Therapy Services
Our Therapy Services are provided by our sister company, Eyas Landing, an outpatient therapy clinic that operates in the building next door and provides services to Chicago area children with Autism, Down Syndrome, ADHD, Anxiety, and a wide variety of other sensory, developmental, and mental health conditions. Each child is evaluated by our multidisciplinary team to better understand the supports they need to succeed in learning, and Eyas Landing therapists provide therapy for medically relevant needs based on the results of these evaluations and therapist recommendations.
Social Work
Merlin Day Academy provides Social Work to aid children in Social Emotional Learning (SEL) through Play Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and the Intentional Relationship Model. Our therapeutic approach helps children struggling with social skills by encouraging and teaching them how to consider the thoughts and feelings of others and to be aware of their own actions and behaviors in social situations. This method is especially helpful to build confidence and promote positive social interactions.
Behavior Therapy
Behavior Therapy and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a common intervention used for children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and it can be used to help with any behaviors impeding with learning in school, at home, or within the community regardless of diagnosis. Board Certified Behavior Analysts and Registered Behavior Technicians provide therapeutic support in our special education classrooms and 1:1 behavior therapy services as identified in therapist evaluations and recommendations.
Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapists are experts in understanding the influence of the person, environment, & occupation and work with children and families to promote sensory integration, motor skills, and social interactions that support independence in everyday activities and meaningful participation in life. Our daily Occupational Therapy rotations allow children to participate in sensory regulation activities and build foundations for fine motor and sensory motor learning in addition to strengthening performance in daily occupations.
Physical Therapy
Physical Therapy allows children to participate in strengthening and endurance-building activities in theme-based gross motor activities. The physical therapy team is skilled in encouraging and motivating the child to participate in the appropriate activities to target their needs. Some evidenced-based techniques utilized by our therapists include Neuro-Developmental Treatment (Bobath), kinesiotaping, neuro-muscular re-education, orthotics assessment and management, and video gait analysis.
Speech-Language Pathology
Children build on their language skills with a focus on foundational literacy skills needed for communication, reading, and writing skills. Speech-Language Pathologists are well-practiced in language facilitation strategies, theories of language development, oral-motor development, and progression of speech sounds. They incorporate these strategies into fun and functional activities to ensure each child is generalizing their newly developed skills across multiple environments. When necessary, Augmented and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems can be introduced to facilitate communication, including the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) or speech-generating devices. If a child’s food intake is a concern, our therapists utilize the Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) approach to explore the look, smell, and taste of a variety of different foods in order to promote acceptance and expand diets.
Neuropsychology
Eyas Landing provides Neuropsychological testing and assessment for Merlin Day Academy students and Chicago area families. The testing team at Eyas Landing aims to help our children and families better understand themselves and their children. By providing comprehensive assessments, we outline not only diagnoses but strengths, needs, and recommendations for supports. Many individuals come to testing seeking information about what can help themselves or their children at work, school, or other settings. Eyas Landing’s testing team can provide recommendations for accommodations that can support Merlin Day Academy students in their daily lives and are ready to help advocate for these supports.