Multi-Disciplinary Program
Merlin Day Academy is a unique, sensory integrated therapeutic school that believes all children with disabilities can learn with the right instructional, environmental, and therapeutic support. Our mission is to provide students, ages 6 to 14 years-old, with neuro-diverse learning needs an intensive, individualized special education that cultivates relationship-based, family-centered care to strengthen students’ educational and functional skills through building self-efficacy to become active, successful participants in their community.
Merlin Day Academy provides individualized support to children that recognizes their specific strengths and needs. Our special education in a therapeutic environment is ideal for children with
Autism Spectrum Disorder
ADHD
Sensory Processing Disorders
Behavioral Disorders
Cerebral Palsy
Down Syndrome
Genetic Conditions
Developmental Delay
Expressive Language Disorder
Gross Motor Delay
Hearing Impairment
Intellectual Disability
Merlin Day Academy serves students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) in the following disability categories:
Merlin Day Academy is just one part of your journey!
Merlin Day Academy and our sister companies work together to support you and your children across their development! Eyas Landing, our outpatient multidisciplinary therapy clinic, provides occupational therapy, applied behavior analysis (ABA), developmental therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, language therapy, nutrition, and feeding therapy services to Chicago area families and Merlin Day Academy students. Blue Bird Day, our therapeutic preschool and kindergarten program, is an intensive rotational therapeutic program designed to provide children with the tools they need to succeed in a classroom environment. Merlin Day Academy, our therapeutic special education school, provides educational instruction with therapeutic supports to provide children with autism and other sensory and developmental conditions with an ideal environment for learning.
Getting Started with Merlin Day Academy
Step One
Tour
Receive a tour of Merlin Day Academy with our Director where you can view our sensory friendly and student-centered classrooms, interactive sensorimotor gyms, innovative sensory retreat rooms, quiet rooms for breaks, and more. You will also receive an information packet and general pricing overview.
Step Two
Meet and Greet
Come on-site with your child and their potential teacher for an informal screening to support classroom placement. We strive to tailor our multidisciplinary approach to meet each child’s individual needs and our staff love what they do, going above and beyond to make your child’s growth and progress their number one priority by working collaboratively to cultivate relationship-based, family-centered care.
Step Three
Individual Evaluations As Needed
An initial evaluation is conducted with your child to identify needs, level of support, and set goals, including an Occupational Therapist, Speech Therapist, Physical Therapist, Social Worker, if needed, and Board-Certified Behavior Analyst.
Step Four
Behavior Evaluation
An assessment using observation, interview, and contrived environmental contingencies to determine base-line levels of problem behavior and under what conditions problem behavior is likely to occur in order to select, design, and implement behavioral strategies to decrease the problem behavior.
Step Five
Schedule Created by Administrative Team
Based on team and family recommendations, an individualized schedule is created for each child and sent to the family.
Step Six
Initial Intensive Therapeutic Service Plan Meeting
Meet with your child’s treatment team to review evaluation results and develop individualized, goal-oriented treatment plan.
Step Seven
Progress Report and Team Meeting
Semi-annual progress report and meeting between therapists and families, incorporating multi-disciplinary data review to evaluate current program effectiveness and appropriateness of treatment goals and supports.
