Wheeling, Illinois
Your child's teacher at CCSD 21 says he's doing okay. But at home, getting dressed takes 30 minutes. He gags at new foods. He melts down when plans change. You've tried asking the school for help, and the answers don't quite match what you see every evening. You're not imagining it. Pediatric occupational therapy for Wheeling families can help you understand what's happening and give you real tools to work with at home.
Your therapist
Laura O'Brien, OTR/L, has worked with families for more than thirty years, helping those stuck between what the school reports and what they see at home. She doesn't just treat your child. She teaches you what to do between sessions so the changes carry over into your kitchen, your car, and your bedtime routine in Wheeling.
Many Wheeling families come to Laura because explaining their child's needs has been hard, sometimes across a language barrier, sometimes because the school system feels confusing. Laura keeps things simple. You leave every session knowing why your child responds the way they do and what you can do about it starting tonight.
Last reviewed: April 2026
What parents tell Laura
These aren't discipline issues. They're signs your child may be working through sensory processing, motor planning, or other foundational skills that school OT doesn't address.
Understanding your options
Wheeling CCSD 21 provides occupational therapy as a related service through your child's IEP. The district has nine elementary schools, three middle schools, and an early childhood program. Through the NSSEO cooperative, kids can also access a full range of special education services. School OT typically targets handwriting, scissors skills, and classroom-based sensory regulation.
Getting dressed. Eating new foods. Tolerating hair washing. Playing with neighborhood kids. Managing sensory overload at the grocery store. School OT is designed for educational goals only. When your child meets IEP benchmarks, services may stop. But the struggles at home and in the community often continue.
That's where private OT fills the gap. Laura works on the life skills that matter at home and in your Wheeling community. Many families use both school and private OT because they cover different parts of the day.
In-person and Zoom
Your child sits at the kitchen table while Laura walks you through a hand-strengthening game with Play-Doh and clothespins. She shows you exactly how to position his body during homework. You learn why a two-minute movement break before reading can improve his focus for the next 20 minutes. Telehealth works especially well for busy Wheeling families juggling tight schedules.
Fifteen minutes from Wheeling. Your child climbs, swings, and crashes in ways that organize their nervous system. We practice zipping a coat on a moving platform, building the balance and coordination that carry over to the school hallway. You watch, ask questions, and leave with strategies for the week.
Either way, you leave every session knowing exactly what to do between appointments.
Parent strategies
Before dinner (picky eaters): Put one new food on a separate plate next to your child's regular meal. Don't ask him to eat it. Just let him see it, smell it, even touch it. Do this for five nights in a row with the same food. You may notice he starts picking it up by day three or four. This gradual exposure often reduces the anxiety that makes mealtimes so hard.
Before getting dressed: Roll a tennis ball firmly up and down your child's arms and legs for about one minute. Use enough pressure that it feels like a deep massage, not a tickle. This deep-pressure input can help calm the sensory system and often makes clothing feel less irritating on skin.
Common questions
School OT focuses on classroom goals. If your child still struggles with self-care at home, has strong sensory reactions outside school, or needs support with daily routines, private OT can help with those parts of the day. Many Wheeling families use both because they address different needs.
Yes. Many Wheeling families choose telehealth because it fits around work and school schedules. Laura mails you specific materials and guides you through activities at home. Some families alternate between Zoom and in-person visits to the Des Plaines sensory gym, about 15 minutes away.
Trust what you see at home. If daily tasks feel harder than they should, if your child avoids certain textures or activities, or if sensory reactions are making family life difficult, an evaluation can help clarify what is going on. Common signs: difficulty with self-care compared to peers, extreme reactions to sounds or touch, poor coordination, avoiding playground equipment.
Getting started
Start with a free screening form to help Laura understand your child's needs. Many Wheeling families come to Laura after NSSEO or CCSD 21 evaluations, looking for support beyond what the school provides. Call with questions about how private OT can work alongside your child's school program.