Schaumburg, Illinois
SD 54 is big. Twenty-one elementary schools, six middle schools, an Early Learning Center serving over 800 students, and 331 children receiving special education services before age five. The district runs its own special education program and puts real resources behind early intervention. But size and effort don't always mean your child's daily life at home is getting easier. If school OT is working on pencil grip while you're still fighting through morning routines, that gap is where private pediatric occupational therapy can help.
Your therapist
Laura O'Brien, OTR/L, has spent more than thirty years working with families across the Chicago suburbs. She sees a consistent pattern with Schaumburg families: the school is doing its part, but parents still notice problems at home that don't show up in progress reports. Laura teaches parents exactly what to do between sessions so those home routines start to change.
Her approach is hands-on for the whole family. She doesn't take your child into a back room. You are in the session, learning why your child responds the way they do and what you can do about it starting tonight.
Last reviewed: April 2026
What parents say
These aren't behavior problems. They may point to sensory processing, motor planning, or self-regulation challenges that school OT does not fully address.
Understanding your options
SD 54 runs its own special education department, one of the largest in the state. School OT focuses on classroom performance: handwriting, cutting, managing school supplies, and sensory regulation during academic tasks. The Early Learning Center provides a preschool-through-eighth-grade environment with over 150 staff supporting children with IEPs. The district also partners Parent Educators with families through its 0-3 Home Visiting Program.
Getting through a meal without a meltdown. Tolerating a bath. Tying shoes. Riding a bike. Playing with other kids at a birthday party. School OT addresses educational impact only, and when IEP goals are met, services end. The challenges that wear your family down at home 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 Schaumburg community. Many families use both school and private OT at the same time because the goals are completely different.
In-person and Zoom
Laura guides you through activities in real time using items you already own. Your child works on hand strength with clothespins and putty while you learn why certain textures cause a reaction. Telehealth is practical for Schaumburg families juggling school pickups across multiple SD 54 campuses.
About 19 minutes from Schaumburg. Your child climbs, swings, and works through obstacle courses designed to build body awareness and motor planning. You are in the room the entire time, watching what works and learning how to recreate it at home. The gym has specialized equipment most homes and schools cannot replicate.
Either way, you leave every session knowing exactly what to do between appointments.
Parent strategies
Before homework: Have your child do 10 chair push-ups. Sit in a sturdy chair, place hands on the seat beside the hips, and press down to lift slightly off the seat. Hold for three seconds, release, repeat. This heavy work wakes up the proprioceptive system and can improve sitting tolerance and pencil control for the next 20 to 30 minutes.
Haircut struggles: Before the next haircut, let your child practice with a vibrating massager on their scalp, neck, and ears for a few minutes each day. Start with light pressure and let them control the tool. Gradual exposure to vibration and touch on the head can reduce the sensory shock that makes haircuts feel overwhelming.
Common questions
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 areas. Many Schaumburg families use both because they cover different parts of the day.
Yes. Many Schaumburg families choose telehealth. Laura mails specific materials to your home and guides you through activities using household items. Some families alternate between Zoom and in-person visits at the Des Plaines sensory gym, about 19 minutes away.
The Early Learning Center is a strong program with a large support staff. If your child still struggles with self-care at home, has difficulty with sensory situations outside school, or shows motor delays that affect daily life, a private evaluation can help identify what else is going on. You do not need a school referral to start.
Getting started
Start with a free screening form so Laura can understand your child's needs. Many Schaumburg families come to her after SD 54 services end or when school progress does not match what they see at home. Call with questions about how private OT works alongside your child's school program.