Frequently Asked Questions
Merlin Day Academy is a therapeutic day school designed to support alternative learners with special education and therapeutic support. Merlins participate in education and therapy rotations including Special Education, Social Work, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Developmental Therapy, Behavioral Therapy, and Nutrition and Feeding Therapy. Our program runs from Monday to Friday and children can enroll in half-day or full-day therapy programming.
Merlin Day Academy is Illinois State Board of Eduacation (ISBE) approved and students are able to enroll through their Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Our program is designed for students that need a higher level of support than a traditional classroom can offer.
Each child is different, which is why we design a tailored plan for each child. During the enrollment process, our teachers and therapists will meet with your child to better understand their strengths, struggles, and your family’s goals. Our expert therapists will design a treatment plan just for you. As your child grows their skills, we’ll update their treatment plan to continue to support their growth and development.
You do not need a formal diagnosis to enroll at Merlin Day Academy, but we do need an IEP for ISBE enrollment or a script for services from your child’s pediatrician for private insurance enrollment. While a diagnosis could never sum up your wholly unique child, it can be a useful tool to access more supports and resources. If you are interested in diagnostic testing, our sister company, Blue Bird Day has a Clinical Psychologist on staff with over 20 years of experience that can help your family to better understand your child’s strengths and struggles. You can learn more at https://bluebirddayprogram.com/diagnostic-testing-and-assessment/
Merlin Day Academy is located in Chicago’s Avondale neighborhood at 3319 N. Elston Ave.
At Merlin Day Academy, we strive to tailor our special education with multidisciplinary therapeutic supports to meet each child’s individual needs. In order to achieve this, we require all our families to follow a pre-registration procedure which includes completing the enrollment packet, then our billing department runs the family’s insurance/benefits to determine what services are approved/covered for the child.
Our three-step process starts with a tour of Merlin Day Academy with our Director. Step two, meet and Greet with your child’s potential teacher for an informal screening to support classroom placement and the last step is your child’s initial evaluations with their team to identify needs, level of support, and set goals.
We have a variety of programs to support your child at any age. Our sister company, Eyas Landing, provides therapies for children ages 0 and up at our West Loop, Chicago clinic, in-home, at-school, and virtually. Blue Bird Day, our therapeutic preschool and kindergarten program supports children ages 2-7 and has branches in Chicago’s West Loop and Northcenter neighborhoods and Wheaton, Illinois.
Yes, Merlin Day Academy has been designed from the ground up to support children’s sensory needs and to help them build their regulation skills. All our staff are trained on the Intentional Relationship Model and are passionate about supporting children with developmental differences. Each clinic is equipped with sensory supports throughout our treatment rooms including fidgets, brushes, noise cancelling headphones, children engage in sensory play throughout the day, and we have sensory retreat rooms throughout our facilities. We also incorporate a lot of physical activity throughout the day to help children burn off energy and relax their minds and bodies for learning. Physical activity has been shown to improve children’s executive functioning and movement and play are key for a child’s healthy development.
Yes, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is available at Merlin Day Academy, and our expert team of therapists will incorporate ABA into your child’s treatment plan based on their goals. There are a wide variety of companies that only offer ABA treatment and schedule children for 30-40 hours of ABA per week. We prefer to take a more holistic approach that incorporates best practices from Behavior Therapy, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Developmental Therapy, and Nutrition and Feeding Therapy Speech Therapy to support your child as a whole.
Many of our therapists hold advanced degrees including Master’s and Doctorate degrees. Many staff members participate in professional organizations related to their field to further their therapeutic skills and evidence-informed best practices. Merlin Day Academy hosts a number of professional development and continuing education trainings for staff throughout the year. Most importantly, our staff love what they do and go above and beyond to make your child’s growth and progress their number one priority.
Our multidisciplinary team of educators and therapists conduct initial evaluations during the enrollment process to learn how to best support your child. Children are placed in classrooms based on their age, areas of growth, goals, and our team’s recommendations.
Yes, our program runs year round, with short professional development and holiday breaks throughout the year. We send a detailed calendar out to families with the exact dates so you can plan accordingly.
The class size is up to 12 students, but students are divided into small groups of 3-6 children for their education and therapy rotations. We have an average provider:student ratio of 1:3.
Yes, we do! We ask that caregivers list their child’s known allergies and dietary needs when filling out their enrollment packet.
No, at this time we do not offer naptime within our curriculum. Children have access to sensory retreat rooms to take breaks as needed.
Merlin Day Academy currently supports students ages 6-14.
Merlin Day Academy is able to bill health insurance, and our admin team conducts a detailed verification of cost and coverage, so you know all costs prior to enrollment. Our in-house billing team takes care of claims, disputes, etc so you can relax and enjoy your free time with your family. We also provide complimentary interest-free financing to spread your Max Out of Pocket cost out over the year. Additional fees apply for education, lunch, admin, and after-school club.
ISBE placement is also accepted with an IEP and placement coordinated through your local school district. Please note that ISBE placement at Merlin Day Academy does not cover the costs of ABA or Extended Day therapies, and therapy minutes will depend on your child’s IEP. If you would like to add on ABA or Extended Day therapies, we can bill private insurance for these services.
No, your child does not have to be potty trained to attend Merlin Day Academy. We will include that in your child’s therapy goals and begin working on it when your child is developmentally ready!
