Target Ages: Birth - 5 Years
Primary goal: Improving a child’s involvement and participation in everyday activities through a focus on cognitive skills, social interaction, and adaptive skills. OT also benefits children with behavioral developmental issues and conditions.
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helping children become aware of their behaviors,
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developing the performance of tasks that are difficult for the child,
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and learning healthy behaviors overall.
These are skills that target a variety of important factors for the wellness of a developing child. Sensory processing growth like visual, perceptual, and fine motor development may not take place for a child without special attention. This is especially important for toddlers that have a known learning and attention deficit condition.
What’s more, occupational therapy involves multiple sessions that teach a child to be confidently independent in their abilities for daily living and self-help strategies. These are minor adjustments that have a big impact on their behavior and understanding.
On-site Feeding Therapy
Feeding therapy is an additional treatment separate but related to some occupational therapy cases. Proper eating, drinking, and swallowing is a critical matter for every child. Our feeding therapists can help children that face tube feeding or swallowing in particular.
“Miss Emma (speech), Miss Jamie (previous OT), and Miss Amy (DT) have been so great with me and my son over the years. They have always had an interest in what works best for us and listening to my son's cues and what he needs, how he learns best."
"Greyson has not always been the most willing to do things that come harder for him, but with the help from this staff, their consistent care, and patient minds, he is thriving and has come leaps and bounds from where he first started."
- Jenna Darnell
Whatever the concern, sign up for a free screening with your child today.
Occupational therapists not only work directly with the child but also with the family, which can include parents, caregivers and teachers with the intent to educate and reinforce specific skills or behaviors. This is to improve and facilitate the child’s performance and functioning.
Staff You Can Expect to See
OTR/L, C/NDT, and COTA might not mean much for most parents. To put it briefly, these titles denote:
OTR/L: Occupational Therapist, Registered, Licensed
C/NDT: Certified in Neuro-Developmental Treatment
COTA: Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
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Catherine, M.S. OTR/L
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Christy, MOT OTR/L C/NDT
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Colleen, M.S. OTR/L
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Courtney, COTA
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Kelcy M.S. OTR/L
When necessary, feeding therapists can have a big impact on the nourishment and independence of your child. We currently have 4 other feeding therapists:
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Vicky, Feeding Supervisor & Director of Therapy, M.A. CCC-SLP/L
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Holly, M.S. CCC-SLP/L
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Kati, M.S. CCC-SLP/L
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Kelly, M.S. CCC-SLP/L
CCC stands for: Certificate of Clinical Competence.
SLP/L stands for: Speech-Language Pathologist, Licensed.
How do I know if my child needs Occupational Therapy (OT) or Physical Therapy (PT)?
There is a close association between occupational therapy and pediatric physical therapy. Occupational therapy focuses on fine motor skills, sensory development, and other factors that children may experience as “developmental delays”. This simply means that occupational therapy’s focus is generally suited toward toddlers and those with diagnosed developmental disabilities in particular.
What this also means is that their primary concern is improving the child’s involvement and participation in everyday activities. For pediatric physical therapists, the focus is on specific improvement of movements and mechanics that are obstacles for the child. Oftentimes, these two specialists will coordinate their therapy practices to complement one another and benefit the child in a variety of ways.
Is my child too old or too young to start therapy sessions?
We accept youth patients, meaning that your child can benefit from therapy at our clinic up through the age of 18! Your best option for choosing the most appropriate service is to bring your child or children in for a complimentary screening!
During this process, one of our specialists will assess the child and then provide you with a detailed recommendation in light of what they observe. Much of the time, your child will primarily need help in one facet of their development and use supplementary classes or sessions to refine other related skills.
Educating the Entire Family: Mueller Pediatric Occupational Therapy
We understand that OT is a difficult journey for many of the families we treat. We always encourage parents to be well-informed and learn concepts or skills alongside their child. Our services provide informational and instructional guidance for parents and caretakers when enrolled in one of our programs.
Do you live in any of these school districts below? If so, you are certainly eligible for our services! We know that school districts in Peoria vary when it comes to resources to take care of early childhood development or early intervention, and not all have special needs teachers or paraprofessionals on hand at all times. Mueller Pediatric Therapy is a great alternative or addition to the help your child might not be able to receive at school.
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Dunlap CUSD 323
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Elmwood CUSD 322
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Princeville CUSD 326
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Brimfield CUSD 309
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Illinois Valley CUSD 321
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Peoria Heights UCSD 325
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Peoria School District 150
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Illini Bluffs CUSD 327
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Limestone Community High School District 310
These school districts only serve to illustrate the outline of areas we typically serve! If you are outside one of these districts or send your children to private schools, you are welcome here at Mueller Pediatric. Our mission is to educate families and help them understand their child’s development better, so our service area extends well beyond the Peoria city limits!
A Private Pediatric Agency in Peoria, IL
Mueller Pediatric Therapy is located right next to the USPS Postal Office on E. Washington Street, right around the corner from Central Junior High School (East Peoria District 86).
If you are traveling from Peoria on I-74 East, take exit 96 for Illinois 8 and turn left onto E. Washington Street. Our office is up on the right. You can also use William Kumpf Blvd to cross the river, where it turns into Washington Street itself.
Make an appointment to visit our office today!
See: Developmental Milestones article
See: Your Child by Five Years article
See: Occupational Therapy: What You Need to Know article
