The McNatt Learning Center, Inc., provides assessment of and training for foundational learning skills—those skills that make learning quicker, easier, and more accurate.

In tandem with or following training in foundational learning skills, we also provide instruction and training in basic skills: reading, writing (composition and movement-based handwriting), arithmetic (basic math concepts and computation), and relationship-building. We're not primarily a tutoring center.

To get started with your training, please browse this website, then call us to RSVP for our next community information seminar or to discuss your family's needs over the phone.

The human mind and body work together. Typically, clients with postural issues, headaches, pain, or environmental sensitivities schedule their first appointment with Barb Wendel, Certified Advanced Rolfer and Rolf Movement Practitioner.

Clients with sensory issues, attention difficulties, cognitive challenges, or academic struggles usually schedule their first appointments with Matthew McNatt, Certified HANDLE® Screener and HANDLE® Intern. Many clients eventually see both Barb and Matthew.

Sometimes after looking at a new client's Intake Forms or as a result of a HANDLE® Screening or Assessment, Barb or Matthew recommend the client investigate potential medical causes for learning difficulties.

We do not provide medical testing. We do not diagnose or prescribe medical procedures.

While we try to keep an eye out for signs of potential medical problems, 100% of our services are educational, non-therapeutic, and non-medical in nature.

Nevertheless, since our cutting-edge services draw from among the best interventions in the fields of neurodevelopment, mediated learning, cognitive training, and somatic integration, parents can be confident of their child's success—and adults can benefit, too, whether to realize a professional edge, improve sports play, or simply to experience the same success they've seen in their children.

Every other month, generally on a Tuesday or Thursday evening, we host a community information seminar about one of the services we offer, our educational philosophy, or a topic of special interest to our clients or the community at large. Sometimes, we present at one of the local home-schooling parents' groups or an exceptional children's parents' group in lieu of giving an in-house community information seminar.

Immediately preceding our in-house community information seminar we provide four, 15-minute screenings/consultations based on intake questionnaires completed in advance of the community information seminar.

For more information on our next community information seminar, for which RSVP is required, or to register for one of the 15-minute screenings/consults, please call us at 815-433-9500. Generally, the date and time for the next community information seminar can be found on our calendar.

If you'd like to schedule services straight away, we'd also love to hear from you. We're happy to help!

Our Promise

We remain committed to ensuring, whenever possible, that cost never stands in the way of a child's receiving services. If payment is an issue, or ever becomes one, please ask about our flexible payment options.

Schedule

After assessments, our general fee schedule for ongoing appointments is $65 per session for cognitive training, $95 per session for Interactive Metronome, $135 per appointment for Rolfing®, $190 per Program Review for HANDLE®, and $190 for 3 sessions of Peterson Handwriting training, plus applicable material costs for take-home activities.

The McNatt Learning Center, Inc., employs and services individuals with environmental sensitivities. To promote the health of our staff and clients, we therefore maintain a scent-free workplace environment.

Individuals who arrive wearing perfumes, scented body lotions, or other potentially offending products—or whose family arrives wearing perfumes, scented body lotions, or other potentially offending products—will be asked to reschedule their appointments.

Existing clients who knowingly violate this policy will be assessed a fee of $35.00 per incident. Literature regarding this policy and the rationale for it is available from the learning center free of charge.

Directions from Marseilles, Streator, &
Communities Surrounding Ottawa

We're located by Ridgen Park in Ottawa, Illinois, on the southwest corner of the intersection of Lafayette and Sycamore Streets.

If you're coming in along Rt. 6, also called Norris St., you'll want to turn south on Chestnut, located three blocks west of Rt. 23, the main north-south thoroughfare in Ottawa. Then, head south on Chestnut for .4 miles to the stop sign at Lafayette St. Turn right onto Lafayette for one block heading west. Rigden Park will be on your left. Take your next left onto Sycamore St. We're in the south suite of the building on the southwest corner of the intersection of Sycamore and Lafayette—925 Sycamore St.

From Streator, take Rt. 23 north about 15 miles to the heart of downtown Ottawa. Turn left on Lafayette St.; go .4 miles; then turn left on Sycamore. We're right there on the corner—in the south suite of the building on the southwest corner of the intersection of Sycamore and Lafayette—925 Sycamore St.

Directions from the northern Fox River Area—Aurora, Geneva, St. Charles, or Elgin

From the northern Fox River area, the following directions can shave 20 to 30 minutes off a standard MapQuest route. From Geneva, St. Charles, or Elgin, take Randall Rd. south past Moosehart to Orchard Rd. Turn right on Orchard Rd., heading south, over Interstate 88, to Rt. 71. Then turn right on Rt. 71, and you're on Rt. 71 heading southwest.

From western Naperville or Aurora, take Rt. 34/Odgen Avenue toward Oswego to the Wolf Rd. intersection. Continue straight toward Oswego high school, and you're on Rt. 71 heading southwest.

Whichever route you've chosen, you'll now be on Rt. 71 heading southwest. You'll take this road all the way into Ottawa—generally about an hour trip. You can relax until you cross over Interstate 80, the next major landmark. After crossing I-80, you'll continue traveling southwest for about a mile and a half, through the light where Rt. 6 joins Rt. 71, and veer right toward downtown Ottawa. The fourth light you'll come to in town will be Chestnut St. Turn left on Chestnut and head south for .4 miles to the stop sign at Lafayette St. Turn right onto Lafayette for one block heading west. Rigden Park will be on your left. Take your next left onto Sycamore St. We're in the south suite of the building on the southwest corner of the intersection of Sycamore and Lafayette—925 Sycamore St.

Directions from Chicago, its western suburbs, or the Joliet or Kankakee areas

From Chicago, its western suburbs, or the Joliet or Kankakee areas, you'll want to use a map to find the quickest way to Interstate 80. From the western suburbs, this is generally Interstate 55 South. Anyway, take Interstate 80 west to Exit #93. Exit right and turn left, heading southwest down Rt. 71 in Ottawa. You'll travel southwest for about a mile and a half, through the light where Rt. 6 joins Rt. 71, and veer right toward downtown Ottawa. The fourth light you'll come to in town will be Chestnut St. Turn left on Chestnut and head south for .4 miles to the stop sign at Lafayette St. Turn right onto Lafayette for one block heading west. Rigden Park will be on your left. Take your next left onto Sycamore St. We're in the south suite of the building on the southwest corner of the intersection of Sycamore and Lafayette—925 Sycamore St.

Directions from the intersection of Interstate 39 & Interstate 80

If you're coming from Rockford, Mendota, Peoria, LaSalle-Peru, downstate Illinois, or in general, from any distance west of the learning center, you'll want to use a map to find the quickest way to the intersection of Interstate 39 and Interstate 80. From I-39 & I-80, take I-80 east for 12 miles to Exit #90. Exit right and turn right, heading south down Rt. 23 in Ottawa. You'll travel south for 1.3 miles on Rt. 23, down a hill and around a bend to the light at Rt. 6, also called Norris St. Turn right on Norris and head west for .3 miles to the light at Chestnut St. Turn left on Chestnut and head south for .4 miles to the stop sign at Lafayette St. Turn right onto Lafayette and head west for one block. Rigden Park will be on your left. Take your next left onto Sycamore St. We're in the south suite of the building on the southwest corner of the intersection of Sycamore and Lafayette—925 Sycamore St.