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Arlington Heights, Illinois

Plenty of OT Clinics in Town. None of Them Work Like This.

Arlington Heights has no shortage of pediatric therapy options. But most work the same way: your child disappears into a back room for 45 minutes, you sit in the lobby, and you drive home wondering what happened. Laura's practice is different. Parents are in every session. You learn what is going on, why it matters, and what to do about it at home. SD 25 and CCSD 59 provide school-based OT through NSSEO, with programs like the Integrated Services model at Westgate and multi-aged preschool options at Greenbrier. But school services focus on classroom tasks only. If your child still can't get through morning routines or melts down every evening, private OT addresses the rest of the day.

Your therapist

Meet Laura

Laura O'Brien, OTR/L, has spent more than thirty years working with families in the northwest suburbs. She sees many Arlington Heights families who have already tried other clinics and are looking for something different. The difference is simple: Laura doesn't just work with your child. She works with you. Every session ends with a clear explanation of why your child responds the way they do and what you can do about it before the next appointment.

That parent-centered approach is what makes progress stick between sessions. You are not waiting for the therapist to fix things. You are learning to support your child through every meal, every bath, every morning routine.

  • ✓ Laura O'Brien, OTR/L
  • ✓ 30+ years of pediatric experience
  • ✓ Sensory Integration Certified
  • ✓ Yoga for the Special Child Certified
  • ✓ Reflex Integration trained
  • ✓ University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Last reviewed: April 2026

Talk to Laura (708) 724-8780

What parents say

Sound Familiar?

  • "We tried another clinic in Arlington Heights for a year. He liked going, but nothing changed at home"
  • "Her SD 25 OT says she's met her IEP goals, but she still can't button her coat"
  • "He went through the Greenbrier preschool program and still melts down at every transition"
  • "She avoids the monkey bars at Westgate and sits on the bench during recess"
  • "He chews through his shirt collar by lunchtime every single day"
  • "We keep getting told she's just sensitive. But this is more than that"

These aren't personality traits. They can be signs of sensory processing, motor planning, or self-regulation challenges that respond well to the right kind of support.

Start with a Free Screening Contact Laura

Understanding your options

What SD 25 Provides, and Where the Gaps Are

What school OT covers

SD 25 provides OT through IEPs managed by the NSSEO cooperative. Services focus on classroom performance: handwriting, cutting, managing school supplies, and sensory regulation during school tasks. The district runs early childhood programs at Greenbrier with three tracks: Community Preschool, Preschool for All at Ivy Hill, and an ECSE program for children with IEPs. The Integrated Services program at Westgate Elementary blends special education support into the regular classroom.

What school OT doesn't cover

Getting dressed without a daily fight. Tolerating bath time. Eating something besides chicken nuggets. Handling the noise at a birthday party. Riding a bike. School OT ends when classroom goals are met. The routines that exhaust your family every morning and every evening are outside the school's scope.

That is the gap private OT fills. Laura works on the life skills that matter at home and in your Arlington Heights community. Many families use both school and private OT at the same time because the goals are completely different.

In-person and Zoom

What Working with Laura Looks Like

Zoom from your Arlington Heights home

Laura walks you through hands-on activities using items you already have. Your child practices motor skills with putty and Play-Doh while you learn why heavy work before dinner reduces meltdowns. Telehealth works well for families managing busy after-school schedules across multiple SD 25 or CCSD 59 schools.

In-person at the Des Plaines sensory gym

About 11 minutes from Arlington Heights. Your child climbs, swings, and works through obstacle courses that build body awareness and coordination. You are in the room, watching what works and learning how to recreate it at home. The gym has specialized equipment that most homes, schools, and local clinics do not have.

Either way, you leave every session knowing exactly what to do between appointments.

Parent strategies

Two Things to Try Tonight

Before homework: Have your child do 10 wall push-ups. Stand arm's length from the wall, hands flat, push in and out slowly. This heavy work activates the proprioceptive system and can improve sitting tolerance and pencil control for the next 20 to 30 minutes. If your child asks to do more, let them. The body is telling you it needs this input.

Morning dressing battles: Lay out two complete outfits the night before. Let your child touch both and choose. Remove all tags. If seams bother them, try turning socks inside out. Taking away the sensory surprise and the time pressure can reduce the morning fight significantly.

Get Strategies for Your Child (708) 724-8780

Common questions

Frequently Asked Questions

My child is in SD 25 and gets school OT. Do they also need private OT?

School OT targets classroom skills. If your child struggles with daily routines at home, has difficulty with sensory situations outside school, or needs support with motor skills beyond the classroom, private OT can address those gaps. Many Arlington Heights families use both because they cover different parts of the day.

How is Laura different from the clinics already in Arlington Heights?

Most clinics take children into a treatment room while parents wait outside. Laura puts parents in every session. She explains what she sees, teaches you specific strategies, and makes sure progress carries over into daily routines at home. That parent-coaching model is what makes the difference stick.

Can we do Zoom sessions from Arlington Heights?

Yes. Many Arlington Heights families choose telehealth. Laura mails materials to your home and guides you through activities in real time. Some families do Zoom weekly and visit the Des Plaines sensory gym once a month for equipment-based work. The drive is about 11 minutes.

Getting started

Ready for OT That Changes Home Life, Not Just Clinic Visits?

Start with a free screening form so Laura can understand your child's needs. Many Arlington Heights families come to her after trying other clinics or when SD 25 services end but home routines haven't changed. Call with questions about how Laura's parent-coaching approach works.

Contact Laura Free Screening Form

(708) 724-8780