October 2026 Newsletter
Honest confession: I don't recommend having two development events in the same week.
Keeping the everyday work of PCDA up and running, services authorized, the HVAC working, therapists assigned, staff training accomplished, audits managed, committees and board meetings attended, and the internet working, etc., is enough. But by a bit of luck and a bit of scheduling necessity, we ended up with two development events in the same week.
At first, I found myself helping our incredibly dedicated board fundraising committee members set up for our first-ever Pickleball Tournament early on a hot Saturday morning. Like most events, registrations came rolling in at the last minute, leaving many of us wondering if we would have enough players. I was thankfully confident that we would get the numbers, just on the last day of registration, which we did.
We got to see a little peek into the pickleball subculture, learn a game that I honestly didn't know much about, and watch an incredible combination of community members arrive to play and be together. I got to see our board members work incredibly hard to support the success of the event, and in turn, PCDA's success. I had a hunch that this sport was rather competitive, and we saw that. I also saw a superstar team who had never actually played pickleball before finish fourth in the overall tournament.
And I learned that wait, watch, and wonder, a classic Floortime strategy, also applies to event planning.
The second event was a celebration of the opening of Christie's Real Estate's Pasadena office, where PCDA was invited to be the sponsored charity. It was an honor to be asked, but the deepest honor was how the connection came to be. We were introduced through a member of a client family, after they had seen the success their grandchild experienced through our services.
For me, this was the most meaningful part. At the root of this connection was simply what we do every day: care for young people, partner with families, and build relationships. A family experienced that care and connection through PCDA and then wanted to introduce us to their greater community.
So, while I still don't recommend having two development events in the same week, I can also tell you that having two development events in the same week showed me something pretty wonderful: how much our community cares.
The community we build at PCDA supports us, too. It gives us opportunities to find joy, laughter, and even a little thrilling competition together. It brings new people into our circle and strengthens the relationships that make our work possible.
That is the power of relationships. They rarely stay where they begin. They grow outward, connecting people and creating community in ways we couldn't always have planned.
Pickleball for PCDA: Event Recap
On the morning of September 26, PCDA friends and supporters gathered at Sierra Vista Park for a fun morning of pickleball, bringing plenty of energy, enthusiasm, and friendly competition across all three courts!
We were so grateful for the warm welcome from the Sierra Madre community and for the opportunity to meet new friends and neighbors while sharing more about PCDA’s work. At PCDA, relationships are at the heart of what we do. Through relationship-based, developmental services, we support children, teens, and young adults with Autism and developmental disabilities as they build skills, confidence, meaningful relationships, and a stronger sense of belonging.
Events like Pickleball for PCDA give us the chance to bring that mission into the community and connect with people who may be hearing about PCDA for the first time. These in-person connections help build understanding, strengthen local partnerships, and grow a wider circle of support around the individuals and families we serve.
For us, care, connection, and community are closely intertwined. They shape the services we provide every day and the relationships we continue building throughout Pasadena and the greater San Gabriel Valley.
A special thank you to our generous Ace Sponsor, Lusine Interior Design, for their support.
We are also grateful to our Court Sponsors Chang & Lee Law Firm, Handian Construction, The Hummingbird Nest, and UFIT, for helping make this wonderful morning possible. We are so grateful to everyone who joined us on the courts, cheered from the sidelines, and supported PCDA.
At Christie’s Comes to Pasadena, PCDA Executive Director Julie Miller celebrates more than 30 years of connection in Pasadena, sharing how our families, services, and community partnerships continue to shape our work.
PCDA was honored to join honored to join Christie's International Real Estate - Southern California to celebrate the opening of their new office in the heart of Pasadena. PCDA was represented by Executive Director Julie Miller, Board Member Anne Perry, and members of our Development team, who had the opportunity to connect with local businesses and community members while sharing more about our work. Christie’s generously hosted a silent auction during this special event with all proceeds benefitting PCDA.
A particularly meaningful part of the evening came from a PCDA parent, who shared her family’s experience and offered guests a personal window into the impact of PCDA’s services. Through her story, attendees were able to hear firsthand what relationship-based, developmental care can mean for a child and family, and how the support provided at PCDA can extend far beyond a single appointment or program. Her lived experience brought our mission to life in a way that only a family member can, helping guests better understand the care, connection, and sense of belonging at the heart of our work.
We are deeply grateful to Christie’s for creating space for PCDA’s mission to be shared in such a personal way and for including PCDA as the beneficiary of proceeds from the evening. Opportunities like this help us build new relationships throughout Pasadena while introducing more people to the young people and families at the center of everything we do.
Join us on Thursday, October 15 at noon for our next Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) Learning Series meeting!
Albert Feliciano, Analyst and Advocate with the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, will discuss California’s Alternative Diploma Pathway for Students with Disabilities. Learn more about this pathway, what it means for students and families, and the options available as students work toward their educational goals.
The PAC Learning Series takes place every second Thursday of the month and is designed to help PCDA families learn more about important topics, resources, and information that can support them throughout their journey.
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Occupational Therapy student Katie Flores meets with PCDA clinicians Natalie Aguirre and Jessica Hall to plan for upcoming client sessions, reflecting the collaboration, learning, and mentorship at the heart of PCDA’s student experience.
Learning is an important part of the community we build at PCDA, not only for the young people and families we serve, but also for the students and emerging professionals who spend time with our team.
Through partnerships with colleges and universities, students and interns have opportunities to learn alongside experienced PCDA clinicians, gaining hands-on experience with collaborative, multidisciplinary care and PCDA’s relationship-based approach. At the same time, students bring their own perspectives, curiosity, and growing areas of expertise into our programs, creating opportunities for our clinicians to reflect, teach, collaborate, and continue learning alongside them.
These partnerships extend directly into PCDA’s services. Student interns have directly supported programs such as Young Adults and contributed to projects and curriculum designed around the goals and interests of the people we serve. That exchange of knowledge helps prepare the next generation of thoughtful, relationship-centered professionals while enriching the collaborative environment that is central to PCDA.
Below, some of our students and clinicians share what they have learned from one another and what makes these partnerships meaningful.
“My time at PCDA has been filled with so many great experiences and opportunities to grow. From the very beginning, the staff have welcomed me and have been incredibly supportive, creating an environment where I feel comfortable asking questions, making mistakes, and learning from them. I’ve been able to experience a variety of opportunities, work with different populations, and learn from other disciplines while seeing how they collaborate with OT [Occupational Therapy]. I also appreciate and value being given the opportunity to bring my own ideas to sessions and contribute to activities and projects that are meaningful to the people we work with. More than just developing my clinical skills, I’ve learned the importance of building genuine relationships, being flexible, and meeting each person where they are.” — Katie Flores, Occupational Therapy student
“I love being a fieldwork educator and I feel fortunate to support occupational therapy students as they grow throughout their experience. It is especially meaningful to watch their confidence develop, see the genuine connections and shared joy they build with our clients, and see them bring their knowledge, creativity, and ideas together to make a meaningful impact.”
— Natalie Aguirre, MS, OTR/L, SWC
At our September Board of Directors meeting, we celebrated Joseph H. Lee as he concluded his fourth full term on PCDA’s Board, marking more than 12 years of dedicated service to our organization.
Throughout his time on the Board, Joseph brought a unique combination of professional expertise, advocacy, and personal connection to PCDA’s mission. As an attorney, former school administrator, minister, and parent of a son with Autism, his perspective has helped strengthen PCDA’s work on behalf of children and families with developmental disabilities. Joseph also served in an Executive Committee leadership role as Finance Chair, offering thoughtful guidance and stewardship over many years.
We are deeply grateful to Joseph for his leadership, commitment, and the lasting impact of his service to the PCDA community.
Monthly giving is one of the simplest ways to make a lasting difference at PCDA. By joining the Circle of Care, your recurring gift helps provide steady support for the programs, services, and resources our families rely on throughout the year.
With gifts starting at just $10 a month, your generosity adds up and helps PCDA continue showing up for our community in meaningful ways.
This month brought so many opportunities to meet new people, welcome new supporters, and share PCDA’s mission throughout the Pasadena community. From community events to new partnerships, we’re grateful for every conversation and every person who took the time to learn more about our work.
If you’re new to PCDA, we invite you to stay involved, learn more, and become part of the village that helps make our work possible.