TLC News

January 2014

LIVING WITH HEARING LOSS

Seahawks' Derrick Coleman Breaks Barriers in the NFL

Living with hearing loss can certainly create unique challenges in a person's life. But Derrick Coleman, a fullback for the Seattle Seahawks, knows that hearing aids and the support of others can help people move beyond their disability and make their dreams come true. He is the only athlete in NFL history to play offense who is also legally deaf. Link here to learn more about his inspiring story.

Our Help Others Hear program provides free hearing aids to individuals in our community who could not otherwise afford them. You can help make someone's dreams come true like Derrick Coleman's with your generous donation. Link here to make your tax-deductible gift today. Your gift will be matched dollar for dollar through the generosity of the Trawick Foundation and the Evans family, as we strive to raise $40,000 for this critical program. Thank you for giving generously to help others in need.

Therapeutic and Learning Enrichment

Watch this video to learn more about our fun and engaging programs for children ages 3 through 12th grade. Please follow this link to learn more and register now for a fantastic summer of fun at TLC!

CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF SERVICE TO TLC

Julie Bobrow Marks Milestone Anniversary

This month, TLC's Director of Administrative Services Julie Bobrow marks 30 years of service to TLC. No other staff member, past or present, has a longer record of service to the organization since our founding in 1950. Executive Director Pat Ritter shares her thoughts on this significant occasion."I've always said that our staff is the heart of TLC. Julie truly exemplifies why I feel this way. Her consistently positive attitude and willingness to go above and beyond is valued by families and staff. Everyone she encounters experiences her TLC spirit of caring!"

When asked about her years of service, Julie replied "I have worked at TLC for 30 years, so I have come to think of this as my 'second family'! In the years that I have been here, I've been incredibly impressed by the care, compassion and skills of the staff that work here. I also am awed by the generosity of the many persons in the community who have selflessly donated time and resources to TLC. I want to express my gratitude for having been given the opportunity to be a part of this organization and to also thank the wonderful families that we serve for the confidence they have shown in TLC. I am proud to be part of such a "top notch" organization!"

We congratulate Julie and look forward to many more years of her outstanding contributions!

AFTER SCHOOL AND PARENT SUPPORT PROGRAMS

News You Can Use

Register now for two new social skills groups for children ages 6-11 to help them better engage with their peers. Edna Elisabeth Nyang, Director of TLC's Speech-Language Services will lead a group for 6-8 year olds, and she will be joined by TLC psychologist Sarah Towne for a group for 9-11 year olds. Detailed information including schedules, fees and registration can be found on our website.

Registration is also available for TLC's Young Yogis winter session which runs on Thursdays from Feb. 6 - March 27. This therapeutic yoga program is for children ages 5-12 and is led by TLC occupational therapist Katherine Overman.

Registration is now open for an inclusive after school drama and puppetry group for middle and high school students with special needs. The group will be held at KTS. Siblings and friends are welcome too! Classes will be held on Mondays from January 27 - March 24 from 4:00-5:30 p.m. (no class on Feb. 17). The cost is $200 for 8 sessions.

Register now for any of the following parent support workshops. The cost is $15/workshop.

Your child has been diagnosed with Autism - Now what?

By Lisa Lenhart, PhD, and Jennifer Polkes. Learning that your child has been diagnosed with autism can be overwhelming. We'll talk about beginning the process of moving forward and planning for the future. January 30, 2014 at from 10-11:30a.m. or 6:30-8p.m. Link here for registration.

How do you improve communication with your child with autism

By Edna Elisabeth Nyang, M.S., CCC-SLP, and Jennifer Polkes. How can families and caregivers learn to improve their child's communication and social interaction with others? We will discuss a variety of strategies and techniques. February 11, 2014 at from 10-11:30a.m. or 6:30-8p.m. Link here for registration.

What is OT and why would my child need it?

By Brigid Baker, OTR/L, and Jennifer Polkes. Learn the benefits of improving your child's fine motor, gross motor, self-help skills and sensory processing. What to expect from an evaluation and treatment sessions. February 27, 2014 at from 10-11:30a.m. or 6:30-8p.m. Link here for registration.

TLC GOLF CLASSIC

Monday June 2nd at Bretton Woods

Please join us for our largest fundraising event of the year. The 23rd Annual TLC Golf Classic will be held on Monday, June 2 at Bretton Woods in Germantown, MD. There will be an 11a.m. shotgun start, and all golfers will enjoy a BBQ lunch, cocktails and dinner following tournament play. All golfers will receive a FREE return pass to Bretton Woods for another round of golf.

Register now for $395/golfer or $1,500/foursome. Sponsorships are available from $500 to $5,000 with options for golfers and non-golfers. Please contact Debbie Ezrin at dezrin@ttlc.org for additional information.

We hope you can join us for what is always a fantastic day of golf and celebrating TLC!

PAT'S PIPELINE
All the News You Need to Know

The KTS Parents Association will host the 8th Annual Auction on Saturday, March 22 from 7-10p.m. The event will be held at the offices of Shulman Rogers in Potomac, MD. Please visit the auction website for complete details, including purchasing event and raffle tickets, as well as to donate items to the auction. We hope you can join us for what is always a terrific night!

KTS students shared their holiday cheer and beautiful voices with staff and residents at Ingleside in King Farm again this year. The Ingleside community welcomes KTS students every winter for a concert of holiday favorites. The event was featured in an article in the December King Farm Chronicle called, "What's Happening at Ingleside at King Farm," by Kimberly Hartke (see page 13).

Congratulations to our students for hosting a fantastic art show last month. An incredible variety of pottery pieces, paintings, mixed media and more were shared with families and friends.

Executive Director Pat Ritter and KTS Lower/Middle School Director Cathy Burgess presented at the recent Maryland Association of Nonpublic Special Education Facilities (MANSEF) conference, which was attended by 1,800 special educators, administrators, clinicians, direct care staff, and others working with children Audio 2

who have special needs.

Congratulations to TLC's Family Hearing Center (FHC) staff. Washington Consumers' Checkbook recently published an article on hearing aids and included ratings for local providers. FHC received outstanding ratings and was one of the businesses who received a quality recognition!

STAY CONNECTED

OFFICERS:
Bruce Hunter, President, Community Volunteer
Bill McDonald, Vice President, GEICO
James LaGrone, Treasurer, Wintergreen Financial Services, Inc.
Betty Anne Aschenbach, Secretary, Community Volunteer
Raymond Baldwin, General Counsel, Seyfarth Shaw LLP

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:

Patricia A. Ritter, Ph.D.

TRUSTEES:
Harinder Bawa, Think Tank, Inc.
John Bogasky, Strategic Growth Partners LLC
Michael R. Cogan, Rubenstein and Cogan
Charles Dickerson, PEPCO
Peter Greif, Community Volunteer
David L. Katz, The Advisory Board Company
Stephen Orens, Miles & Stockbridge
Melissa Pappas, ATHENA Consulting, LLC
Joseph Parlanti, Combined Technology Solutions
Geoffrey S. Platnick, Shulman Rogers
Mary M. Rill, Community Volunteer
Froma Roth, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
J. Richard Ward, Rockville Fuel and Feed
Ryan Wibberley, CIC Wealth Management Group

BOARD MEMBER EMERITUS:
Thomas Nordlinger, Community Volunteer
Barry Scher, Policy Solutions, LLC

TLC News is a publication of TLC-The Treatment and Learning Centers.

Produced by Bonnie Lawhorn, Director of Marketing and Communications and Debbie Ezrin, Director of Development

THE TREATMENT AND LEARNING CENTERS

2092 GAITHER RD. SUITE 100, ROCKVILLE, MD 20850

www.ttlc.org