February 10, 2026

ABA Therapy for Children, OT, and Speech Therapy in Chicago: How an Interdisciplinary Approach Helps Children Thrive

North Shore Pediatric Therapy offers ABA, occupational, and speech therapy for children in Chicago and the Chicagoland suburbs through a collaborative care model.

When families in Chicago and the Chicagoland suburbs search for pediatric therapy, they are often looking for more than one service at a time. A child may need support with communication, sensory regulation, behavior, social skills, or daily living tasks—and these areas are deeply connected. North Shore Pediatric Therapy is recognized for providing pediatric therapy services in Illinois, offering trusted care to local families.

At North Shore Pediatric Therapy, we provide interdisciplinary pediatric therapy in Chicagoland, bringing together ABA therapy, occupational therapy (OT), and speech therapy under one coordinated care model. Our ABA therapy services are delivered by a board certified behavior analyst (BCBA) with specialized training, ensuring high-quality, evidence-based support. This collaborative approach helps children make meaningful, lasting progress across environments.

What Is Interdisciplinary Pediatric Therapy?

Interdisciplinary therapy means multiple specialists working together toward shared goals instead of operating separately. For families seeking pediatric therapy in Chicago, this model reduces fragmentation and improves outcomes.

In an interdisciplinary approach:

  • ABA therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists collaborate regularly
  • Therapy goals are aligned across disciplines
  • Strategies are consistent at home, in school, and in the community
  • Individualized care is provided through collaborative planning and tailored strategies that address each child's unique needs

This model is especially effective for children with autism, developmental delays, sensory processing challenges, and communication differences, resulting in a comprehensive, individualized care plan for each child.

ABA Therapy for Children in Chicagoland

ABA therapy is an evidence-based approach widely used to support children with autism and other developmental needs. Families searching for ABA therapy in Chicago often choose providers who collaborate closely with other therapy disciplines. ABA therapy uses positive reinforcement to encourage desired behaviors and skill development, providing meaningful rewards to motivate children.

Within an interdisciplinary model, ABA therapy helps children develop:

  • Functional communication and requesting skills
  • Emotional regulation and coping strategies
  • Attention, flexibility, and transitions
  • Social engagement and play skills
  • Daily living and independence skills

ABA programs are individualized and designed to address each child's unique needs, with structured, goal-oriented teaching methods that are monitored and adjusted by therapists and analysts. Each program is tailored to the child's age and developmental stage to ensure appropriate goals and strategies for optimal progress.

By coordinating ABA therapy with OT and speech therapy, children practice skills in multiple contexts—helping them generalize learning beyond therapy sessions. Successful ABA programs support both the child's growth and long-term success.

Occupational Therapy (OT) in Chicago and the Suburbs

Occupational therapy for kids in Chicago focuses on helping children participate more fully in everyday activities. OT addresses the sensory, motor, and regulation skills that impact learning and behavior.

OT may support:

  • Sensory processing and self-regulation
  • Fine motor and visual-motor skills
  • Feeding and self-care routines
  • Emotional awareness and body regulation

When OT collaborates with ABA and speech therapists, sensory and motor needs are considered during communication and behavioral goals—leading to smoother sessions and stronger engagement.

Speech Therapy for Kids in Chicago

Speech therapy plays a critical role in helping children express themselves and understand others. Our team includes experienced pediatric speech therapists who specialize in treating children with a variety of communication needs. Families looking for speech therapy in Chicago or Chicagoland suburbs often benefit most when speech services are coordinated with other therapies.

Speech therapy may address:

  • Expressive and receptive language
  • Language therapy as a specific service
  • Social communication and pragmatics
  • Speech sound development
  • Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
  • Self-advocacy and emotional expression

When speech therapists collaborate with ABA and OT teams, communication strategies are reinforced across all therapy sessions, increasing consistency and confidence. Speech therapists also work closely with other professionals to treat children with communication and feeding disorders.

Why an Interdisciplinary Approach Works So Well

For children, development does not happen in isolated categories. Communication, behavior, sensory regulation, and motor skills all influence one another. An interdisciplinary pediatric therapy approach allows therapists to address these connections intentionally.

Benefits for families include:

  • More cohesive therapy plans
  • Clearer communication across providers
  • Reduced duplication of goals
  • Stronger carryover into home and school routines
  • Active involvement of caregivers, who receive guidance to support their child's progress and reinforce ABA techniques at home

This approach is especially impactful for families seeking autism therapy in Chicago, where multiple services are often recommended.

Early Intervention: Why Timing Matters for Children’s Progress

Early intervention can make a world of difference in a child’s development, especially when it comes to speech, language, and essential life skills. In Chicago, families who access quality care early—whether through speech therapy, occupational therapy, or physical therapy—give their children the best chance to overcome developmental delays and thrive in everyday life. At Chicago Speech Therapy, our multidisciplinary team of speech language pathologists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists collaborates to provide therapy services tailored to each child’s unique needs. By focusing on early language development, social skills, and self-care, we help children build a strong foundation for future learning and communication. Personalized support and evidence-based treatment plans ensure that every child receives the right care at the right time, setting them on a path toward lasting success.

Parental Involvement: Empowering Families in the Therapy Journey

At North Shore Pediatric Therapy, we know that parents and family members are essential partners in a child’s therapy journey. Our therapists—including board certified behavior analysts and speech language pathologists—work closely with parents to provide personalized support, practical strategies, and ongoing guidance. We empower families with resources and tools to reinforce therapy techniques at home, helping children make progress in speech, language, and social skills beyond the therapy center. With convenient Chicagoland locations, families can easily access quality care and participate actively in their child’s growth. By working together, we ensure that every child receives exceptional care and support, both in our centers and at home, for the best possible outcomes.

Ongoing Assessment: Tracking Growth and Adjusting Care

Continuous assessment is a cornerstone of effective therapy at North Shore Pediatric Therapy. Our multidisciplinary team—including occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, and ABA therapy professionals—uses evidence-based practices to monitor each child’s progress and adjust treatment plans as needed. Through regular updates and open communication, we keep families informed and involved every step of the way. By applying methods like applied behavior analysis and data-driven decision making, we can identify strengths, address challenges, and refine goals to support each child’s development in areas such as communication, social interaction, and daily living skills. With convenient locations across Chicagoland, families can easily access ongoing quality care and ensure their child’s therapy remains effective, personalized, and responsive to their evolving needs.

Interdisciplinary Therapy for Autism in Chicagoland

Autistic children frequently benefit from a combination of ABA therapy, OT, and speech therapy. Addressing these areas together supports:

  • Improved communication and social engagement
  • Reduced frustration and behavioral challenges
  • Greater emotional regulation
  • Increased independence and school readiness

For families across Chicago and the surrounding suburbs, interdisciplinary care helps ensure therapy is comprehensive, coordinated, and child-centered.

Why Families Across Chicagoland Choose North Shore Pediatric Therapy

North Shore Pediatric Therapy serves families throughout Chicago and the Chicagoland area, offering collaborative pediatric therapy services in a supportive, family-focused environment. Families benefit from accessing quality care at convenient locations, making it easier to get the support their children need.

Families choose NSPT because we provide:

  • Experienced, licensed clinicians across disciplines
  • Regular collaboration between ABA, OT, and speech teams
  • Individualized, evidence-based therapy plans
  • Strong family involvement and caregiver education
  • Ensuring exceptional care close to home with multiple centers throughout Chicagoland

Our interdisciplinary model helps children build skills that matter in real life—not just during therapy sessions. We are committed to supporting each child's success by providing specialized, tailored services that help children achieve their full potential.

Getting Started with Pediatric Therapy in Chicago

If your child may benefit from more than one type of therapy, an interdisciplinary approach can make a meaningful difference. Our team will help determine the right combination of services and guide your family through every step.

📍 Serving Chicago and Chicagoland suburbs
📞 Contact North Shore Pediatric Therapy to learn more about our ABA, occupational therapy, and speech therapy services.

Download our Guide for Families

We know that choosing a local ABA facility can be a hard decision. We’ve created an informational guide to help you understand more about the questions you should be asking while meeting with different providers.

Although we talk about our services here, our highest goal is for you to feel comfortable and knowledgeable about picking a provider that is the best fit for your needs. You are making a decision that will impact the entire trajectory of your child’s life!
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The cover of the NSPT Guide for Families, which helps families to figure out the questions to ask when picking an ABA provider.

Testimonials

Success looks different for every child... But we bet we have a story that matches your child's needs. Like James, who started with us as non-speaking and lacking the ability to initiate and maintain social interactions. Today, he can speak complete sentences, clearly state his needs, and navigate social interactions with his friends!

Our infant daughter was in physical therapy with Anna Zahn for about five months.  Anna was consistent, patient, and wonderful with our daughter.  Anna was also clear in her communications with us as parents which helped us understand our daughter's progress and needs, as well as how we could help our daughter at home.  While we are proud that our daughter graduated PT, we will miss Anna's warmth and kindness.

Emily

I love this place! Chista is an amazing person, so sweet and kind and very professional in her work. All staff are very kind with children. I feel happy to find this place for my daughter. Thank you!!!

Maria Di Rita

I cannot say enough nice things about the staff! My son worked with Khadija as his ABA therapist and is finishing up this week with his OT, Sabrina. They were really instrumental in helping us navigate a new diagnosis. Both were so easy to approach with questions. From Leeann at the front desk to the RBTs (Alex, Rabbia, Molly, and many others), we always felt so welcomed. It seems like the staff genuinely enjoy their jobs, consistently offering feedback and suggestions on how to help my son.

Jennifer Peyer

We have been working with the amazing team at NSPT for many years. They have been essential in understanding and supporting our child. I recommend their services to anyone looking for their specific type of support.Posted to

Monica Terése Carranza

They are so sweet and kinds persons with professionalism and really worried about the kids and how help they to get new skills and moving forward with knowledge.

Alejandra M.

NSPT is fantastic! All of the staff are wonderful, accomodating, and make you feel welcome and comfortable. Alan is fantastic - he has helped our family tremendously and has such patience and purpose in everything he does.

Alex Ehrhardt

North Shore Pediatric Therapy has been amazing.  They have done a great job adjusting to the specific needs of my autistic child.

Matt Nakanishi

My 12 yr old son has a lovely support team in Robert (Social Work) and Lindsay (OT)! He gains so much from his sessions & I gain so much from the communication and brainstorming! Thanks!

Jennie Meyer

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