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August 2025 Connections
Information for caregivers to help children thrive!
| | The start of the school year brings new routines, new connections, and new opportunities for growth. At DFX, we know that transitions can feel big for children and their families and caregivers, and we’re here to support each step along the way. Every back-to-school moment—whether it’s a practiced routine, a sensory tool tucked in a backpack, or an encouraging word at drop-off—is part of building a bright future for our children. | |
Tips for the start of school
- Ease into school-day by practicing morning and bedtime routines, touring the school if it’s new to you and your child, and getting into the school year rhythm.
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- Create a small kit with items you know support your child at home that might be helpful at school - like fidgets, calming objects, or a favorite water bottle - having duplicates of these items for the school day can ensure they are always available when needed!
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- Build in time for emotional check-ins in your day. We like routines like “rose, thorn, bud” where everyone in the family identifies something they liked in their day (rose), something hard about the day (thorn), and something they are looking forward to in the future (bud)! Naming feelings together at the end of each day fosters resilience, trust, and connection.
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| Resources to Support You | | Through DFX’s Therapy that Fits® approach, our team of occupational, speech-language, and mental health therapists partner with families and schools to create individualized strategies. If you need extra support preparing for the school year transition, talk to your therapist! We can help identify individualized strategies for you, your child, and your family. | | DFX's 2025 SOIREE: THURSDAY, AUGUST 28
| | Denver Museum of Nature & Science | | We invite you to join us to celebrate this pivotal moment for DFX! At the event, we will formally welcome Beth Yohe, MS, to our community and celebrate the visionary leadership of Tracy Stackhouse, MA, OTR/L, and her transition to Director of Innovation. | | |
This year's theme invites a celebration of the growth that has happened at DFX over the last year, as well as the transformative work that DFX is doing to improve the lives of children with developmental differences and mental health challenges.
We are thrilled to be honoring Dr. Randi J. Hagerman with the DFX HUG award for Heart, Understanding, and Generosity. Dr. Hagerman is the director of the Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute at the University of California-Davis @ucdavismind, a researcher in autism and other neurodevelopmental differences, a distinguished professor of pediatrics, and known across the globe for her groundbreaking work on Fragile X syndrome.
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DFX 2024-25 Impact Report
This month we are celebrating Developmental FX! As part of that celebration, we are excited to release our impact report, "Stories to Carry with You." Check it out at the link below to read the stories and see the impact we have in our community and around the world
Read DFX's 2024-25 Impact Report
| | | | Please join us in welcoming our three new therapists! | | STEPHANIE BOLIN,
MOT, OTR/L | |
Stephanie (she/her) is a pediatric occupational therapist who joined the Developmental FX team in July 2025. She discovered her passion for OT in high school while volunteering at a Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care center. Stephanie studied psychology at the University of Louisville and earned her Master of Occupational Therapy from Colorado State University.
She brings experience from outpatient pediatric settings and has special interests in supporting skill development in emotional regulation and executive functioning. She has advanced training in pediatric bowel and bladder dysfunction, having completed Kids Bowel and Bladder's Pediatrics Level 1 and Level 2 courses. She values close collaboration with families and interdisciplinary teams to help children thrive in their daily lives.
| |  | SARAH SIMON,
MS, CCC-SLP | Sarah (she/her) has a passion for children and giving them the tools to advocate for themselves. She has experience in a variety of settings including public schools, private practice, and hospitals. Sarah received her masters degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Rush University in Chicago, IL, and her undergraduate degree from Biola University in Los Angeles, CA. | Sarah has experience working with children ranging from 18 months to 16 years of age. She utilizes play based and child led therapy for children with a variety of diagnoses with a passion for language development, fluency, total communication, and articulation impairments. She is eager to help children grow in their communication skills with an individualized approach to therapy. | | |
| | Emily Finn, MSOT, OTR/L, (she/her) joined DFX in August 2025. She earned her Master of Occupational Therapy degree from San José State University. With over 15 years of experience in pediatric therapy clinics both in the U.S. and internationally, she specializes in sensory integration, feeding, and relationship-based therapies. | | | | Emily has completed extensive training, including CLASI certification and STAR Level 1 certification in Ayres Sensory Integration, DIR training, SOS Feeding Approach and the Safe and Sound Protocol. She is passionate about educating and supporting clinicians and families as they navigate challenges related to feeding, sensory regulation, and more. | | DFX is working to create systemic change by establishing a culture of engaged belonging in which children of all abilities and backgrounds will thrive. | | | | |
