Empowering Neurodiverse Learners

At Merlin Day Academy, we understand that every child is unique and deserves a supportive environment designed to nurture their individual strengths and needs. Our program, tailored for children ages 6–14 with neurodiverse learning needs, seamlessly integrates individualized education with sensory-based therapeutic care to foster confidence, independence, and growth.

Why Choose Merlin Day Academy?

  • Individualized Learning Plans: Children learn best when their education is built around their unique abilities. We create personalized learning plans for each student, leveraging their strengths while addressing their challenges. This approach empowers children to progress at their own pace, building both competence and confidence.
  • Expert Therapeutic and Educational Care: Our proprietary, ISBE approved model combines education with therapeutic interventions to support growth in all aspects of a child’s life. Daily rotations are designed to address academic achievement alongside emotional, social, and functional development, ensuring a well-rounded experience that prepares children for success beyond the classroom.
  • Family-Centered Approach: We work closely with families to align educational strategies with each child’s specific needs and their family’s aspirations. This collaborative approach ensures consistency across school and home environments, amplifying the impact of our program.
  • Commitment to Progress: Our ultimate goal is to help every child transition to the least restrictive environment possible. By building essential skills and confidence, we give children the tools they need to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally—both in their community and beyond.

Merlin Day Academy goes beyond a traditional educational program. We provide a nurturing, empowering space where children with disabilities can learn, grow, and achieve their fullest potential. Together, we’ll embark on a transformative educational and developmental journey designed specifically for your child. Take the first step toward your child’s future today!

Our Program 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 

We serve students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) in the following categories: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disability, Learning Disability, Speech/ Language Delay, Emotional Disability, or Other Health Impairment.

Stay Updated with Daily Connect

Daily Connect allows us to provide regular, real-time updates on your child’s day at Merlin Day Academy, including information on classroom lessons, therapeutic rotation activities, and mealtime details, allowing you to feel more connected and reassured about your child’s well-being while they’re at school. Caregivers are able to directly message teachers through the app to ask questions or share information, as well as access a record of their child’s development and progress through shared photos, videos, and observations.

Have Peace of Mind with Our Concierge Administrative Team

Our dedicated concierge administrative team is here to help you every step of the way. They provide a personalized verification of insurance benefits, along with an estimate of coverage with payment options, and manage all of the intake, scheduling, and billing for your child throughout enrollment. With our concierge administrative services, parents can enjoy a hassle-free experience, knowing that every detail is being expertly managed and allowing you to focus on what truly matters—your family.

Merlin Day Academy is approved by the Illinois State Board of Education and students can be placed here by the school system through their Individualized Education Program (IEP), families can enroll with private insurance, or we also have out-of-pocket pay plans. Please contact us to learn more about specific costs.

We are In-Network with the Following Insurances:

  • Aetna PPO

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois PPO / Blue Choice

  • Blue Cross PPO Gold / Silver / Bronze

Hear What Our Families Have To Say!

I am currently visiting with my granddaughter and want to express my gratitude to the therapists at Merlin Day Academy. I have seen a remarkable change in her behavior and attitude. I firmly believe that the Individualized Education Program (IEP) designed by her therapists has made all the difference in the world. The feedback and communications between our school and Merlin Day have been outstanding. Over six months ago, I remember the words spoken by our therapist, “each child has their own unique set of challenges. Sometimes you feel overwhelmed, and it is important for you to have faith and not despair. There is hope. You are not alone. There are resources available to you to help you manage your child’s symptoms.” Those encouraging words gave us hope and we are very pleased with the progress. The fact that the Academy is accredited by the Illinois State Board of Education has offered us finacial options. Also, the staff has provided resources for financial aid. I know we are not going to reverse my granddaughter’s condition, but it is amazing to see the progress. We are managing and reducing the symptoms through an individualized plan, persistence, and patience, but more importantly through unwavering love and the acceptance of our child for who they are.

W.H. on Yelp

This is our 3rd year at Merlin; before that our son was at Blue Bird Day, a preschool also under the Eya’s Landing umbrella. We have only had positive experiences at both schools. Merlin provides comprehensive therapeutic services, including ABA, ST, PT, OT, and Social Work, in addition to educational services. The staff are insightful, creative, patient, compassionate and fun, and my son absolutely loves his time at school. The learning mixed with therapeutic play is just right for him developmentally, and his therapists take a holistic approach to building social and academic, and other skills he’ll need to function throughout life. As someone who taught for nearly a decade and has worked in school settings since, I can fully appreciate the level of individual attention he gets from his therapists and therapeutic assistants, the extensive communication with families to stay up to date on our goals for our child and to let us know how his day is going (including notes and photos throughout the day!). And mostly I appreciate that he is not just sitting around at a desk all day doing differentiated work–I he is active and thinking, engaged, and having fun as he builds new skills. I see the review from two and a half months ago, and I think the context there is important: hers was the very first child to transition from private insurance to ISBE funding, so it makes sense that she personally would have experienced the growing pains as they adjust to a different system. I can imagine that this is a steep learning curve, and I’d extend some grace to them as they figure it out. In our second year at the Avondale location, I’d say they have worked out a lot of kinks, and that this is a joyful place for my child to learn throughout the day. We have found it to be a godsend.

Janine G on Yelp

Merlin Day Academy has been a wonderful, supportive place for our son. He has thrived there and we are grateful for all of the kindness and patience that the staff has showed to both him and all of the children. He has made real gains with using his AAC device and also learning strategies to help him control behavior. They have also presumed competence in his education and have helped him move up the ladder academically. He has benefitted from all of the therapy modalities and I have been impressed with everyone he’s worked with: parapros, teachers, and therapists.

Kindra M on Yelp

Three Birds. One Mission.

Merlin Day Academy is just one part of your child’s journey! Our sister companies, Blue Bird Day and Eyas Landing, 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. Blue Bird Day, our therapeutic preschool and kindergarten program, is an intensive rotational therapeutic program designed to provide children ages 2-6 with the tools they need to succeed in a classroom environment.

Three Birds One Mission As Seen on WGN

Getting Started with Merlin Day Academy

Getting Started

Step 1

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.

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Step 2

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.

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Step 3

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.

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Step 4

Behavior Evaluations

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. 

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Step 5

Schedule Created by Administrative Team

Based on team and family recommendations, an individualized schedule is created for each child and sent to the family.

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Step 6

Initial Intensive Therapeutic Service Plan Meeting

Meet with your child’s treatment team to review evaluation results and develop individualized, goal-oriented treatment plan.

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Step 7

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.

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