Blue Bird Day
Blue Bird Day is an intensive pediatric therapy program designed to foster socialization, sensory regulation and learning in children with therapeutic rotations that simulate a preschool and kindergarten setting.[1]
Their therapeutic programs are ideal for children with autism/autism spectrum disorder, sensory processing disorders, articulation and phonological disorders, ADHD, down syndrome, cerebral palsy, stuttering, and feeding disorders.
Relationship-based therapists work to build individual goals for each child and family to ensure future success in all situations.
Contents
History
Blue Bird Day facilities at West Loop, Northcenter, and Wheaton were designed by founder Dr. Laura Hawkesworth Mraz. Every detail of the facility was designed with the child in mind and to benefit each child in their daily activities and routines.
The evidence-based approach is integrated throughout the facility, from the colored railings and minimally designed spaces to the carefully timed transitions and program schedules.
Blue Bird Day has three locations: Wheaton (opened 2021), Northcenter (opened 2018), and West Loop (opened 2014) and the program continues to grow.
Blue Bird Day was founded in 2014 by Occupational Therapist and child development specialist, Dr. Laura Hawkesworth Mraz. Their first sister company, Eyas Landing, was founded in 2007 and provides home, school, virtual, and clinic pediatric therapy.[2]
Blue Bird Day opened their doors next to Eyas Landing in the West Loop after Dr. Mraz saw a need for an intensive therapeutic program for children.
Their second sister company, Merlin Day Academy, was founded in 2017 and provides special education and multi-disciplinary therapy for children ages 6-14.
Dr. Mraz opened Merlin Day Academy when she noticed that some Blue Bird Day graduates needed a supportive and therapeutic environment to continue their learning. Eyas Landing, Merlin Day Academy, and Blue Bird Day partner together to create ideal therapeutic solutions for their clients.
Blue Bird Day Program
Blue Bird Day is an intensive pediatric therapy program designed to foster socialization, sensory regulation and learning in children with therapeutic rotations that simulate a preschool and kindergarten setting. Their highly educated and compassionate staff provide Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, ABA Therapy, Nutrition and Feeding Therapy, and Neuropsychological Testing.
Blue Bird Day’s therapeutic programs are ideal for children with autism/autism spectrum disorder, sensory processing disorders, articulation and phonological disorders, Asperger’s Syndrome, ADHD, down syndrome, cerebral palsy, stuttering, and feeding disorders. Relationship-based therapists work to build individual goals for each child and family to ensure future success in all situations.
Services
ABA Therapy
All Blue Bird Day therapists use a relationship-based approach and work collaboratively across all therapeutic disciplines to create the most individualized treatment plans in the best interest of the child. For a child to receive ABA therapy, BCBAs conduct assessments and make recommendations specific to each child’s therapeutic needs.
ABA Therapists and Analysts use interventions such as reinforcement, prompting and fading, shaping, modeling, chaining, and task analysis, which are all common ABA techniques. Additionally, therapists use play and NET to teach new skills, increase language, and promote social and play skills. ABA therapy can be performed in individual or group treatment sessions throughout the scheduled day. Blue Bird Day ABA therapists are also equipped to treat in the home.
Developmental Therapy
Developmental Therapy at Blue Bird Day plays a unique role in the intensive therapeutic day. Our Developmental Therapists are part of our Therapy Case Manager team, leading our preschool-like program in collaboration with our Social Work team. Developmental Therapists bring a unique lens to our multi-disciplinary teams because instead of honing in on one specific domain of development, they are experts in child development as a whole. They look at how each area of development supports or challenges one another and specifically look at how relationships can scaffold a child’s progress globally. Developmental Therapists look at cognition, language and communication, fine and gross motor, social-emotional functioning, adaptive behavior, and self-help skills holistically to assess and support development through the early years. Each Developmental Therapist on the team is a Master’s level Child Development Specialist, with additional training in evidence-based approaches, including Sensory Integration, Intentional Relationship Model, DIR/Floortime, and much more.
Feeding and Nutrition Therapy
Evidence shows that children with autism and sensory processing differences benefit from consistent mealtime routines and being slowly introduced to new foods. Therefore, the Blue Bird Day feeding program is structured to promote each child’s participation in a daily feeding routine.
Blue Bird Day therapists pull from a variety of feeding techniques across multiple theories and models of intervention. Some of these include the Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) Approach to Feeding, the Get Permission Approach, and the Beckman Oral Motor Protocol. These interventions work by targeting the underlying skills necessary for functional and safe eating in a supportive environment.
The blended techniques used allow therapists to incorporate interventions across disciplines and evidence-based practice models for the best possible results. Depending on the priorities for the child, an Occupational Therapist may work on piercing food with a fork, whereas our Developmental Therapist may be promoting social participation through engagement with peers during mealtimes. For children who are highly avoidant of non-preferred foods, the therapy team will work with the child on gradual exposure through motivating play schemas, working up towards consumption.
Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapy at Blue Bird Day is a holistic approach with a strong emphasis on the child’s values, interests, and motivations. Occupational Therapy is the foundation of the intensive inter-professional environment that collaborates to produce complete and cohesive treatment plans for each child. Therapists at Blue Bird Day take a client-centered approach by meeting the child at their level and building trusting relationships that encourage participation to achieve goals. Therapists also work with the entire family unit, conducting caregiver interviews, observations, and parent coaching. Evidence-based strategies, such as DIR/Floortime, Intentional Relationship Model, therapeutic listening, reflex integration, sensory integration, and Handwriting Without Tears are all incorporated to maximize therapeutic outcomes.
Physical Therapy
Physical Therapy is a part of each child’s therapeutic rotation at Blue Bird Day and is an opportunity to interact with peers. In these rotations, gross motor skills are addressed using both structured and unstructured activities and are tailored to the abilities of each child. Many Blue Birds also receive individual Physical Therapy services where more individualized goals and skills can be addressed in a one-on-one setting. With both rotations and individual services, children are allowed opportunities to improve their gross motor skills in a variety of contexts with varying levels of support. All Physical Therapists provide services in both rotational and individual settings, allowing them to gain a whole picture of the child and how their gross motor skills vary throughout these environments.
Social Work
Blue Bird Day’s Social Workers lead the social-emotional learning lesson plans and social thinking in classes and 1:1 individual therapy services. This effective and therapeutic approach helps clients 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. Although beneficial to all children, this method is especially helpful to those diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder by building confidence and promoting positive social interactions. With their backgrounds in utilizing Play Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and the Intentional Relationship Model, Social Workers are effective and important additions to the team. Play Therapy encourages free and healthy expression, while also increasing respect and empathy. This is an important part of treatment, especially when combined with other therapies such as CBT which teaches one to recognize their thoughts, understand the feelings that go along with them, and recognize and adapt how they affect behavior.
Social Workers, along with Developmental Therapists at Blue Bird Day, are the case managers on each client’s therapeutic team. They act as the primary point of contact for families, and they collaborate extensively with each child’s team of providers to create evidence-based and individualized intervention plans.
Speech Therapy
Speech Therapy at Blue Bird Day produces better results because of the intensity and frequency of therapy incorporated into the therapeutic rotation and individual services offered. Speech Therapists lead group therapy sessions in both preschool-like and kindergarten-like programs. As part of each child’s therapeutic rotation, they will encounter peer interactions, socialization, and individual skill building. Speech Therapists address all language, articulation, and cognitive challenges each child may have in order to facilitate change. They even get messy with the kids at lunchtime and help them explore new foods and how to eat them. Speech Therapists incorporate play to work on oral motor skills, such as moving your lips, tongue, or jaw in a specific way. In addition to the therapeutic day, Speech Therapists spend time with families to discuss goals and provide parent coaching.
Speech Therapists use a variety of interventions and strategies to achieve results with their clients. All therapists are well-practiced in language facilitation strategies, theories of language development, and core vocabulary instruction. PROMPT is a tool that utilizes a tactile approach, such as touching parts of the face, jaw, and lips to support oral motor development and speech intelligibility. Zoophonics is a multi-sensory approach that is a fun and effective way for children to learn the alphabet, spelling, and reading. When needed, Augmented or Alternative Communication (AAC) systems can be introduced to facilitate communication, including the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) or speech-generating devices.
Locations
Blue Bird Day Program has clinics in Chicago’s West Loop and Northcenter neighborhoods and in Wheaton, Illinois.
Media
- Chicago Parent [3]
- Eater - A Special Family Dinner Brings The Challenges of Dining With Autism Into Focus
- Chicago Food Magazine - Autism Friendly Dinner
- Wheaton Daily Herald – Wheaton Grand Opening
- Wheaton Daily Herald – Vaccine Clinic
- Choosing Therapy - Understanding the Highly Sensitive Child
- Choosing Therapy - Autistic Burnout
- Verywell Family - [4]
External Links
- Blue Bird Day Official Website
- Blue Bird Day LinkedIn
- Blue Bird Day YouTube
- Blue Bird Day Pinterest
- Blue Bird Day Instagram
- Blue Bird Day Twitter
- Blue Bird Day Facebook
Reference
- ↑ "Blue Bird Day, LLC -West Loop | Special Needs Schools | Chicago, IL 60607" (in en). https://beaminghealth.com/providers/blue-bird-day-llc-west-loop-chicago-il.
- ↑ "Eyas Landing - WikiAlpha" (in en). https://en.wikialpha.org/wiki/Eyas_Landing.
- ↑ https://www.chicagoparent.com/parenting/special-needs/how-to-plan-ieps-during-pandemic/
- ↑ https://www.verywellfamily.com/why-is-my-child-chewing-on-their-shirt-5217492
