Pasadena Child Development Associates Inc

IMPROVE THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.

FEEDING ASSESSMENT AND THERAPY AT PCDA OFFERS COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT AND ONGOING FEEDING THERAPY SERVICES TO CHILDREN WHO HAVE ORAL-MOTOR DIFFICULTIES WITH CHEWING OR SWALLOWING, SENSORY AVERSION TO TOUCH, SMELL OR TASTE OF FOOD, BE UNDERWEIGHT OR OVERWEIGHT, HAVE MEDICAL PROBLEMS THAT AFFECT HUNGER AND DIGESTION, AND/OR HAVE BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES AROUND EATING. OVER 121 CHILDREN RECEIVED FEEDING ASSESSMENT AND/OR THERAPY SERVICES DURING 2021.

SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPY AT PCDA PROVIDES INDIVIDUAL THERAPY FOR CHILDREN WITH CHALLENGES IN SPEECH AND COMMUNICAION. SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPY IS PROVIDED IN PLAY-BASED AND SEMI STRUCTURED ACTIVITIES IN THE CLINIC SETTING. APPROXIMATELY 106 CHILDREN RECEIVED SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPY SERVICES DURING 2021. PCDA SERVICES ARE UNIQUE IN THAT PARENTS ARE ALWAYS ACTIVELY INCLUDED IN ALL THERAPY SESSIONS AND THE USE OF DEVELOPMENTAL, PLAY-BASED METHODOLOGIES. SPEECH AND LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS AT PCDA SPECIALIZE IN AAC-ALTERNATIVE AND AUGMENTATIVE COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE UNABLE TO USE VERBAL COMMUNICATION. SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPISTS PROVIDE TRAINING THROUGH PRESENTATIONS FOR PCDA STAFF. LONG TERM GOALS OF THE SPEECH AND LANGUAGE PROGRAM ARE TO PROVIDE SERVICES IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES,(CURRENTLY OFFERED IN MANDARIN, KOREAN, HEBREW, TAIWANESE, AND MALAYALAM) AND TO PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH AND PUBLICATIONS AS LEADERS IN THE FIELD ADVOCATING FOR DEVELOPMENTAL-RELATIONSHIP BASED APPROACHES TO TREATMENT.

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY AT PCDA PROVIDES INDIVIDUAL THERAPY FOR CHILDREN WITH CHALLENGES IN MOVEMENT AND COORDINATION NEEDED FOR DAILY ACTIVITIES, AND ABNORMAL SENSORY RESPONSES WHICH IMPACT DAILY FUNCTION. OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY IS PROVIDED THROUGH SEMI-STRUCTURED ACTIVITIES IN A THERAPY GYM. IN ADDITION, THERAPY IS PROVIDED IN SCHOOL DISTRICT SETTINGS, CLINIC OR CLASSROOM, WHEN CHALLENGES IMPACT A CHILD'S ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN A SCHOOL PROGRAM. PCDA'S OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY PROGRAM SPECIALIZES IN ADDRESSING THE SENSORY-REGULATORY COMPONENTS OF A CHILD'S FUNCTIONAL ABILITIES. APPROXIMATELY 65 CHILDREN RECEIVED OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY SERVIES DURING 2021. IN ADDITION, WHENEVER POSSIBLE, PCDA INVOLVES PARENTS IN THE THERAPY PROGRAM FOR THEIR CHILD. THE OT PROGRAM AT PCDA ALSO PROVIDES TRAINING TO OT STUDENTS AND INTERNS FROM GRADUATE PROGRAMS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, AND PROVIDES TRAINING AND CONFERENCES FOR TEACHERS AND PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN FEEDING CHALLENGES. THE LONG TERM GOALS OF THE OT PROGRAM ARE BOTH TO PROVIDE SERVIES TO ALL CHILDREN WHO ARE REFERRED FOR SERVICES, AND TO IMPACT THE BROADER FIELD OF OT BY TRAINING OF PROFESSIONALS, PUBLISHING ARTICLES AND MANUALS, PARTICIPATING IN RESEARCH, AND HELPING TO SHAPE THE STANDARDS FOR DEVELOPMENTAL OT SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.