A Message from the Executive Director
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The recent events that have reverberated throughout our community have challenged us to examine our beliefs, to be open to understanding racial disparities, and to take action to eliminate them. TLC is guided by our core values, that include justice for all people, respect in all interactions, and the knowledge that no one person is better than another.
TLC is committed to an inclusive organization. We will not tolerate treating people differently due to race or any other perceived difference. Through our organization's Diversity Team efforts, school curriculum, and invitations to conversations, we have already been addressing ways to make our organization inclusive and sensitive to the needs of our diverse TLC community. We will continue to examine our practices and change anything that is a barrier to racial justice and human rights.
We are not perfect; we will make mistakes, but we must fully engage in the journey to social justice. It is the only hope for change.
Patricia A. Ritter, PhD
Executive Director, The Treatment and Learning Centers
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As the Maryland Stay at Home Order has lifted, we want to communicate the next steps for our organization. We will be providing in-office services, but due to the pandemic, we will not be returning to business as we knew it. We are developing a phased-in plan for increasing face-to-face services with specific criteria. Know that the health and safety of our TLC community is a primary focus of our reopening plan. We will be following CDC guidelines, social distancing, and taking health and safety considerations. Building occupancy will be reduced and a staggered schedule will be implemented for employees. We will be contacting TLC families to determine if face-to-face contact is appropriate and desired.
We will continue our virtual programs.They have been highly successful and are appropriate for many that we serve. These virtual platforms offer an alternative option that will be available even after COVID-19.
We have identified new ways to work, new ways to support (help) and new ways that will make our organization stronger.
We understand that everyone has individual comfort levels in returning to our office and utilizing in-person services, so we will remain flexible! You will have options in choosing in-person, virtual, or a combination of the two types of services; your comfort level is of utmost importance to us, we will adapt so you and your family can continue to receive services.
Thank you to all our TLC family: Those that transitioned with us; Those who supported us during this time; Those who will move through this challenge with us to a stronger tomorrow.
TLC is here for you! Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
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The Outcomes Service Moving Forward
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The Outcomes Service will continue to provide virtual supports. We will increase face-to-face services based on health and safety criteria as well as individual needs. We will also continue to provide person-centered services to help each individual we serve achieve their goals.
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The Outcomes Service Featured on WUSA 9 News Segment
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Individuals who utilize the services at TLCs Outcomes Service were featured on a WUSA 9 news segment focusing on the challenges that individuals with developmental disabilities face in an era of pandemic. Jennifer, a grocery store worker, described her individual challenges and discussed how she has adapted her life to all of the changes. Conor, a mailroom worker at The NIH, spoke of the importance of routine. TLC extends a big thanks to Jennifer and Conor for sharing their story. Dr. Patricia Ritter, Executive Director of TLC, discussed the emotional impact of the pandemic on TLC’s Outcomes clients, and elaborated on the common challenges. The video and article can be found at:
https://bit.ly/2WLfHzQ
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The Outpatient Department
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Due to COVID-19, our ways to deliver our therapy services have drastically changed. Telehealth sessions are our new normal and are proving successful for many of our families. We are providing individual therapies, small sessions with 2 peers/parents for social interaction, screenings and even some evaluations via telehealth. While we slowly resume modified in-person sessions, telehealth will remain in place as a possible – and therapeutic – option for our families.
Speech-Language and Occupational Therapy
The Outpatient Speech-Language Department and Occupational Therapy Departments celebrated Better Speech-Language and Hearing month and Occupational Therapy month, and offered free telehealth screenings for the month of April and May. Both services have offered teletherapy since March so as to best serve our clients during the COVID-19 pandemic. We will be offering in-person therapy and evaluation sevices starting in June as well as continuing to offer these services via telehealth.
Testing, Tutoring, and Counseling
Testing, Tutoring, and Counseling has been very busy moving to remote therapies and testing, along with offering additional programs and supports. We have been offering learning enrichment classes while students are distance learning to support them in their academic needs. We are sending out a survey and will be continuing to offer classes for our students.
Child, family, and individual therapy has moved to teletherapy. We are continuing to offer individual and group counseling on our teletherapy platform. In addition, we have offered a number of therapy groups for parents and adults.
For the past several weeks, TT&C has been training and rolling out remote psychological evaluation. They are now underway for children age 10 and above. We will be increasing our offerings to remote virtual assessments as well as in-office evaluations as appropriate.
Testing, Tutoring, and Counseling would love for you to share your opinions with us, so we can create a summer program to meet community needs. If you click on the
survey here
, we would appreciate your feedback! The survey should only take around a couple of minutes to complete.
Summer Interaction Group
Summer Interaction Groups will be moving into the great outdoors! Exploring and moving about in nature has many therapeutic benefits from the development of sensory motor skills to opportunities for safe peer interactions. So, in addition to our group telehealth options, our Interaction Group will offer outside therapy options with 2 children and 2 clinicians.
Contact us
for more details.
Summer Camp
TLC's Summer Camp Programs are going virtual! We are offering our Friends Together Camp (led by an Occupational Therapist and Speech-Language Pathologist) and our Little Friends Language and Learning Camp (led by a Special Education Teacher and Speech-Language Pathologist). Each camp offers fun and interactive activities to target social interaction, language, sensory processing, motor, and/or pre-academic skills. Campers ages 3-10 years will be matched by skill level and age in small groups of two or three to allow for an individualized camp experience. Sessions are 1-hour. Scholarships are available. Contact Lisa Torvik for more information at
LTorvik@TTLC.org
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The Katherine Thomas School
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The Katherine Thomas School transitioned to a whole new way of learning! In a flash, the school became virtual, always focusing on the needs of the students while at the same time supporting staff with new technologies. With the transition to virtual school, longstanding traditions became/will become virtual, and students and staff have been acclimating beautifully. Prom, eighth grade promotion, and graduation will be virtual; while we cannot be next to each-other, virtually, we are right by your side for every milestone. We will continue our virtual programs over the summer.
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Dr. Nicole Abera, Director of the KTS Lower/Middle School, Has Article Published
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Dr. Nicole Abera, Director of The Katherine Thomas School Lower/Middle School, recently had an
article and video
published online entitled “Supporting Students with Significant Needs in Distance Learning” focusing on the lower/middle school experience. The article was published via
“
EDUCATING ALL LEARNERS ALLIANCE (EALA)
”
a dynamic alliance of non-partisan groups deeply committed to the success of students with disabilities.
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TLC is here to support you and your family. In this unprecedented time, TLC staff thought it would be fun and comforting to read our favorite stories to you (
click here
). Of course each staff member will add their own TLC flair and personality.
It is a major part of our academic programs, encompassing our family of services including Speech-Language Pathology, Occupational Therapy, and Testing and Tutoring. The Katherine Thomas School, and TLC’s other departments want to support students during distance learning. We are participating in story time to support student learning in this time of COVID-19. As educators, our goal is always to teach and help our students via various methods to optimize learning. We appreciate the many publishers who have allowed educators to use their books for this purpose during this pandemic. Videos will be taken down at the end of the school year. Enjoy!
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Call to Action: COVID-19 Long Term Impact
COVID-19 has made an impact on our community and will continue to affect our programs for months to come. Many of our families are experiencing financial difficulties impacting their ability to get the services that they need. We are asking for your help to support their continued therapies and specialized programs during this pandemic. In addition, there has been an increased cost for technology not only for TLC staff, but to provide those we serve so they can engage with TLC and the community. There has also been an increased cost in needed resources to include technology.
TLC has started the Sustainer Club with monthly giving. A small monthly gift can make a huge impact and can help us provide support to others as we navigate life moving forward in COVID-19. Your donation will help to: provide scholarships and subsidies for children with disabilities; provide a gift of hearing to those who cannot afford hearing aids; and provide technology and personal protective equipment to TLC’s staff and community.
Please
click here to join the Sustainer Club
and to set up automatic monthly support to help our community through these challenging times. If you have questions, please
contact us
. As always, thank you for your ongoing support of TLC.
Link for monthly giving -
Of course, monthly giving is not for everyone. Any gift will help us. Consider a one-time gift now.
TLC Golf Classic
This year due to the pandemic we are not able to come together and celebrate the mission of TLC. But good news for golfers – you can now golf for a cause. We have golfer’s coupon where you can play and still support our mission. The golfer coupon can be used through June 1, 2021. Check out all the details here -
https://www.ttlc.org/support-tlc/golf/
TLC HOLDS THEIR FIRST VIRTUAL EVENT
Thanks to Barb Sable, TLC Board of Trustee members, creative idea. TLC held their first virtual event. The Trick shot Lockdown Challenge was held throughout May while our community was locked down. It was a slammed dunk and we raised over $3,000 with many participants. Thanks to all who participate, judged, and encouraged everyone to join the fun. Check out all our video participants here:
What Legacy Will You Leave?
The Legacy Club for TLC
includes individuals who have chosen to include TLC in their estate plans to ensure that future generations will continue to benefit from our programs and services. With careful planning, your family can also reduce estate taxes on the assets they receive from your estate. Learn more about how you can become the next member of
The Legacy Club for TLC
online at
http://ttlc.org/support-tlc/planned-giving/
.
If you have already included TLC in your estate plans, please contact Director of Development Teresa Witt at
TWitt@ttlc.org
to ensure your name appears on our growing list of members. Your generosity will inspire others to give and help our community for generations to come.
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KTS Virtual Summer Programs
TLC Summer Programs
Summer Interaction Group (ages 2.5-5)
- Information coming soon,
email us
if you are interested
If you haven’t liked us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please do, and encourage your friends to as well! Help up help others improve lives and expand possibilities.
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