Occupational Therapy Services
Sensory Processing • Feeding • Fine Motor• DIR/Floortime • Coordination • Executive Functioning
Evaluations
We pride ourselves in providing comprehensive occupational therapy evaluations that leave no stone unturned. We utilize assessment tools and techniques to thoroughly evaluate your child’s functional abilities, strengths, and areas of improvement. From conducting detailed interviews and gathering relevant medical history to employing standardized assessments, we ensure a holistic understanding of your child’s needs.
Early Intervention
Early Intervention is a system of services and supports available to children with developmental delays and disabilities, from birth to the age of 3 years old.
Studies support that Early Intervention programs can significantly increase a child’s ability to learn new skills, overcome challenges, and succeed in school and life. Early Intervention services are available in Illinois and offer services for free or reduced cost for eligible children.
Laura McKinney is a credentialed and Early Intervention Specialist and Evaluator and has been working within the Early Intervention Program since 2013.
In Home or In Daycare Therapy
OT Taught Me has the unique advantage of working with your child within the natural environment of their home to effectively target self-care tasks with the greatest success of skill carryover and generalization.
Tele Health
We offer telehealth occupational therapy services. Families can now receive occupational therapy sessions from the comfort and convenience of your own homes. Personalized therapy sessions can be provided via secure video conferencing. Through this innovative approach, we are able to provide the same high-quality care and support that our in-person sessions offer, ensureing that everyone can access the therapy they need, regardless of location or circumstances.
our specialties
Executive Functioning
Executive functions are the mental skills that we use every day to get things done. We use EF to set goals, prioritize, organize projects and materials, and manage time. ADD and ADHD are essentially diagnoses of an executive functioning disorder. EF difficulties can be very impactful to everyday life.
OT Taught Me addresses executive functioning deficits through helping children gain the necessary skills and strategies to navigate daily activities, enhance academic performance, and improve overall independence. Therapy plans are individualized and tailored to the specific needs of each child, and progress is made over time with consistent practice and family/team support.
Sensory Processing
Sensory Processing is how your brain and body take in and interpret the world around them. Sensory stimuli is picked up by sensory receptors all over the body. Children with sensory issues can often become overwhelmed by things like light and noise or have a “need” to seek out sensory input in order to feel comfortable. Sadly, children with sensory issues can often be mislabeled as being behavioral or difficult.
OT Taught Me can play a significant role in helping children with sensory processing differences. Through ongoing assessment, personalized therapy approaches, adaptive strategies, and family/team collaboration, OT can improve children’s sensory processing abilities and enhance their overall functional skills.
Feeding
OT Taught Me uses a variety of strategies to improve your child’s relationship with food and mealtime routines. Through sensory exploration, using food in play, shaping behaviors surrounding mealtime, your child will expand their food repertoire and make mealtime more fun for everyone. Laura is trained in the SOS approach to feeding therapy.
Fine Motor and Visual Motor
Occupational therapy can play a crucial role in helping children develop and improve their fine motor and visual motor skills. Children can develop these skills, which are essential for daily activities and overall independence.
Play and Social Emotional Skills
Play is rehearsal for life! Play is the main occupation for kids. Play is the work children do. It’s how children learn, develop, practice, and connect. Play is simple yet very complex. For some children, play, engagement, and connection can be a challenge.
OT Taught Me utilizes a play based approach to teaching children new skills. Using your child’s own unique interests, therapy sessions are adapted to engage your child in fun.
Strength and Coordination
Whether your child is working towards accessing switches on an AAC device, or learning how to ride a bike…. occupational therapists at OT Taught Me have the expertise to evaluate, analyze a task, provide treatment, and/or adapt a task in order for a child to achieve their goal
OT sessions are aimed to enhance a child's coordination and strength abilities, empowering them to participate fully in daily activities and achieve greater independence.
Self Care Skills
Activities of daily living or self-care skills are an important aspect of daily routines for your child’s development. Children gain independence and confidence in taking care of themselves. Self-care can be difficult for some children as they require many different skill components. It can become especially challenging for children with developmental delays. Occupational therapy can be helpful for building independence in self care tasks.
OT Taught Me has the unique advantage of working with your child within the natural environment of their home to effectively target self-care tasks with the greatest success of skill carryover and generalization.
