October 2025 Newsletter
Strengthening PCDA’s Future Through Leadership
Last month, I reflected on what it means to build community—how it’s not something we simply join, but something we create through how we show up for one another. That reflection has stayed with me as I think about PCDA’s future and the people helping to shape it.
At our most recent Board of Directors meeting, we welcomed two new members, Catherine Dávila and Tyler Press. Each brings thoughtful leadership and a deep commitment to helping PCDA grow in ways that honor our mission and values. Their insight and care will help guide our work as we continue to support children, young people, and families in building lives filled with purpose, connection, and belonging.
Serving on a nonprofit board is one of the many ways people show up for community. Our board members volunteer their time and expertise to ensure PCDA remains strong and responsive to those we serve. Their leadership reflects PCDA’s values—to Break Barriers to Care, See the Big Picture, Build the Village, Excel in All Ways, and Live Fully. These values remind us that meaningful growth comes from relationships—between children and therapists, staff and families, and within the broader community that surrounds us.
As we look ahead, I’m grateful for every person who contributes to this community—our board, staff, families, and partners. Each act of care, each relationship built, and each moment of leadership helps strengthen PCDA and the future we’re building together.
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), a time to celebrate the contributions of workers with disabilities and to promote inclusive employment practices that open doors for all. At PCDA, inclusion means more than access—it means belonging, opportunity, and connection at every stage of life.
As we prepare for our upcoming Career Days, we’re focusing on giving teens and young adults a window into the world of work. Career Days is an opportunity for participants to explore a variety of careers, hear personal stories, and ask questions about the paths people take to get where they are. It’s about curiosity, inspiration, and imagining possibilities for the future.
Our Career Days event brings together professionals, families, and young adults to connect, share, and inspire.
👉 Interested in participating in Career Days?
Do you have an exciting job or career you’d like to share with our teens and young adults? We’d love for you to join us! Please contact:
Verliz: verliz@pcdateam.org (Teens)
Natalie: natalie@pcdateam.org (Young Adults)
📌 Sign up here: https://forms.office.com/r/zeXGMwcZ1U
The Power of Co-Regulation: Sharing Calm and Connection
One thing we know from both research and experience is that emotional growth happens through connection. When we talk about emotional regulation, the ability to manage our feelings and reactions, children learn this through co-regulation.
Co-regulation means that two people, most often a child and an adult, work together to find calm and balance. It is the shared process of managing emotions through connection, not correction. A caring adult helps a child feel safe and steady by offering a calm, attuned presence. Over time, these moments of shared calm help children learn to regulate their own emotions.
In moments of stress or excitement, the adult’s emotional tone becomes a model for the child. For example, when a child becomes upset because a toy is not working, a parent can support them by staying calm and reassuring. The parent’s calm presence signals safety to the child’s brain and body, helping them return to a state of balance. In moments of happiness, the adult can also join in the child’s joy, laughing and playing together, which builds trust, safety, and emotional connection.
This process of emotional attunement, noticing and responding to another person’s emotional state, is at the heart of strong relationships. It is a foundation of attachment theory and an important part of PCDA’s relationship-based approach, including the DIR/Floortime model, where emotional co-regulation is seen as essential for growth, communication, and social development.
Of course, this is easier said than done when adults are under stress. Many families have shared that 2025 has brought unexpected challenges. When life feels heavy, it is harder to stay calm, patient, or playful. That is why it is so important to care for your own emotional well-being, too.
Here are a few ways to nurture co-regulation at home this month:
Find joy in shared experiences.
Lean into the spirit of the fall season. Join your child in activities they love, without an agenda to teach or correct. Simply be together and notice the moments where you both feel in sync. These shared moments of “flow” build connection and emotional strength.Take care of your own regulation.
Just as your child needs co-regulation, you do too. Take a few deep breaths before responding to a stressful situation. Step outside for a short walk or call a friend. Limit media that adds stress. Even small moments of calm help you show up as your best self.Seek support and community.
Parents are amazing advocates for their children. Remember to also advocate for yourself. If you are unsure how to start, talk with your child’s clinician or facilitator. And consider joining others for connection and fun. Our Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) is hosting a family picnic this month to create just that kind of space—time to share joy, laughter, and community.
The PCDA Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) invites you and your family to join us for a special day of connection and community at our Family Picnic!
📅 Saturday, October 25
🕚 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM
📍 Brookside Park (near the Rose Bowl) — 360 North Arroyo Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91103
🧺 Area D (See map for designated area)
This casual gathering is a chance for families to come together, build friendships, and strengthen our community of support. Please bring your own picnic lunch—we know every family has unique needs and preferences, and this way everyone can enjoy food that works best for them.
There will be plenty of space for kids to play, for parents and caregivers to connect, and for all of us to celebrate the power of community.
✅ RSVP here to let us know you’re coming!
We hope you’ll join us for this relaxed afternoon of joy, connection, and support!
PAC Learning Series
Please join us for our Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) Learning Series, a set of expert-led sessions designed to help families navigate important topics in supporting neurodiverse children. These free, virtual sessions held over Zoom are open to all PCDA families and anyone interested in learning more!
The Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) is a board-level group comprised of parents and caregivers of PCDA alumni and current clients. The PAC plays a vital role in providing input and feedback on program expansion, policies, plans, and activities. By sharing their experiences and perspectives, PAC members help shape the future of PCDA to better meet the needs of our community. This Learning Series is one way PAC brings its knowledge and perspective directly to families.
Each session will feature a specialist sharing practical guidance and answering your questions:
Oct 16, 12:00 PM: Understanding the Self-Determination Process – Led by Katie Ramirez
📅 Add to my calendarNov 13, 12:00 PM: IEPs Demystified: Strategies for Families – Led by Andrea Valdez
📅 Add to my calendarJan 8, 12:00 PM: Planning Ahead: Special Needs Trusts – Led by Joseph Lee
📅 Add to my calendar
Whether you’re exploring self-determination, learning how to maximize IEPs, or planning for the future, this series is here to equip you with knowledge and tools to support your family’s journey.
We look forward to learning and growing together in community with you!
Join us on Saturday, December 6 at 1:00 PM for PCDA’s annual Teen Art Show Fundraiser and Reception—a joyful celebration of creativity, community, and connection.
Our talented teen artists have been busy preparing original works that reflect their unique perspectives and passions. Each piece will be available for purchase, with all proceeds benefiting PCDA’s Teen Program and supporting next year’s Teen Art Show. By taking part, you’re not only investing in art—you’re investing in opportunity, confidence, and belonging for our teens.
Following the show, we invite you to stay for a reception honoring our artists, featuring mocktails, appetizers, and a chance to mingle with the young creators whose work inspires us all.
Come celebrate creativity that connects us—and helps our teens continue to grow, express, and thrive.
Click the image above to add these events to your calendar!
For information about our events, please contact development@pcdateam.org.
Join Our Village
Donations
At PCDA, we know that building true community takes all of us—showing up with care, consistency, and commitment.
Every gift, no matter the size, is one way of saying I’m here, and I’m part of this work. From $10 to $10,000, your support helps us strengthen services, expand belonging, and stand beside neurodiverse children and families as we create a community where everyone feels included and empowered.
We can’t do this without you—thank you for showing up with us.
Gifts In Kind
Support our programs with a gift of supplies.
From art materials to sensory tools, the right items help our youth stay engaged and growing. Check out our Wish List to see what’s most needed right now.