Professional Child Development Associates (PCDA)

Child development therapies and groups

Up to age 21

Professional Child Development Associates is a nonprofit child development center at 118 South Oak Knoll Avenue in Pasadena 91101, serving Los Angeles County youth. Individual therapies include occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, music therapy, and a feeding and nutrition service run by an interdisciplinary team. The center also offers Floortime-based programs: Building Blocks for children from birth to age 3, with in-home and community inclusion support; SEDI for social-emotional development; and Developmental Behavior Consultation. Group programs include individual and group social skills for ages 3 to 12, a choir, a Teen Club and a 24-week program for young adults. The center accepts private pay and regional center funding, and the site says it is inclusive for all families. Services are requested through the inquiry section of the site. The phone number is (626) 793-7350, and the email is pcda@pcdateam.org.

• Occupational therapy, Speech-language pathology, Music therapy, Feeding and nutrition, Floortime and Social skills groups

Occupational, speech, feeding and music therapy

Up to age 21

Relationship-based, multi-disciplinary care for children and young people with autism, developmental differences, and medical or genetic conditions. Individual services include occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, music therapy with board-certified music therapists, and feeding and nutrition support from an interdisciplinary team that includes OTs, SLPs and a registered dietitian for medical, swallowing, sensory or motor-based mealtime difficulties. Floortime (DIR) is central: Building Blocks offers in-home and community-based play-based intervention for ages birth to 3, alongside SEDI and developmental behavior consultation. Clinicians include Anne Davis, MS, CCC-SLP, and Julie Miller, MOT, OTR/L, SWC, both DIR-Expert certified. Listed as a vendor of Eastern LA and Lanterman regional centers. Based at 118 South Oak Knoll, Pasadena.

• Occupational therapy, Speech and language therapy, Feeding and nutrition therapy, Music therapy, Floortime (DIR), Developmental behavior consultation and Child and family counseling
• Anne Davis, MS, CCC-SLP, Julie Miller, MOT, OTR/L, SWC, Natalie Aguirre, MS, OTR/L, SWC, Preetha Sundareswaran, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-CL, Jessica Ibardolaza Hall, MA OTR/L, SWC and Jonae Perez, MPH, RDN
• Insurance: Regional center funded: vendored with a California regional center
• Where care happens: In the family’s home; Out in the community: parks, stores, playdates

• Activities: Occupational therapy, Speech therapy, Feeding therapy, Early intervention and Music & art therapy

Social skills groups and teen programs

Ages 3+

Group services for children and young people with autism and developmental differences. Social Skills groups serve ages 3-12 who have challenges with play, communication or social behavior, with small groups of peers chosen for complementary interests, personalities and social-emotional skills; individual peer pairing is available for children not yet ready for a group. Teen Club meets one night a week in small groups where teens plan and evaluate their own community activities with staff guidance. Young Actors Squad is an improv group for teens, there is a choir led by the Creative Arts team, and a 24-week Young Adults program focuses on jobs and self-sufficiency. Groups run at PCDA in Pasadena.

• Social skills groups, Individual peer pairing, Teen Club, Improv group and Choir
• Jennifer Avendano, BA, Sara Alhadeff, BA and Erika Perez, BA
• Insurance: Regional center funded: vendored with a California regional center
• Where care happens: Out in the community: parks, stores, playdates

Developmental therapy: OT, speech, feeding, Floortime and music therapy

Up to age 21

Relationship-based, multi-disciplinary care for children with autism and other developmental differences, built on the DIR/Floortime model. Services include Building Blocks (play-based developmental intervention for children from birth to 3, in the home and community), Floortime, SEDI social-emotional support, developmental behavior consultation, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, an interdisciplinary feeding and nutrition team with a registered dietitian, music therapy, and child and family counseling. Staff include licensed OTs, ASHA-certified speech-language pathologists and board-certified music therapists. Funded through Lanterman Regional Center vendorization. Office hours are Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm and Saturday 10am to 3pm at 118 S. Oak Knoll in Pasadena.

• Early intervention (birth to 3), DIR/Floortime, Occupational therapy, Speech and language therapy, Feeding and nutrition therapy, Music therapy, Developmental behavior consultation and Child and family counseling
• Julie Miller, MOT, OTR/L, SWC, Anne Davis, MS, CCC-SLP, Natalie Aguirre, MS, OTR/L, SWC, Preetha Sundareswaran, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-CL, Jonae Perez, MPH, RDN, Beatrice (Betina) Shain, MA, LMFT, Elizabeth Carpentier, BA, MT-BC and Tahlia Harbour, BA, MT-BC
• Open Weekdays 8am–5pm; Sat 10am–3pm
• Insurance: Regional center funded: vendored with a California regional center
• Where care happens: In the family’s home; Out in the community: parks, stores, playdates

• Activities: Early intervention, Occupational therapy, Speech therapy, Feeding therapy, Child therapy & counseling and Music & art therapy