A Message from the Executive Director |
Even though we are still experiencing the summer heat, the transition from summer to the crisp, cool air of fall is just around the corner. TLC had a busy summer: We had full enrollment in all of our Summer Camps, which were held in-person, along with The Katherine Thomas School summer programs. All of our outpatient services were offered in-person, and virtual for those who preferred that option. We expect to provide a combination of in-person and virtual services into the fall, following all health and safety protocols.
The 30th Annual Golf Classic was held in-person this year at P.B. Dye Golf Course on June 11, 2021, with enhanced health and safety protocols. It was a successful tournament, raising $52,000 toward TLC programs and the purchase 10 new Chromebooks for The Katherine Thomas School students. We are so grateful for the support of the participants who withstood the rainy weather conditions to help support our mission!
We want to congratulate members of the TLC community for their outstanding contributions to TLC's mission of improving lives and expanding possibilities. The annual Board of Trustees Dinner recognized the following individuals: Rosemary Colston Award: Betty Anne Aschenbach; Volunteer of the Year: Joe Parlanti; Benefactor of the Year: The Dimick Foundation; Employer of the Year: Skookum Contract Services; Outstanding Service Award: Alex Ahluwalia, Robert Essink; Pavlin Leadership Award: Stacey Brigg; Outstanding Team Work Award: Development Committee: Barb Sable, Chair, Michael Chow and Robert Essink; and Barry F. Scher Award for PR: Jess Arnold, WUSA9 News.
The Annual TLC Staff Awards recognized the following staff members: The Lucie R. Coker Distinguished Service Award: Melissa Smith; Meritorious Service Award: Megan Hart; Outstanding Staff Award: Chris Troy, Claire Geinzer, Nessrin Khaskia; Outstanding Customer Service Award: Donna Cruickshank; and Team Award: IT Department: Dave Boblits, Amir Ghannadan, Eric Nickens.
We will continue to closely follow the pandemic situation and make programmatic decisions based on all appropriate information. We are still hopeful that we can hold our 70th Anniversary Celebration in 2021 and will keep you updated.
Enjoy the transition to fall, be safe, and we hope to see you soon!
Patricia A. Ritter, PhD
Executive Director, The Treatment and Learning Centers
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Occupational Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology Departments |
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2021 Summer Camp Synopsis |
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TLC campers had a blast! TLC’s Therapeutic Summer Camp welcomed over 40 campers to our program this summer. Led by TLC’s Speech-Language Pathologists and Occupational Therapists, our campers not only worked hard to develop their communication, peer play, fine motor, gross motor, and sensory integration skills, but they also played hard! They beat the heat and kept cool splashing in the sprinklers and pools at Water Day every week. They explored with ocean animals, constructed kid-sized cars and took a spin around camp, got their hands dirty making slime and play-doh, went for the gold learning about the Olympics, and enjoyed making, and especially eating, popsicles at our ice cream social. Our campers listened to books, learned new songs, played games with friends, navigated obstacle courses, climbed rock walls, jumped on trampolines, and most importantly made new friends! We can’t wait to see everyone next summer! |
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Speech-Language and Occupational Therapy departments will once again be offering FREE screenings for children 2 years of age and older. Screenings are being offered at our outpatient clinic on Gaither Road and can be scheduled by contacting 301-424-5200, ext. 159 or emailing Nherndon@ttlc.org.
Our departments are pleased to once again offer on-site screenings at several local private schools on their campus’ this Fall. We value these community collaborations and welcome the opportunity to promote the development of solid foundational skills.
As children return to school, some for the first time in over a year, our Speech-Language and Occupational Therapists are prepared to support our families. Whether parents are
concerned about a regression of skills due to decreased services through the pandemic, or would like to boost their child’s progress as they enter a new school year, we are here to help! Our clinic offers evaluation, group and individual therapy services that are individualized for each child. Afterschool, evening and Saturday appointments are available.
The Summer session of our Interaction Group was quite popular with an average of 13
dyads/small groups each week. Parents were pleased with their children’s enthusiasm and progress over the 8 weeks. The Fall session of our Interaction Group is filling up fast and will be starting in mid-September.
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Feeding Therapy Department |
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Seven Ways to Make Food More Interesting |
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1. Make it colorful. Present foods of different colors to make meals more appealing.
2. Add flavor. Think about sweet, salt, sour, umami, and bitter. Add a combination of foods with these flavors at mealtimes.
3. Present new foods. Introduce a new food on multiple occasions. Each time, ask your child to point out similarities between the new food and familiar ones. If your child struggles with trying a variety of foods, introduce only one food at a time. Start by encouraging your child to touch and smell the new food.
4. Vary the temperature. Present warm and cold foods. Children might complain if it is too hot or cold.
5. Create different shapes. Consider using sandwich cutters and cookie cutters to introduce a variety of shapes. Turn a slice of watermelon into hearts, bananas into stars, and sandwiches into animals.
6. Introduce different textures. Think about crunchy, smooth, chewy, sticky, and hard.
7. Remember preferred foods. Always include a highly preferred food at mealtime. Such foods are recommended, especially when new foods are introduced.
If you are concerned about your child’s eating, please get in touch with us to schedule an appointment: (301) 424-5200 x159 or speech@ttlc.org
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Testing, Tutoring, and Counseling Department |
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Top 5 Reasons Behavior Charts Fail |
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Ever started a behavior chart only to see it crash and burn at school or at home? Here are the top 5 reasons that Behavior charts fail: |
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Now Offering Educational Neuropsychological Evaluations! |
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The Testing, Tutoring and Counseling Department now offers educational neuropsychological evaluations as part of our assessments, which can provide additional information to an evaluation! Dr. Melissa N. Smith, Director of Testing, Tutoring, and Counseling is board certified in School Neuropsychology. Dr. Smith believes that educational neuropsychological evaluations, when indicated by the reason for the referral, helps families better understand the link between our mental processes and academic difficulties. Using a School Neuropsychology conceptual framework, these evaluations determine how foundational skills such as attention, processing, and sensorimotor functions, impact higher level cognitive processes as well as acquired knowledge skills in school. The educational neuropsychological evaluations break down each component in an easily understood way, while providing targeted intervention recommendations for the school and your child. This additional evaluation, if appropriate, adds to the many customized psychoeducational evaluations we currently offer. |
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2021-2022 School Year Calendar |
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The Lower/Middle School program is buzzing with excitement as staff get ready to welcome students back in-person, 5 days per week, beginning September 2nd. This year’s Extended School Year and Learning Enrichment programs were held full time,
in-person as well, and were very successful. New staff orientation was held on August 25th, and all staff returned for orientation beginning August 26th. Preparation for students is in full swing and we are all so glad to be returning to the building this fall.
This year’s school theme is “Back and Better than Ever.” Staff and students will be engaging on topics and practices focused on getting back to the basics of being kind, thinking students (KTS), advocating for the things we need, and giving our best effort every time. We will invite parents to partner with us in setting goals with students and encouraging them to set goals for themselves beginning at Back-to-School Night on September 30th.
We are also thrilled to add a few new components to our curriculum this year. Last year 5 staff members were certified in the Orton Gillingham Plus program, a phonics-based, systematic and sensory infused approach to teaching reading to struggling readers. We also updated our core reading program, Open Court this summer. Finally, thanks to our PA and other contributors, we were able to update our Middle School Science curriculum. We look forward to implementing these new programs with students this year.
Finally, we are excited about some updates to our lower/middle school programs this year. In order to support our student population, we have been able to open the Boost program to lower school students. This 3-to-1 student to staff program includes increased support to students with intensive needs in academic areas and executive functioning needs, and provides support through the addition of a Boost special education teacher at the elementary level.
We look forward to the year ahead and are so thankful for the support of our KTS community.
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This summer in the Lower/Middle School, students had the opportunity to work on their reading, writing and math skills, through reinforcement and practice of skills gained throughout the year, in addition to having a good time on field trips. Students took many different trips over the summer, but the consensus was that the miniature golf excursion was the most fun for students and staff. See a couple of our lower school students in action here. Overall, the summer was a successful in-person experience, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back for the 2021-2022 school year. |
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This summer, the high school’s program centered around the theme of National Parks. The morning English, science, and math classes were based on the theme and paired with classes that further developed reading comprehension and math skills. The afternoon periods were focused on life and work skills, including using public transportation and reading transportation schedules, searching for and applying for jobs, performing household tasks, and basic grocery and meal planning.
Highlights of some of the activities are as follows:
In the Arts Integration class, the students learned about the Sacred Teaching of Truth, represented by the Turtle. During a slide show about Truth, when reading about Indigenous People, the students made many connections to what they were learning in other classes. One student said, “We are learning in Mr. Trulock’s class about the tribes that lived where Zion National Park is now, and how their land was taken from them.” Students also discovered that the turtle teaches us about perspective taking by taking time to listen to another person’s point of view and recognizing that there is more than one way to approach to life. The students then carved and printed linotypes of turtles.
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Summer 2021 Outcomes Wrap-Up |
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TLC – The Treatment and Leaning Centers, Inc. – The Outcomes Service launched the Summer Success 2021 program for transitioning youth entering 11th grade in 2021. This program was based on our Workplace Success Program and was our first in-person group for PreETS aged students since March 2020. Time was spent on goals, vocational assessments, customer service activities related to soft skills that are needed in the workplace and life after high school. The students made a presentation in front of the group to learn a bit about public speaking. The youth learned basic job development skills including job search plans, resume development, references, thank you letters, and mock interviews. The group ended the Summer Success 2021 program by learning about money management, time management and stress management.
Vocational Services were offered increased in-person during the summer of 2021. Employers began to move from virtual interviews to in-person interviews for some positions. Employers that only wanted job coaches to provide supports virtually began to allow job coaches in businesses.
Community Development Services (CDS) began to offer in-person community activities after surveying participants in and their families in June 2021. Based on the responses TLC Outcomes started to develop groups to begin community CDS activities. CDS in-person community activities that occurred this summer included the Croydon Creek Nature Center, Splash Park, Mini-golf, and Constitution Gardens. The group members report really enjoying being back in the community again.
Personal supports (PS) began to offer in-person supports to individuals that wanted to meet in-person instead of virtual. Various goals were addressed. A cooking goal may include meeting with participants helping them put together a shopping list based on a recipe that they want to make, going to the store to purchase food for the recipe, going home and preparing the recipe. Some individuals had health and fitness goals and the activities included outside walks with individuals or going to the gym.
TLC Outcomes also offered a virtual sex-education program for self-advocates with an outside speaker that occurred once a week for an hour for most of the summer.
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Complimentary Services and Discounts |
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Complimentary Services
- Hearing Aid Cleanings
- Hearing Aid Checks
Hearing Aid Discounts
- $200.00 off per individual hearing aid
- $400.00 off per hearing aid set
New Technologies/Products
- Connect multiple digital devices to hearing aids
- Drying boxes for rechargeable hearing aids
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Maximize The Benefits of Your Hearing Devices |
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It is important to follow these hearing health and maintenance guidelines to maximize the benefits you receive from wearing hearing devices.
Maintaining Your Hearing Health
1. We recommend you have an audiogram every two years to determine if your hearing devices should be reprogrammed to compensate for any additional loss.
2. Wear your hearing devices daily to allow your brain time to relearn sounds.
3. Do not miss a regularly scheduled checkup.
4. Do not wear someone else’s hearing devices.
Taking Care of Your Hearing Devices
1. Clean your earmolds daily to remove any buildup.
2. Remove your hearing devices before taking a shower or going swimming.
3. Do not expose your hearing devices to hair spray.
4. Do not expose your hearing devices to radiation from X-rays.
5. Do not try to repair your own hearing device.
6. Do not use alcohol or cleaning fluid on any parts.
7. Regularly check the plastic tubing on your hearing device for debris.
Battery Care
1. Replace batteries routinely; the average battery life is seven to 10 days.
2. Memorize the battery size your hearing device requires.
3. Turn off your hearing devices at bedtime, and keep the battery compartment open to allow any moisture to evaporate.
4. Store batteries at room temperature.
5. Do not carry loose batteries in your pocket or purse.
6. When newly purchased, hearing device batteries are sealed with a tab to ensure freshness. Do not remove this tab until you are ready to use the battery. Once you remove the tab, allow the battery to charge for 30-60 seconds before placing it into the hearing device.
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Regular appointments with our team can help protect and maintain your hearing aids and allow us to adjust your care as your hearing and lifestyle needs change over time. To help you stay on top of your hearing aid care, we’re offering free hearing aid checks this summer, even for out-of-warranty devices.
Call our team to schedule today!
(301) 738-1415
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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:
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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 1st! |
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BE A GEM – Give Every Month to TLC |
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Being a GEM is a way to make an ongoing and greater impact by giving a gift every month. Learn more at: https://www.ttlc.org/support-tlc/monthly-giving/ Help us stay “TLC Strong” by becoming a GEM and supporting individuals with disabilities.
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The Treatment and Learning Centers
2092 Gaither Rd Ste 100 Rockville, MD 20850 | 301-424-5200 | www.ttlc.org
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