About Merlin Day Academy
Our Mission
Merlin Day Academy’s mission is to provide students, ages 6 to 14 years-old with neuro-diverse learning needs, an intensive, individualized, private education that cultivates relationship-based, family-centered care. We strive to strengthen students’ educational and functional skills by building their self-efficacy to become active, successful participants in the community.
Merlin’s goal is our students’ academic and life success, achieved by creating sustainable environments for students to re-integrate into their Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) or home school district. Our team of teachers and clinical providers strongly believe in delivering relationship-based interventions to keep re-integration and self-efficacy at the forefront of our clients’ strength, determination, and perseverance to excel in therapy, and ultimately, in their daily routines.
Our History
Dr. Laura Mraz, an occupational and developmental therapist, founded Eyas Landing in 2007. Her company initially focused on early intervention for children ages 0-3 years old. Eyas Landing has since grown to provide multi-disciplinary therapeutic services for children and adolescents ages 0-21 — all under one roof at the state-of-the-art clinic, virtually through telehealth, at school or daycare, and at home.
While she was growing Eyas Landing, Dr. Mraz and her associates noticed a need for families to have a therapy community. Parents were driving across the city to take their children to various therapies each day. The idea for an “all-inclusive setting” was born and Blue Bird Day’s therapeutic preschool and kindergarten program was established in 2014.
Merlin Day Academy was founded in 2018 to further support our clients in a therapeutic elementary school environment. Beginning summer of 2020, Merlin expanded its services to include academic instruction aligned with the Illinois State Board of Education Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and Essential Elements of CCSS.
Merlin Day Academy Staff
Merlin Day Academy’s therapists are among the most highly trained and experienced in Chicago, consisting of Learning Behavioral Specialist 1s, Therapeutic Teachers, Speech-Language Pathologists, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Registered Behavior Technicians, Board Certified Behavior Analysts, Registered Dietitian Nutritionists, Special Education 1:1 Aids, and Therapeutic Assistants.
We hire and train the best therapists and teachers in the field with an interest in a multi-disciplinary approach to care. Each of our staff bring their own expertise and client-centered care to the program to ensure each area of development is being addressed for our clients. Our staff work in teams to collaborate on treatment, as we believe that having different disciplines coordinating on a child’s team leads to positive impacts on children’s self-esteem and relationships.
