, and learning in children with therapeutic rotations that simulate a preschool and kindergarten setting. Relationship-based therapists work to build individual goals for each child and family to ensure future success in all situations. Our therapeutic programs are ideal for children with:

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • Sensory Processing Disorders
  • Articulation and Phonological Disorders
  • ADHD
  • Down Syndrome
  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Stuttering
  • Feeding Disorders
Therapist reading a book to children in circle time at Blue Bird Day northcenter.
Children holding hands while going on a walk outside at Blue Bird Day West Loop

Our Program is Evidence-Based

Blue Bird Day is an Evidence-Based Practice, which means that research-backed proof, our clinical expertise, and your child’s values and preferences are at the heart of everything we do. We stay current on the most relevant and evidence-based research available and integrate these therapeutic models into each individual child’s goals. Some evidence-based tools we use:

  • Sensory Integration
  • DIR/Floortime
  • Zoo-phonics
  • Handwriting without Tears
  • TEACCH
  • Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) Feeding Therapy
  • Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

Multi-disciplinary Therapy Rotations ©

Blue Birds follow a structured therapeutic rotation each day in a preschool or kindergarten-like setting that includes Circle Social Time, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Developmental Therapy, Behavioral Therapy, and Feeding Therapy.

This multi-disciplinary approach is designed to encourage the following:

  • Peer Interaction
  • Socialization
  • Development of Learning Skills
  • Sensory Integration
  • Speech Development
Child in centers playing with a doctor kit at blue bird day west loop chicago.
Interactive Therapeutic Sensorimotor gym at our West Loop Chicago location. A rainbow acrobat swing is hanging from the ceiling and can help with vestibular input, body awareness, motor planning, and has increased pressure for a calming effect. On the ground are blue crash mats and pads for sensory input and safety, a blue tunnel for gross motor activities, and a blue square ball pit for calming proprioceptive and tactile input. The walls and floor are covered with blue padding for safety.

Facilities that Foster Results

Blue Bird Day’s pediatric therapeutic facilities were designed with the child’s needs in mind by occupational therapist and child development specialist, Dr. Laura Mraz. Located in West Loop, Northcenter, and Wheaton, our facilities were specially created using the evidence-based approach to promote client participation and engagement. A variety of suspended swings, crash pads, and obstacle course materials are used in the sensorimotor gyms to get bodies moving, while the minimal design removes unnecessary dysregulating distractions.

Blue Bird Day kids are highly motivated to engage in our therapeutic program and enjoy the many options the space offers. Whether it’s climbing to the top of our rock wall or crashing into our ball pit, clients use this space to conquer many obstacles and reach their goals.

Highly Qualified and Compassionate Staff

Blue Bird Day’s therapists are among the most highly trained and experienced in Chicago. We believe in a collaborative and multi-disciplinary team approach to therapy. Our compassionate therapists and staff build strong relationships with clients and their families and are dedicated to helping children achieve goals and build confidence in their everyday lives. Our knowledgeable therapists and staff are truly what makes Blue Bird Day extraordinary and what helps us to stand apart from the rest.

A large group of staff from Blue Bird Day's West Loop location standing together on the side of the building, smiling at the camera.

Take a virtual tour of our Northcenter, West Loop, and Wheaton locations.

Therapeutic preschool or kindergarten classroom from our Northcenter Chicago location. There are three child-sized tables with blue chairs.
Blue Bird Day Northcenter lobby with two black chairs, children's toys to play with while you wait, and boards filled with notices on the wall.
Interactive Therapeutic Sensorimotor gym at our Northcenter Chicago location. Contains a rainbow lycra swing, a flexion disc swing for vestibular and proprioceptive stimulation, stepping stones, and a foam wedge. The floors are covered with blue padding for safety.
Blue Bird Day Northcenter lobby with black chairs and couches and children's toys to play with while you wait.
Interactive Therapeutic Sensorimotor gym at our Northcenter Chicago location. Contains a platform swing, an exercise ball, a balance beam, a bolster swing, walking steps, and a foam wedge. The floors are covered with blue padding for safety.
Therapeutic preschool or kindergarten classroom from our Northcenter Chicago location. There's a child-sized table, a bookshelf filled with kids books, a cabinet filled with colorful plastic tubs, and rainbow paintings on the walls.
Therapeutic preschool or kindergarten classroom from our Northcenter Chicago location. There are two child-sized tables with brightly colored cube chairs, a bookshelf filled with kids books, a cabinet filled with toys, and a white rocking chair.
Blue Bird Day Northcenter hallway filled with cubbies
Interactive Therapeutic Sensorimotor gym at our West Loop Chicago location. Includes a therapeutic web tower swing hanging from the ceiling for sensory seekers that helps improve balance reactions and motor planning and provides calming vestibular input. On the floor is a child-sized green and red trampoline with a handle for balance and safety to provide stimulating proprioceptive input, help kids release energy, and promote motor skills. There is also large colorful blocks for creative and gross motor play, two round wooden climbing ladders, and a play house cube with two circular openings to climb and explore.
Therapeutic preschool or kindergarten classroom from our West Loop Chicago location. There are two child-sized tables with chairs, a brightly colored rug, a bookshelf filled with kids books, and a wall filled with windows that has stickers of animals on them.
Interactive Therapeutic Sensorimotor gym at our West Loop Chicago location. Includes a therapeutic rainbow platform saucer swing for vestibular and proprioceptive input, a steam roller ramp (for sensory stimulation, heavy work, bilateral coordination and motor planning), a set of monkey bars for gross motor play, a set of climbing steps with a handrail for balance, crash pads and mats for safety and deep pressure input, a rolling tunnel, and a bosu balance ball. There is blue padding on the walls and floor for safety.
Therapeutic classroom with a big rainbow rug, tables and chairs for children, and a whiteboard. Therapeutic preschool or kindergarten classroom from our West Loop Chicago location. There are three child-sized tables with chairs, a brightly colored rug, a whiteboard with markers, child-sized cube seats in many colors, a child sized couch, a puppet station, and a wall filled with windows.
Interactive Therapeutic Sensorimotor gym at our West Loop Chicago location. Hanging from the ceiling is a flexion disc swing and a flexion t-bar swing for balance, bilateral strength, and vestibular input. On the back wall is a rock climbing wall to build gross motor skills, crash mats underneath for safety, a round wooden climbing ladder with a slide, and a red and white balance beam. The walls and floors are covered with blue padding for safety.
Therapeutic preschool and kindergarten lunchroom at our West Loop Chicago location. There are six child-sized tables with chairs throughout the room. On the right side are white cabinets.
Therapeutic preschool or kindergarten classroom from our West Loop Chicago location. There are two child-sized tables with chairs, a brightly colored rug, a bookshelf filled with kids books, a child-sized couch, colorful block chairs, and a wall filled with windows that has stickers of animals on them.
Interactive Therapeutic Sensorimotor gym at our West Loop Chicago location. A rainbow acrobat swing is hanging from the ceiling and can help with vestibular input, body awareness, motor planning, and has increased pressure for a calming effect. On the ground are blue crash mats and pads for sensory input and safety, a ball pit, a blue tunnel for gross motor activities, and a blue square ball pit for calming proprioceptive and tactile input. The walls and floor are covered with blue padding for safety.
Therapeutic preschool or kindergarten classroom from our Wheaton Illinois location. There are several child-sized tables with chairs, a brightly colored rug, a bookshelf filled with kids books, and a wall full of windows looking outside.
Interactive Therapeutic Sensorimotor gym at our Wheaton Illinois location. Includes a therapeutic rainbow platform swing for vestibular and proprioceptive input, a set of climbing steps with a handrail for balance, crash pads and mats for safety and deep pressure input surrounding a large rainbow colored trampoline, a long blue tunnel, and a hopscotch game. There is blue padding on the walls and floor for safety.
Blue Bird Day Wheaton's interactive sensory retreat room. Includes a large Marvelous Marble sensory panel of light up interactive marbles where as children turn the marbles they receive visual, tactile, and aural sensory input, and experience a calming sensation. Crash mats and pads cover the floor for deep pressure and sensory input. The walls are covered with blue padding for safety. There are calming sensory aurora lights on the ceiling.
Blue Bird Day Wheaton reading room, including a bookshelf along the wall filled with children's books, a puzzle rug with the alphabet on it, and chairs to sit on.
Hallway filled with lockers at our Wheaton, Illinois location.
The lobby of our Blue Bird Day Wheaton location. Includes black couches and colorful waiting room toys.
Therapeutic preschool or kindergarten classroom from our Wheaton Illinois location. There are three child-sized tables with chairs, a brightly colored rug with color cube chairs on it, a bookshelf filled with kids books, and a sensory table.
Interactive Therapeutic Sensorimotor gym at our Wheaton Illinois location. Includes a steam roller ramp (for sensory stimulation, heavy work, bilateral coordination and motor planning), crash mats for safety and sensory input, a foam wedge for physical therapy activities. Handing from the ceiling is a raindrop swing (helping develop body awareness, motor planning, and spatial skills, as well as deep pressure for self-regulation), and a flexion disc swing for vestibular and proprioceptive stimulation. There is blue padding on the walls and floor for safety.

Blue Bird Day Case Studies

Our case studies provide a detailed, real-world account of some of the children at Blue Bird Day. Each offers an informative perspective on a child’s initial challenges, treatment over the course of a year, and their individual achievements and successes.

Learn more about Maria, a 5 year old with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Learn more about Christopher, a 7 year old with a diagnosis of Down syndrome.

Learn more about Jason, a 5 year old with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Learn more about Tyler, a 6 year old with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Learn more about Liam, a 5 year old with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Cerebral Palsy.

Learn more about Marco, a 4 year old with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Three Birds. One Mission. 

Blue Bird Day is just one part of your child’s journey! Our sister companies, Eyas Landing and Merlin Day Academy, work together to support your child as they grow. Eyas Landing provides multi-disciplinary therapeutic services for children and adolescents ages 0-21 — all under one roof at our state-of-the-art clinic, virtually through telehealth, at school or daycare, and at home. Merlin Day Academy— accredited by the Illinois State Board of Education—provides special education and multi-disciplinary therapy for children ages 6-14 with neuro-diverse learning needs.

Three Birds One Mission as Seen on WGN