Early Intervention Occupational Therapy in Chicago: Skills for Life

We understand how overwhelming it can feel when your child faces challenges with milestones that seem to come easily to others. Whether it’s trouble with feeding, difficulty holding a crayon, or meltdowns during transitions, these moments can be stressful for the entire family. But these challenges are not roadblocks—they are opportunities for growth.

At Eyas Landing, we meet your family where you are. Our Early Intervention Occupational Therapy is designed to turn daily struggles into moments of success, helping your child build the confidence and independence they need to thrive.

What is Early Intervention Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy (OT) is like “gym class” for everyday life. For young children, their “occupation” is playing, learning, and interacting with the world around them.

When a child has trouble with these activities due to developmental delays, sensory processing differences, or physical challenges, OT helps bridge the gap. Early intervention simply means we start this support as soon as possible—when your child’s brain is most adaptable and ready to learn.

Our goal isn’t to change who your child is, but to give them the tools to navigate their world with joy and confidence.

Why Choose Eyas Landing for Early Intervention?

We know you have choices for your child’s care. Here is why families in Chicago trust Eyas Landing to support their journey:

We Come to You: Flexibility is our foundation. We offer therapy in your home, at your child’s school or daycare, at our West Loop clinic, or via TeleHealth. We practice skills where your child actually uses them.
Family-Centered Care: You are the expert on your child. We partner with you to create goals that matter to your family, coaching you on how to support your child’s progress between sessions.
Whole-Child Approach: Our therapists don’t work in a silo. We collaborate across disciplines—including speech, physical therapy, and ABA—to ensure we are treating the whole child, not just a symptom.
Evidence-Based Fun: We use proven, science-backed strategies disguised as play. Your child thinks they are playing a game; we know they are building critical motor and sensory skills.

How We Help Your Child Grow

Our occupational therapists are experts in child development. We break complex skills down into small, manageable steps to help your child master:

Fine Motor Skills: Strengthening small hand muscles for tasks like grasping toys, using utensils, drawing, and fastening buttons.
Sensory Processing: Helping children who are over-sensitive (avoiding textures or loud noises) or under-sensitive (seeking constant movement) regulate their bodies so they can focus and learn.
Self-Care Skills: Building independence in daily routines like dressing, feeding, brushing teeth, and toileting.
Emotional Regulation: Teaching children how to identify their feelings and use strategies to calm down when they feel big emotions.
Visual Motor Skills: Improving eye-hand coordination for throwing a ball, stacking blocks, or completing puzzles.

Did you know? Early intervention is proven to significantly improve developmental outcomes. The sooner we start, the more effective therapy can be in helping your child reach their milestones.

Ready to Take the First Step?

You don’t have to navigate this journey alone. Let’s work together to unlock your child’s potential.

If you have concerns about your child’s development, don’t wait. Contact us to speak with our intake specialists. We can discuss your child’s unique needs, explain our evaluation process, and help you understand your insurance or funding options.

Our Occupational Therapy Team:

Together, the Occupational Therapy team seamlessly collaborates with each child’s entire therapeutic team to address best practices and individualized treatment plans. This collaboration between our highly-educated, compassionate staff maximize therapeutic outcomes and help support our clients to reach their fullest potential. At Eyas Landing, we value evidence-based practice, client-centeredness, community, diversity, collaboration, and flexibility.

Learn More About a Career with Eyas Landing

Why Choose Eyas Landing?

We don’t just treat “speech issues.” We treat the whole child, and we support the whole family. We believe therapy should reduce family stress, not add to it. That’s why flexibility is the foundation of our approach. We meet families where they are—emotionally, developmentally, and physically.

Flexible Therapy Settings

We offer evidence-based interventions in the environment that works best for your child:

Clinic-Based: Our state-of-the-art facility in Chicago’s West Loop is designed for sensory play and skill-building.
Home-Based: We work on skills in your natural environment, making daily routines easier.
School-Based: We collaborate with teachers to support academic success and social inclusion.
TeleHealth: Accessible support for adolescents or families needing remote flexibility.

A Multi-Disciplinary Team

Your child isn’t one-dimensional, and their care shouldn’t be either. Our occupational therapists collaborate closely with speech therapists, physical therapists, behavioral therapists (ABA), and social workers. This ensures that every part of your child’s development is supported under one roof.

Family-Centered Care

We partner with your family every step of the way. We don’t just work with your child for an hour and leave; we provide coaching and strategies you can use at home. Your goals become our goals.

Diagnosis and Conditions Our Occupational Therapists Treat:

Autism Spectrum Disorder
Attention Deficit Disorder ADHD
Sensory Processing Disorder

Developmental Delay

Down Syndrome
Cerebral Palsy
Neurological or Brain Injury

Picky Eaters

Generalized Anxiety

Handwriting or Fine Motor Delay

Premature Babies
Sports Injury
Torticollis

School and Test Anxiety
Adoption

Client-Focused Occupational Therapy Approach:

Neuro-Affirming Care
Intentional Relationship Model

Play-Based Therapy
DIR/Floortime

Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) Approach to Feeding
Food Chaining

Sensory Integration
Therapeutic Listening
Auditory Integration

Social Skills Programs
Emotional Regulation Programs
Handwriting Without Tears

Schedule an Occupational Therapy Evaluation

Next Steps to Starting Occupational Therapy

Evaluation And Outcome Measures

Initial Evaluations are completed with standardized measures, clinical observation and parent report components. Re-evaluations are completed every six months to determine progress. Eyas Landing therapists proactively collaborate with families and other professionals to increase positive outcomes

Plan Of Care

Eyas Landing treatment plans are individualized to meet each child’s unique strengths, interests and goals. Goals are reviewed weekly and daily treatment notes are emailed directly to parents. Eyas Landing therapists are skilled in utilizing the client’s interests and motivations to increase participation in challenging therapeutic activities.

Billing Options

Eyas Landing offers a variety of billing and payment options to support your child’s treatment. There is a dedicated and knowledgeable on-site staff that are here to answer any of your questions. Eyas Landing is in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois PPO, Blue Choice PPO, and Aetna PPO plans. Eyas Landing also accepts most out-of-network PPO plans, including United Healthcare and Cigna. Claims are submitted directly to your insurance company and staff can assist in disputing any denied claims.

Frequently Asked Questions About Occupational Therapy for Kids:

Do I need a doctor’s referral?
In many cases, yes, for insurance purposes. However, you can contact us directly to start the conversation. We can help guide you through the process of getting the necessary paperwork from your pediatrician.

My child has an IEP at school. Can we still do private therapy?
Absolutely. Many families find that school services are helpful but may not offer the 1:1 attention or frequency a child needs to make rapid progress. We often collaborate with school teams to ensure our goals align with their IEP, maximizing your child’s success.

Do you take insurance?
We accept a wide range of insurance plans and also work with families on Early Intervention funding. During your initial consultation, our intake team will verify your benefits so you know exactly what to expect.

What does an initial assessment look like?
A: It is a low-stress, play-based evaluation. We observe how your child moves, plays, and reacts to sensory input. We also spend time talking with you to understand your primary concerns and goals.