FROM THE September 22nd marks the first official day of Fall and it feels like summer has flown by! We welcome back our school team and cannot wait to share stories of summer fun and adventures! Shout out to our staff who have demonstrated resilience, perseverance, and found ways to meet the needs of those we serve through many changes. We do not take for granted being able to see each other in person and enjoy more freedom with basic precautions taken, and are hopeful that this Oncontinues!Thursday, April 28, 2022, we had a spectacular evening to celebrate The Treatment and Learning Center's and The Katherine Thomas School's 70+ and 25+ year anniversaries. Randy Lewis was the keynote speaker. Randy founded the NOGWOG Disability Initiative. This non-profit organization is dedicated to the expansion of hiring the disabled by Fortune 500 companies. We celebrated our champions, listened to a heartwarming video from KTS parent, Tiffany Hamilton, and thanked our donors for helping reach this milestone.
P A G E 2 T H E T R E A T M E N T A N D L E A R N I N G C E N T E R S
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR A MESSAGE
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P A G E 3 T H E T R E A T M E N T A N D L E A R N I N G C E N T E R S
TLC certainly had an amazing summer full of excitement and fun! Our summer camps were full for all 7 weeks, and we were so happy to meet in-person. The staff and children enjoyed the classic TLC summer camp activities including water day and fun weekly themes. The ever-popular special visitors were a big hit for both students and staff. We loved seeing Otis the therapy dog and his adorable tricks, the plucky therapy chicken, and the Washington Natmobile including famed Screech and Teddy. Campers delighted in playing games, drawing with sidewalk chalk, receiving cool Nats swag, and posing for pictures with Screech and Teddy. Screech and Teddy delighted our community and brought many smiles and laughter. We will include a page in this newsletter with the pictures taken from the memorable Natmobile event. To make the TLC website user experience simpler and quicker, we revamped our website. Please check it out, www.ttlc.org! Some of the exciting new features include increased user language capabilities (the website can be viewed in 5 different languages), a downloadable event calendar, and enhanced search functions. We hope that you can find what you need faster and more efficiently when viewing our website. We are looking forward to making positive memories this fall, creating new relationships, strengthening old ones, and putting one foot in front of the other moving forward into a future full of possibilities.
TLC The Treatment
Patricia Ritter, Ph.D. Executive Director and
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR A MESSAGE FROM
Learning Centers
P A G at TLC The Treatment and Learning Centers The Treatment and Learning Centers 2092 Gaither Road, Suite 100 Rockville, MD 20850 Screenings are conducted by appointment only! 301-424-5200 ext.159 or jkolker@ttlc.org
Both Occupational Therapy and Speech Language Pathology are offering free screenings onsite at TLC, as well as going out to 3 local private schools to perform screenings. Tina Morrissey will be presenting at the Maryland Speech Language Hearing Association's Clinical Connections Conference on 10/21. Melissa Schwarzbard and Brigid Baker will be presenting a workshop for staff in the Community Action Council of Howard County’s Head Start Program in September. Outpatient Speech Language Pathologist Denise Bryant and Occupational Therapist Ashley Lon will be presenting a workshop for the Down Syndrome Network of Montgomery County in October.
SPEECH LANGUAGEAND OCCUPATIONALTHERAPY DEPARTMENTUPDATES
Robyn Davy will be starting another Circle of Security Parenting Group in the Charmynfall. Henderson will be leading the Howard County Headstart Taking Care of You monthly parent group. We renewed our contract with Sidwell Friends for psychological testing.
Fall Activities (Continued)
SPEECH LANGUAGEANDOCCUPATIONAL THERAPYDEPARTMENTSSUMMER CAMPSSUMMARY
P A G E 5 T H E T R E A T M E N T A N D L E A R N I N G C E N T E R S
C's Summer Therapeutic Camp ogram celebrated our 35th niversary this summer! Due to pular demand, we opened a fourth mmer camp to meet our mmunity’s need for summer ogramming. We served over 40 mpers this summer and had a blast doing crafts, singing, dancing, and laying with friends Our exciting hemes kept everyone engaged and we ad a science fair, July 4th parade, ecital, and several special visitors such s a pilot, police officer, therapy dog, nd a hen! From the playground to the ool, from the sensory motor gyms to ircle time, our campers learned so much this summer and had fun doing We look forward to another uccessful summer next year and look orward to starting enrollment in February 2023.
Robin Mesnard, tutor, worked on a summer reading program for Butler Montessori School. We provided testing for youth aging out of foster care through Montgomery County Child Welfare. Robin will continue to provide a reading program for students at Butler in the fall.
Summer Activities Fall Activities TESTING,TUTORING,ANDCOUNSELING
OUTPATIENT DEPARTMENT
“UNPLUGGED”
TLC'S TESTING, TUTORING, AND COUNSELING DEPARTMENT should have no more than one to two hours of screens a day. The CDC (Center for Disease Control & estimatedPrevention)thatchildren spend time in front of screen/entertainmenta media at rates of: ages 8-10 (6 hours a day), 11-14 (9 hours a day), and 15-18 (7 hours a day) while more than half of these hours could be substituted with physical activity, social activities, and encouraging screens to be left out of the bedroom to help create healthier relationships to screens and social media (CDC, 2018). While this may be unfeasible for many families, creating screen time limits that are partsafetyinformIfelectronicenforceandexactly2021)McAfeeNanny,Today,willappropriatedevelopmentallyforchildren/teensgoalongway.manyapps,suchas,NetBark,MamaBear,orSafeFamily(Habib,areavailabletomonitorwhatyourchildviewsforhowlong,aswellas“downtime”onandevice.monitoringonlineactivity,yourchild.Internetshouldbeaconsistentoffamilycommunication,
Exposure to commentarynegativewithout critical self reflection can be harmful and toxic for children’s capacity to relate in healthy and adaptive ways. A study by the Mayo Clinic found that children who spent five days off electronic devices were better at recognizing facial emotions and non-verbal cues as compared to a control sample of children that lived life normally (Ayuob, Screen2021). time is defined as any time spent on an electronic device (TV, computer, video gaming device, iPad, online device) that is outside of school or work purposes. As caregivers, it will serve children well to make recreational “screen time” something that they earn and look forward to in small doses, rather than expect. Outside of screen time that is needed for school or homework, The American Academy of Pediatrics, American Heart Association, and other medical organizations recommend that children under the age of two are discouraged from screens altogether, and that children/teens under eighteen Screens themselves are not inherently bad. Social media and online gaming provide a platform for children, pre-teens, and teens to socialize with others, create their own identity, and learn about their world. However, there are consequences to an unlimited screen time policy. Recent studies show the devastating mental health impact that social media can have on children and adolescents, on top of other issues such as misinformation, social division, and invasion of privacy. Online, children often take a major hit to their selfesteem, developing negative self-images as compared to their peers. By the age of 13, 80% of girls say they have downloaded a feature in their Apps (TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram) that creates a visual alteration to their physical appearance on screen (Grizzle, Given2021).the anonymity in virtual gaming platforms and livestream gaming, children are granted more freedom to engage in negative social behaviors (cyberbullying, taglines, bantering, cursing) than they would exercise if they were in person with peers.
P A G E 6 T H E T R E A T M E N T A N D L E A R N I N G C E N T E R S
Scavenger hunt: Start a new collection. Challenge your child to walk with you outside to find diverse types of leaves, rocks, sticks, or another item available right outside their door in their environment.natural Boost of energy: Go for a family hike, bike ride, or engage in another team sport together (throw a football, dribble a basketball, pass a soccer ball). Build a fort: Use cushions, pillows, blankets, chairs, etc. Help your child to see their ideas come to life. Let them use tape, clips, string, etc. to engineer their own safe space. Create a garden together: Indoor or outdoor. Discuss the ideal spot for planting seeds and collect rocks/stones.preferred GetPre-Teens/Teens:teensinvolved: Help your teen explore after-school clubs, sport meetups, and realworld activities (local skateboarding park, skating rink, rock-climbing wall).
Family outing: Pick one place in the community to explore together (new ice cream spot, outdoor gardens, outdoor concert, new walking path, lake, new restaurant).
If you want your children to find something else to do besides watching tv and playing video games, they must see that the adults in their lives are doing the same. Scheduling time that is “screen free” is important for children, teens, and caregivers. Creating this type of family norm, and then sticking to it, will benefit the entire family in many ways.
There is no substitute for strong communication.parent-childCheck in with your child about their social media and screen time use. Be available to listen to what children are focused on during peer interactions on social media and to explore these themes Communicatetogether.openness so that children and teenagers will come to you with problems. Robyn Davy, MA, BC DMT, LCPC S Counselor Testing, Tutoring, and Counseling Department AND COUNSELING DEPARTMENT
“UNPLUGGED” TLC'S TESTING, TUTORING,
Chores: Provide an outlet for your child to “pitch in” around the home. Giving your children natural opportunities to use their muscles provides natural endorphin release and builds endurance both physically and mentally.
and children often like that their parents want to be involved in their lives. Be involved in social media use (link a parent account with a child account). To work towards a healthy balance, try these simple substitutes to screen time to revolutionize how you spend time together as a family “unplugged.”
Sensory motor play: Let your children discover the natural fun of making a mess safely. Provide a tabletop space and three or four items to explore (slime, figurines, flour with water and measuring cups for pouring/stirring).
Children Twelve and Under: Proximity: Allow your child to be adjacent to where you are sitting, so that they feel they are not alone. Bring out a puzzle, an age-appropriate book, a brain teaser, paper/pens, etc. and allow your child to explore the material.
Family game night: Connect over a board game, charades, or other family favorites.
P A G E 7 T H E T R E A T M E N T A N D L E A R N I N G C E N T E R S
P A G E 8 T H E T R E A T M E N T A N D L E A R N I N G C E N T E R S WASHINGTON NATIONALS SCREECH AND TEDDY VISIT TLC SUMMER CAMPS/THE KATHERINE THOMAS SCHOOL
THE KATHERINE THOMAS SCHOOL 2022 2023 SCHOOL CALENDAR (SUBJECT TO CHANGE, CHECK THE TLC WEBSITE FOR UPDATES)
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sta Asbury loca resident co requesting monthly me Family Hea residents o healthcare needs. P A G E 1 0 T H E T R E A T M E N T A N D L E A R N I N G C E N T E R S THE FAMILY HEARING CENTER We hope everyone has a wonderful Fall! Please don’t hesitate to let us know if you have any questions about how we may assist you. September is Healthy Aging Month, and we are here to provide you with complimentary consultations throughout the month of September. Feel free to call us: 301-738-1415
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TLC OUTCOMES SERVICE
offering over 10 groups for in our Community Development S). This program meets in various ery County. The group size is 2 4 aff member. Activities currently run icipated all groups will be for a rs as of October 1, 2022. Activities unteering to learn vocational skills ment in the future, going to ng how to travel in a healthy and mmunity. Groups also go earn that exercise can be fun, to leisure skills and to learn about o further develop communication and social skills.
xpanded Programs
TLC's Outcomes Summer Workplace Success Program ran again this summer in August from 9:00am 4:00pm Monday through Thursday for four weeks. Staff were available after the formal instruction ended to provide additional support and/or respond to questions that youth had and may not have asked during the session. Youth in the program had the opportunity to attend an employment externship over the summer with an employer that TLC Outcomes has worked with in the past. Secondary to covid, this was the first summer since 2019 that TLC Outcomes was able to offer externships to youth in the program. The students that attended this summer were going into their senior year of school this year. The program provided skill building in workplace skills, interviewing, corporate culture, interpersonal skills, conflict resolution, budgeting and finance, self-advocacy, problem solving and more.
P A G E 1 1 T H E T R E A T M E N T A N D L E A R N I N G C E N T E R S
TLC Outcomes Summer Workplace Success Program
Check your employer to see if they offer Corporate Matching Grants. Designate TLC The Treatment and Learning Centers as your charity of choice on Amazon and the Amazon Smile Foundation will donate .5% of all of your purchases to TLC! Check out this easy way to give at: https://smile.amazon.com
Donate now at www.ttlc.org/donate
Being a GEM is a way to make an ongoing and greater impact by giving a gift every month. Learn more at: https://ttlc.org/donate/ monthly-giving Help us stay “TLC Strong” by becoming a GEM and supporting individuals with disabilities.
P A G E 1 2 T H E T R E A T M E N T A N D L E A R N I N G C E N T E R S
DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT We’re so excited to be hosting our Annual Fall Luncheon on Thursday, November 3rd at Lakewood Country Club. There are many sponsorship opportunities and tickets available. Visit our webpage for more information: https://ttlc.org/event/fa ll luncheon/. FALLLUNCHEON: NOVEMBER3,2022 BEATLCGEM (GIVINGEVERYMONTH)
TLC will be hosting a raffle again this year! We are gearing up for another chance to win a fantastic getaway while donating to a great cause. Stay tuned as we will announce the event by September 12th.
Choose TLC during your Workplace Giving Campaigns: CFC #35945 United Way #9861 All other campaigns use TLC’s Federal ID #520607924 We are beginning the Giving Season. Please consider TLC as your charity of choice during this time of year. Here are several ways you can make an impact:
RAFFLE:COMINGSOON
GIVINGSEASON
DEVELOPMENT
Seventy years of service is an extraordinary milestone. TLC recognizes that we could not have done it without the support of our friends and community. We were delighted to celebrate The Treatment and Learning Center's 70th and The Katherine Thomas School’s 25th anniversaries during our Stronger Together Gala held on April 28, 2022. We hosted nearly 150 guests, along with our keynote speaker Randy Lewis from the disability initiative NOGWOG. The highlight of the evening was recognizing our Champions of TLC, including Roberts Oxygen and the Roberts Family, The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, GMMB and our TLC staff member of 25 years, Rema Haddad. This event raised over $132,000 from event sponsorships and a live auction, as well as an additional $60,000 during the event and from those unable to attend. Funds raised the night of the event support our Caring Neighbor Fund, which helps TLC provide services to individuals in our community who otherwise could not afford them. We are sincerely grateful for those who generously supported the Stronger Together Gala and helped make this event a tremendous success.
DEPARTMENT TLC 70TH PLUS “STRONGER TOGETHER” GALA P A G E 1 3 T H E T R E A T M E N T A N D L E A R N I N G C E N T E R S
