Happy Spring from PCDA

This month we are excited to feature a father's journey with PCDA and highlight our Young Adults Program. Check out reflections from our Clinical Director, Julie Miller, hear from parents and clients about a recent Community Connections trip to the Pasadena Playhouse and learn how you can get involved with PCDA.

PCDA taught my son to speak. This is not an exaggeration, it is not a nice sentiment, but this is a factual statement. Prior to my son receiving speech therapy at PCDA, Danny received speech services through the school district. This was not a bad service but the staff at the district was stretched thin, the methodology at the district was not flexible and it did not mesh well with my son, Danny. Danny was not making progress at the district speech therapy services. We wound up receiving speech services through PCDA and almost immediately, my son started speaking.

While this was the first instance of PCDA impacting my son and our family, it

certainly was not the last. I could go on about how PCDA has bettered the

lives of families like mine. I could tell you about how the Music Therapy that he received there taught him to socialize through music, how occupational therapy there taught him to write, I could tell you about how our family felt like we could breath as Danny continued to make strides, but if you have a Special Needs child receiving services at PCDA or if you know PCDA at all, you

already know this.

My family knows this all too well. This is why when I was asked to join the Board of Directors, I immediately said yes. I wanted to give back to this amazing organization. I wanted to do my part to ensure that PCDA would continue to impact families like mine. I wanted to safeguard this amazing organization that serves Pasadena and the larger community.

I would like to encourage those of you that are reading this to consider supporting PCDA. While money is nice, it does not have to be that. It can be volunteering to serve on a committee. This can take many shapes and can play into many of your gifts. Whatever your time, talents and treasure may look like, I urge you to support families like mine by supporting PCDA.

Interested in learning more about volunteering opportunities with PCDA?

We welcome your partnership in breaking barriers to care and creating a community that builds on strengths and relationships to prepare young people with Autism and developmental disabilities for a future in which they are empowered, fulfilled, and feel the security of belonging. 

On my way out the door on a recent Friday afternoon, I met up with Natalie, Sam, and two OT students returning from their Friday afternoon visit with the Young Adults program. They burst into the office full of energy, carrying bags of snacks and video game controllers. Only somewhat teasing, I asked, “...were you playing…video games?” and immediately they said, “LOOK AT THIS!” showing a picture of their group joining together playing a game. They explained it was the 21st birthday party of one of the group members.

The Young Adults class teaches life skills in preparation for adulthood. Following the group’s lead and group’s interest in celebrating the birthday of a member, they allowed the members to plan the details of the session. Together, the group decided to have a multi-screen video game with team vs team play as the centerpiece of their party, planning and organizing all the materials they would all need to bring and set up for the game. The facilitators supported the group’s idea, using it to practice the skills of planning and budgeting, executive functioning strategies to help each member consider how they would remember their materials, shared group problem solving to set up the technology for the games, and support participants on taking in the opinions and preferences of the entire group. One member had initiated polling peers for favorite snacks, games, and drinks.

Rather than the group facilitators directing the group by instructing them with the order and process to plan a party, they supported the group's own idea to have a party with all the planning and organizing it entailed. The facilitators were excited to see each member excited to join in the process and experience a sense of belonging with their group. After the event, the facilitators were so glad to see how well the group bonded, collaborated and shared the experience.

Several days later, the facilitators heard from the birthday client’s parent. This was the first birthday party he had with peers since he was a young child. His family never felt that he previously had a group to feel celebrated with and was so thankful that this opportunity had presented itself.

As a DIR Floortime-based clinic, deeply committed to fostering relationships, we often use the therapeutic strategy of “following the child’s lead” which isn’t meant to be a literal follow where they go, but instead follow their intent, follow their

idea, or go with their interest. Using this strategy works well with teens and young adults but needs some nuance to be flexible with the idea of what engagement and play looks like for this age group.

This group’s story exemplifies how clinicians facilitate clinical goals of the program while supporting the group members to lead the choices, activities, and process. In the end, what started as a way to allow the group to plan out a session, turned into a celebrated life event for this family.

Community Connections

with the

Pasadena Playhouse

Recently during a “Community Connections” outing, members of the Young Adults group attended the matinee of ‘One of The Good Ones’ at Pasadena Playhouse, in the Playhouse’s efforts to make the theater more accessible and seek community feedback. Participants, family members and staff all enjoyed the experience, while appreciating the opportunity to enhance theater going enjoyment for others through offering their feedback.



Parent Sally Mai summed up the experience by sharing "I thoroughly enjoyed the play; it took me on a 90-minute emotional rollercoaster. I laughed, I cried, I reflected, and I

laughed some more! As an Asian-American immigrant being brought to the United States at two years old, my parents escaped communism, risking their lives, abandoning their successful businesses, and leaving behind their entire family for a chance at a better life for all of us, this play resonated deeply with me. To see the similarities of the struggles of what being an American 'should be' and not forgetting your roots, culture, and languages being played out on stage was truly heartening. The dynamics of the generational experiences and views were a direct reflection of my life experiences in Southern California as well. My takeaway is the importance of talking things out with each other,

respecting each other's views and opinions without losing your values, culture, and history is so important for a rich diverse community that we all can share in."

Hearing and learning from one another and celebrating a rich and diverse community is

the root of PCDA's relationship with Pasadena Playhouse. Although everyone in our group is a resident of the Pasadena area, some of the attendees had never been to the Playhouse before. Samuel S shared that he enjoyed the play and appreciated learning about Hispanic and history and culture through the experience. A fellow participant told staff that his favorite part was learning about piñatas and that the plot of the play was unexpected, but he liked it. Staff shared that it was wonderful to see the participants engage with live theater, and it was particularly moving to see them laughing and enjoying themselves as a group within the community, alongside parents that also attended. A few takeaways reported were the value of taking a short break for some attendees, the richness of shared community experiences.



We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to share experiences like these with the clients we serve and for the openness of the Playhouse to engage in meaningful conversation about making local theater a place where people with Autism and other developmental disabilities feel a sense of belonging.

PCDA (pcdateam.org)