Whole Child Solutions

When Kendel Knudson first envisioned opening a center for children with learning and behavioral challenges in Bloomington-Normal, she wasn’t thinking about startup costs, commercial leases, or grant applications. She was thinking about the children—those falling behind in school, overwhelmed by anxiety, or struggling to connect in a world moving too fast for their unique needs.

As a licensed occupational therapist with more than a decade of experience in outpatient neuro and pediatric therapy, Kendel had seen the gaps firsthand. She worked in hospitals, schools, and homes—witnessing how traditional services often left families waiting months for answers and offered little beyond surface-level solutions. “I knew we could do better,” she said. “Families needed more than just a diagnosis—they needed hope, tools, and real change.”

That vision became Whole Child Solutions, LLC, a franchise of Brain Balance Achievement Centers, offering a holistic, non-medical program for children and adults facing challenges like ADHD, autism, anxiety, and executive functioning issues. The model combines cognitive, physical, and sensory exercises with nutritional guidance to address root causes—not just symptoms. And it was exactly what Central Illinois was missing.

But like many first-time business owners, Kendel quickly realized that passion alone wasn’t enough. Launching a franchise meant navigating a maze of logistics: writing a lender-ready business plan, choosing a location, applying for grants, and securing permits from the City of Bloomington.

That’s when she reached out to the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) of McLean County at Illinois Wesleyan University. Kendel worked closely with an SBDC advisor to refine her financials, sharpen her market analysis, and articulate a compelling growth strategy. The team also guided her through the Commercial Lease Grant application with the Economic Development Council—ultimately helping her secure critical funding for rent and startup costs.

In January 2026, Whole Child Solutions officially opened its doors.

With a new program director hired and marketing plans underway, Kendel is already enrolling families from across Central Illinois. The center anticipates serving six to seven new students each month and reaching breakeven within the first 18 to 24 months a powerful testament to the demand for meaningful, individualized support in the region.

Her advice to other entrepreneurs is simple: “Don’t try to do it all alone. There are people who want to help—and the SBDC is where you start.”

Today, Whole Child Solutions is more than a business. It’s a movement toward compassionate, root-cause-based care for the neurodiverse individuals and families of Central Illinois. And it all began with a big idea, a brave heart, and a community of support.