In This Issue:
- Upcoming Events At-a-Glance
- People of PCDA
- Support PCDA
- Programs & Services
- Resources for Families
- Job Posting!
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Dear Friends,
As April is the 4th month of the year, we can reflect on the 4th milestone in the DIR model. This milestone is about a child’s ability to sustain a problem-solving interaction with another person, with all of the complexities that are involved. A child needs to be persistent, flexible, and tolerate feelings of frustration or disappointment or worry and anticipation as they work together to reach a shared goal. A child learns to appreciate the perspective of another person, which is the beginning of developing empathy and compassion. A child also develops a deeper sense of themselves, and confidence in their own abilities. At PCDA, it is a joy to see children developing these skills as they work with parents and peers, in playful problem-solving activities. As you read the newsletter below, please consider how you can join us in learning more about DIR and in supporting and celebrating this important work.
Dr. Diane
Executive Director
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April is Autism Awareness Month!
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Upcoming Events At-A-Glance
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April 2:
World Autism Awareness Day
May 2:
Spring Sports Social (see below)
May 11:
Annual Spring Variety Show (see below)
November 10:
11th Annual Harvest Moon Gala
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Developmental Interventionist (DI) of the Month:
Sarah
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We are honored to announce
Sarah as our DI of the Month!
Sarah received her B.A. in Child Development from California State University of Los Angeles and has more than 10 years of experience working with children in the educational field. Sarah became a Developmental Interventionist with PCDA in July 2018 and currently serves clients within the SEDI, Social Skills, and Teen Buddies programs.
We are very proud of Sarah’s growth as a DI! She has developed great relationships with clients and families she serves. Sarah is always receptive to learning new approaches and ways to improve within the DIR/Floortime model.
We are excited to continue to have Sarah part of the Programs-DI team!
Congratulations Sarah!
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Client Spotlight:
MaryJane!
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Congratulations to MaryJane on her Good Citizen Month award! MaryJane has been coming to PCDA since 2015. During this time, Mary Jane has attended music therapy with her Mother where they collaborate on creative projects using music and imaginative play. Together, Mother and MaryJane have opened up a world of imagination and have worked together to problem solve even the most complex projects. Currently, MaryJane is working on hosting, directing, and writing music for her very own game show project.
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April is National Occupational Therapy Month!
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PCDA offers occupational therapy services for young children, typically birth to eight years. Our therapy services take a developmental approach to address areas of sensory processing and modulation, fine motor development, handwriting skills, gross motor development, visual motor skills, and self-help skills. We offer services in our clinic setting that is designed with therapeutic equipment to best meet younger children’s needs. Therapy is also provided in children’s homes and school sites. Parents are an integral part of all treatment sessions. We provide developmental assessments, occupational therapy assessments, and clinic-based treatment sessions. Our occupational therapists are also members of our Interdisciplinary Feeding Team and help to provide feeding assessments and feeding therapy.
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In March, PCDA Occupational Therapist Mariko Yamazaki-Sanchez returned to Ghana for the 11th time. She co-coordinated an annual student externship for the USC Occupational Therapy program. Mariko helped to lead a team of 7 occupational therapists, 6 clinical volunteers, and 20 masters-level occupational therapy students. While in Ghana, the team supported children and teachers at Mephibosheth Training Centre (a special needs boarding school), completed over 50 assessments on local children with disabilities, supported the University of Ghana’s new and growing Department of Occupational Therapy, partnered USC students with Ghanaian university students to work with people with disabilities in the community, and provided guest lectures at the University of Ghana and the University of Education, Winneba. The annual program continues to focus on sustainable and meaningful international collaboration, learning through service to others, and reflection on the way each person’s unique culture and life experience shape the lens through which he/she views the world.
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Congratulations to PCDA's very own Dr. Diane Cullinane on being selected selected as the recipient of the 41st Assembly District 2019 Woman of Distinction Award representing the City of Pasadena by Assemblymember Chris Holden!
Assemblymember Holden said, “the 2019 Women of Distinction are passionate leaders who improve the lives for thousands of individuals and families in the 41st Assembly District and beyond,” said Holden. “They demonstrate exceptional leadership that all of us should aspire to achieve.”
Congrats Dr. Diane!
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Pictured L to R: PCDA Ambassador Bill Cullinane, Assemblymember Chris Holden, Dr. Diane Cullianne, PCDA Board Member Barbara Sinclair, PCDA Board Member Sam Thomas.
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A big THANK YOU to the
Flintridge Prep Athletic Council on Leadership (ACL)
for hosting PCDA’s first Children’s Art Fair on Saturday, May 11
th
! What an amazing event for the children (and their families) who receive therapy services at PCDA. Libby Penn and Emily Alameddine (ACL co-captains) along with their Prep mentors, Alex Rivera and Joel Ishii , did a great job planning throughout the school year to coordinate logistics for a day to be filled with lots of art and creative fun! Libby, Emily, and other ACL members successfully organized a school fundraiser to purchase all of the art supplies, event decorations, and goodie bags. On event day, ACL volunteers transformed PCDA’s Community Room into a colorful and welcoming space for enthusiastic young artists. These young artists had a lot of fun and left adorned with superhero masks, pasta necklaces, and colorful remnants from their time exploring with paint, markers, and crayons. The springtime crafts created by the young artists were all special and unique just like them!
ACL members Emily Alameddine, Ellen Chang, Kristofer Chang, Sofia Gonzalez, Germaine Harvey, Joel Ishii, Thomas Kosakowski, Ethan Montes, Paige Nixon, Libby Penn, Alex Rivera, and Olivia Stevens are pictured below.
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Save the Date!
11th Annual Harvest Moon Gala
November 10, 2019
La Canada Flintridge Country Club
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It’s Basketball season here at PCDA! Check out our Young Athletes having fun learning how to pass, shoot a basket, and score! Parents are having fun too, and are always welcomed to participate and support their children in learning fundamental sports skills.
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Book of the Month-
Egg
by Kevin Henkes
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Egg is a wordless picture book about 4 eggs, 3 birds and a surprise. Wordless picture books are perfect for adults and young children to share, providing a structure for discussion and mutual development of a narrative sequence. In this delightfully illustrated book the characters learn about waiting, expectations, surprise outcomes, disappointment, loneliness and friendship.
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Nutrient of the Month:
Vitamin K
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Have you ever wondered why you hear about vitamins A, B, C, D, and E, but never hear about vitamins F through J? That’s because they don’t exist! After vitamin E comes vitamin K, which got its name from the German word for blood clotting (Koagulation). When you get a cut, vitamin K is very important for helping your body to stop bleeding and heal.
Dark, leafy greens, such as kale, spinach, chard, collard greens, and parsley, are rich in vitamin K.
CHEESY KALE BITES
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Ingredients
- 2 bunches kale, stems removed (about 6 lightly packed cups or 4 ounces of leaves)
- 1/2 cup frozen peas, thawed OR roasted almonds OR sunflower seeds
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
- 1/4 cup cornmeal
- 1 egg
- 1/2 teaspoon pizza seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 F and line a baking sheet with a Silpat, foil (sprayed with nonstick spray) or parchment paper. Set aside.
- Place the kale into a wide skillet with 1 cup water. Cover and heat over medium for about 5 minutes or until the kale is wilted. Drain, let cool briefly, then squeeze dry. You should have about 1 cup blanched kale when slightly packed into a measuring cup. (You can also steam the kale on the stovetop if you prefer.)
- Place the kale and the rest of the ingredients into the bowl of a food processor. Process, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed, until finely ground. Use a 1-tablespoon measuring spoon to portion out the mixture, scooping it up and gently pushing it out of the spoon with your finger onto the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes or until firm to the touch and just starting to turn golden brown on the bottom. Serve warm with salsa or ketchup.
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PCDA is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to providing children with developmental challenges and their families the best possible programs. Your donations directly support children with special needs and their families.
Please click here to donate today.
Thank you for your generous support!
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PCDA's Mission
The mission of PCDA is to help children with autism and other developmental challenges increase their capacity for communication, problem-solving, creativity and reflective thinking, and engage in joyful interactions and warm relationships with family and friends.
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