Dear Friends,
Did you know that PCDA is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization? That means that we are managed by a board of directors, and provide services that are designed to fulfill our mission. In July we welcomed a new chair of the board, Judy Wilson (highlighted below) and refined our mission statement:
To profoundly impact the developmental outcomes of children with autism and other special needs through innovative multidisciplinary and family-centered therapeutic services, professional training, and outreach.
As a non-profit we depend on donations, which are tax deductible, to make our services possible. We hope you will consider how you can support PCDA through a donation or by
volunteering
. And please mark your calendars for our annual gala,
Harvest Moon
, which will be held this year on November 10!
Thank you,
Dr. Diane
Executive Director
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Help PCDA Make a Difference
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Please help us help
children with autism and
other special needs.
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Oct. 6:
Sunday Funday
at the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center (PCDA tabling)
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Congratulations to
Judy Wilson
, PCDA's new board chair! Judy, who previously led the PCDA board's Governance Committee, is a longtime Pasadena resident who had a distinguished career in local government, including serving as Director of Sanitation for the City of Los Angeles, Executive Officer at L.A. METRO, and 10 years as Pasadena’s Assistant City Manager. Judy retired in 2016 as the Director of Development at the Pasadena Community Foundation. She is past board chair of Families Forward Learning Center (formerly Mothers’ Club), and is deeply familiar with nonprofit management and the Pasadena community.
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Client of the Month: Sebastian!
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Congratulations to
Sebastian
for graduating from Feeding Therapy! He and his family worked hard at PCDA and gained skills to enjoy mealtimes together. He also created an instruction manual and videos on oral-motor skills and social skills, to help other kids who might be having trouble with eating. Way to go!
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Developmental Interventionist of the Month: Natalie Sheng
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We are pleased to honor
Natalie Sheng
as DI of the Month. Natalie has a bachelor's degree in Psychology from San Jose State University and joined PCDA in September 2018. Since then, she has had valuable participation in the SEDI, Social Skills, and Teen Club programs and supported the Programs team in her role as a Developmental Interventionist and Social Skills Facilitator. Natalie has demonstrated uniqueness and growth in embracing the principles of DIRFloortime®, understanding the importance of family as whole, and staying connected to the multidisciplinary team of specialists working with each client. In working with her pre-teen and teen clients, Natalie creates a safe and trusting space for discussion and reflection, built upon mutual respect, that helps them navigate the word outside of PCDA. We appreciate her work and look forward to her continued growth at PCDA and beyond. Congratulations, Natalie!
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Join us in welcoming
Michelle Plotkin
, PCDA's new associate marriage and family therapist and art therapist! Michelle received her first master's degree in crisis and trauma social work from Tel Aviv University and recently completed her second master's from Loyola Marymount University. Until recently, she’s worked primarily with victims and families affected by domestic violence. Michelle is passionate about utilizing creative interventions in order to better understand the unique strengths and challenges of each of her clients. She values her own artistic process as a self-care method and source of inspiration for better understanding the value of art in healing.
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Congratulations, Mariko and Juliana!
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PCDA staffers
Mariko Yamazaki-Sanchez
, head of Occupational Therapy and Feeding Programs, and
Juliana Frias
, head of the Creative Arts Department, have both earned their Basic DIR®
Certification by completing a 12-week course called DIR®
201: Promoting Basic Functional Emotional Developmental Capacities. Congratulations, Mariko and Juliana!
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PCDA is seeking volunteers for our annual
Harvest Moon Gala
, our largest fundraising event of the year! This year's event will be held Sunday, November 10, at the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club.
Each year, we count on the support of more than 60 volunteers for this special event, and we are so grateful for their time and support. Harvest Moon features volunteer opportunities for individuals and groups, and opportunities are available both before and during the event.
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PCDA Young Adults Program Participants Meet Assemblymember Chris Holden!
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Members of PCDA’s Young Adults Program chose to attend Assemblymember Chris Holden’s 20th Annual District Block Party and Resource Fair as their weekend outing on Saturday, August 3! The group members were excited to have the chance to connect with one of their elected officials, and also really enjoyed the classic car show at the event.
Thank you, Assemblymember Holden, for all you do to support members of our community!
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Young Adults Program participants with PCDA Clinical Supervisor Brandt Chamberlain, PhD, Assemblymember Chris Holden, and PCDA Executive Director Diane Cullinane, MD.
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PCDA Teens and Families Enjoy a Summer Picnic!
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On August 10,
Teen Club/Teen Buddies
had a Luau Picnic at Verdugo Park in Glendale to celebrate the proceeds they made from their car wash! The teens enjoyed food, games, prizes, and lots more!
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We would also like to thank all our staffers and parents who planned and supported various committees to ensure that the teens had a great time.
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PCDA was honored to welcome six nursing students and five nursing teachers who work with young people with special needs in Japan! PCDA Executive Director Dr. Diane Cullinane spoke about the DIR® therapeutic model with the group.
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PCDA's Interdisciplinary Feeding Team was featured by
The Outlook
in a recent front-page article!
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Upcoming: Sunday Funday at Rose Bowl Aquatics Center
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PCDA will host an informational table at this community event, held from 2–7 p.m. on October 6.
The event will feature recreational swimming, water slides, paddle boats, a game truck, a chalk walk, arts & crafts, demonstrations, food, and the Wiggle Waggle Wagon with adoptable animals. There will also be a quiet zone with a supportive environment, soft music, no action, and supervision from an RBAC coach. Admission is free and
activity/food tickets are available at a discounted rate
through October 3.
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Opportunities to Support PCDA
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Sunday, November 10, 2019
La Cañada Flintridge Country Club
Each year, more than 1,000 children and their families seek the services and programming found at PCDA, and the generosity of our supporters helps make this work possible. The Harvest Moon Gala is our largest fundraising event of the year, and proceeds directly support therapy and programs for children with autism and other developmental challenges.
This year's Harvest Moon honorees include
Darryl Dunn
, CEO and General Manager of the Rose Bowl Stadium and a man well-known in the community for his civic engagement and charitable works, as well as PCDA's co-founders,
Diane Cullinane, MD
, and
Mimi Winer, RN, MS
.
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Sunday, October 20, 2019
318 Fairview Avenue
South Pasadena
This much-loved annual fundraiser returns next month! Dark Spirits features bourbon-tasting, a delicious dinner, and more.
Tickets are available now
!
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Support the NoteAbles Children's Choir
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PCDA's NoteAbles Children's Choir is an adapted choral group for children ages 6-18 with special needs, conducted by board-certified music therapists.
Join us in making a difference in the lives of young people by helping to provide them with an experience that is often not available to them within their schools and communities. Together we can use music and the arts to make a difference!
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More Ways to Support PCDA's Work
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From making an in-kind donation to making PCDA your charity of choice with AmazonSmile or the Ralphs Community Contribution Program, there are so many opportunities to help!
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Tips for Backpack Safety!
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With the school year now in session, PCDA's
Occupational Therapy team
would like to share some valuable safety resources from the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA):
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Book of the Month:
Owen
by Kevin Henkes
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A child who is transitioning into preschool or kindergarten might really appreciate this story about a mouse named Owen and his special fuzzy yellow blanket.
We are able to understand Owen’s love for the blanket, the disapproval of a nosy neighbor, and his mother’s loving and resourceful solution to help Owen navigate from his world at home to school.
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Nutrient of the Month: Magnesium
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Magnesium is a mineral that has many roles in the body, helping with healthy bone growth, energy production, nerve function, and muscle movements. Sources of magnesium include green leafy vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and avocados. Many foods that are high in healthy fiber are often high in magnesium too!
Try making this magnesium-rich
One-Pot Mexican Quinoa
:
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2 cups quinoa, uncooked
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 30-ounce can of black beans
- 30-ounce can of fire-roasted tomatoes
- 2 cups corn, canned
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin, ground
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper, ground
- 1 medium avocado
- 1 medium lime
- 4 tablespoons cilantro
Instructions:
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring frequently until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Stir in quinoa, broth, beans, tomatoes, corn, and spices. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat and simmer until quinoa is cooked through, about 20 minutes.
- Mix in lime juice and cilantro. Top each serving with chopped avocado and enjoy!
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Programs & Services Spotlight
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The DIR®
Approach to Pediatric Feeding -
Upcoming Conference
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September 27-28
Greenwood Village, Colorado
This conference is designed for professionals working with children and families with feeding and mealtime challenges.
Speakers include Diane Cullinane, MD, PCDA's Executive Director and Co-founder; Anne Davis, MS, CCC-SLP, PCDA's Head of Speech & Language Services; Julie Miller, MOT, OTR/L, SWC, PCDA's Clinical Director; and Jonae Perez, MPH, RD, member of the PCDA interdisciplinary feeding and nutrition team.
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Sibling Saturdays -
Weekly Program
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All brothers and sisters of children with special needs, ages 5-12, are welcome to attend PCDA's
Sibling Saturday program
, held each Saturday from 12:30 to 2 p.m. at our office in Pasadena.
Sibling Saturdays provide a variety of fun activities just for brothers and sisters. Siblings can benefit from special time with other children who have similar experiences! In order to help us with planning, we request a phone call to RSVP by Friday at 5 p.m.
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Special Olympics Young Athletes Program —
New Session Starting September 14
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SOYAP
is a free, inclusive sports-play program for young children, ages 2-7, of all abilities.
Using the DIRFloortime® approach, fun activities and games are designed to teach fundamental sports skills so young athletes can practice and play in a supportive, non-competitive environment.
Next SOYAP session, focused on soccer, begins September 14.
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Young Actors Squad —
New Session Starting September 9
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Know a teen aged 13-18 who likes to play interactive games, develop characters and scenes, and make great friends? The
Young Actors Squad (YAS)
just might be the perfect fit! New season begins on September 9, with registration ending September 30.
For more information, please contact Aimee at (626) 793-7350 ext. 256 or
aimee@pcdateam.org
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Help Us Tell the PCDA Story
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We love receiving stories, photos, videos, quotes, and artwork that can help us illustrate PCDA’s impact on children and their families. This might be a moment that showed progress (big or small), a quote from you or your child, a fun or meaningful photo or video, a piece of art your child created, or anything else you can dream up to help us spread the word about our work and make a difference in the lives of more children and families. We may use content you provide on our social media channels, our e-newsletter, or other communications materials, but we’re happy to provide any level of anonymity you may want for privacy reasons. Please reach out to
LindsayB@pcdateam.org
to share.
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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. Thank you for your generous support!
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PCDA's Mission:
To profoundly impact the developmental outcomes of children with autism and other special needs through innovative multidisciplinary and family-centered therapeutic services, professional training, and outreach.
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Be a part of our community on social media!
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