Chicago Occupational Therapy

06/05/2025

We are proud to be part of CST Academy, a center where your child can receive comprehensive, multidisciplinary support all in one place.

While we continue to provide the high-quality Occupational Therapy you trust, we are part of a team that also offers ABA Therapy, Speech Therapy, Feeding Therapy, Physical Therapy, comprehensive and caring Diagnostic Evaluations, and our nurturing Therapeutic Preschool program designed to support early childhood development.

Discover everything we offer at 👉 https://cstacademy.com/

Stay connected by following CST Academy on Facebook for expert tips, updates, and family-friendly resources
👉 https://www.facebook.com/cstacademytherapy

We are here to support your child every step of the way 💙

CST Academy offers comprehensive therapy services for children with autism in Chicagoland, including speech, ABA, occupational therapy, and more. Learn more!

08/22/2022

Had so much fun celebrating our beautiful bride-to-be today! Congrats, Taylor 🎉 8 more days to to!

08/17/2022

Quit monkeying around and try this activity out during your next OT session!🙈

Skills targeted:
- visual motor
- fine motor
- strength grading skills

How to upgrade:
- target core stability by completing while sitting/standing on a dynamic surface
- Target play/socialization skills by taking turns or seeing who can make the longest monkey chain!

08/11/2022

Have kiddos with self regulation challenges? Check out this resource created by one of our OT fieldwork students in collaboration with Therapy Materials Vault! It outlines self regulation milestones, strategies to promote self regulation, as well as various sensory activities to promote self regulation.

https://therapymaterialsvault.com/product/self-regulation-milestones-handout-for-ages-0-6-ot/

07/27/2022

Welcome to one of our newest COT members, Nina 🎉

07/27/2022

How can you target feeding skills if you don’t see your kiddo during a meal time? Feed the old reliable, Mr. Moe! (he’s always hungry 😉)

Skills targeted:
- fine motor/grasp (using proper grasp on feeding utensils)
- food translation with a spoon/fork
- bilateral coordination/hand strength (manipulating play dough)

07/14/2022

Want a new way to focus on pre-writing skills? Use stickers to create shapes/letters!

Skills targeted:
- visual motor
- fine motor
- pre-writing

07/14/2022

How can you incorporate shaving cream into your sessions?

Shaving cream is a great form of sensory play! It is also good for kiddos who experience tactile aversions. Gradual exposure to aversive stimuli can help increase independence with ADLs!

You can also practice pre-writing/handwriting skills with shaving cream by grabbing a paint brush and forming shapes/letters 🖌⭕️ ➕ 🔠

07/14/2022

We are sad to send off 2 of our valued team members, Kathryn and Paige, but so excited for their next adventure! Here are some of the things that they had to say regarding their time with COT🤍 They will both be very missed!

07/14/2022

You can never have too much heavy work, right? Hiding items under a crash pad, heavy cushion, bean bag chair, etc. is an easy way to incorporate heavy work into a number of activities! This friend is finding shapes to place into her shape sorter!

06/13/2022

Our team had so much fun at training day this past Friday!🎉

06/07/2022

Our featured therapist, Nikki, is having her client reach for items outside of his base of support while in a tailor sit position. This is a great way to work on core strength/stability, and is easy to include in a number of activities!

To upgrade the activity:
- have your client sit on a dynamic surface (such as a bosu ball, wiggle cushion, or platform swing) to make their core muscles work extra hard!