Fall / Winter 2012
TLC Has Moved!
Gazette Recognizes TLC as
“Exceptional Business”
By Kristin Fletcher, Director of Marketing & Communications
Photo: Anthony Castellano, The Gazette
T
here was a newcomer at this year’s fourth annual
Gazette of Politics and Business Exceptional
53 Business Awards. TLC—The Treatment and
Learning Centers was one of a handful of non-profits
to make the list, which recognizes the top 53 businesses in the state.
Judging criteria for this year’s nominees was based on annual revenue
and employee growth, noteworthy innovations, community service
efforts and how the companies weathered the economic downturn
and portrayed themselves as “good places to work.”
The October awards ceremony, held at
the Doubletree Hilton Hotel in Bethesda,
attracted over 320 appreciative attendees
eager to celebrate the accomplishments of
the top 53 companies. Each company was
presented with a “gold record” for “topping
the charts” as one of Maryland’s Top 53 Hits.
TLC debuted at number 31, with Pat Ritter,
Executive Director, accepting the award.
Cheering from the sidelines were Board of
Trustees President Bruce Hunter and TLC
staff Janet-Graves Wright, Rhona Schwartz,
Pat Ritter accepts the TLC
Cathy Burgess and Debbie Ezrin.
PB53 award from Cliff Chiet
of The Gazette
“To make the 53 list is a great accomplishment,” said Cliff Chiet, publisher of The Gazette P&B. “This year’s
list features companies from the State of Maryland that have had success in a wide variety of fields, and each company deserved recognition of their accomplishments.”
continues on page 3 >
Who Will Be Crowned King of Road?
F
ind out who won by visiting www.ttlc.org/race.htm the week
of November 21 to see final race results for our 7th Annual King
of the Road 5K Run! As we go to press, record numbers of
registrants are signing up for this exciting event.
continues on page 6 >
I
n the Spring/Summer 2011 issue of TLC
News, we reported on a new home for
TLC that was under construction. We
moved in June and are now located at
2092 Gaither Road in Rockville, right next
to King Farm. On October 20 th, we were
pleased to officially welcome the public with
our Community Open House. Among our
many honored guests were Ken Reichard,
Special Assistant to Senator Ben Cardin (D,
MD), Karen Kullgren, Constituent Services
Director for Representative Chris Van
Hollen (D, MD), and Montgomery County
Council Member Phil Andrews. Former TLC
Board president Rosemary Colston and her
husband John also dropped by to see our
wonderful new space.
Our new home, designed just for us, is
a bigger, brighter center for the following
TLC programs: outpatient speech and occupational therapy, psychoeducational testing, tutoring and counseling, the Outcomes
Service, the Family Hearing Center and our
administrative, human resources and finance
departments.
All of our services from both of our suites
on Research Boulevard and our tutoring service from Medical Center Drive are now consolidated into one larger space on the first
floor of our new building. Our new location
has easy access to plenty of free parking
and public transportation. Our main phone
and fax numbers
have not changed,
and neither has our
commitment to providing the highest
quality care and service to TLC families.
If you haven’t had
a chance to visit our
new home, please
give us a call or
come by for a tour!
TLC’s new home on Gaither Road
TLC News
TLC—The Treatment and Learning Centers
OFFICERS
Bruce Hunter
President
Community Volunteer
Froma Roth, Ph.D.
Vice President
University of Maryland
James LaGrone
Treasurer
Santos, Postal & Company
Raymond Baldwin
General Counsel
Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Joseph Parlanti
Secretary
Combined Technology Solutions LLC
Patricia A. Ritter, Ph.D.
Executive Director
TRUSTEES
Betty Anne Aschenbach
Kia of Silver Spring
Harinder Bawa
Think Tank, Inc.
John Bogasky
Advancier
Charles Dickerson
PEPCO
Peter Greif, Ph.D.
Community Volunteer
David L. Katz, M.D., J.D.
The Advisory Board Company
William McDonald
GEICO
from the Executive Director
M
y favorite part of the holiday season is long leisurely meals where the world slows down and connecting with family and friends is the only important
event. As we enter the season of thanks and reconnect with
those important to us, I am grateful for all the individuals
who connect with TLC throughout the year. Each person
who receives our services, refers to our organization and
donates time, talent and treasure enriches our lives.
You may not be aware of the many TLC community connections that support
our vision to develop collaborative and advocacy relationships to strengthen the
organization. TLC works with 13 universities to provide internships in various fields
such as speech-language, occupational therapy, special education and social work.
We have collaborative relationships with foundations such as HSC which you will
read about in this newsletter. The Katherine Thomas School enjoys relationships with
Special Olympics of Montgomery County and the Kreeger Museum, which uses
our expertise in training their docents and also provides art programs for our students. We advocate for student internships with local businesses who welcome
and support our students, such as Adventist Health and Long and Foster. We are
members of MANSEF (Maryland Association of Nonpublic Special Education
Facilities), MACS (Maryland Association of Community Services), DCASE
(District of Columbia Association for Special Education) and other groups who
advocate for those we serve at the local and state level. These are just a few of
the connections that not only enhance our services but make TLC strong.
In the words of Helen Keller, “Alone we can do
so little. Together we can do so much.” Thank
you for helping us “do so much” to improve lives
and expand possibilities for those we serve.
Patricia Ritter, Ph.D. – Executive Director
Stephen Orens
Miles & Stockbridge
Melissa Pappas
ATHENA Consulting, LLC
Mary M. Rill
Community Volunteer
J. Richard Ward
Rockville Fuel & Feed
Ryan Wibberley
CIC Wealth Management Group
SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM
Patricia A. Ritter, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Cathleen Burgess
Janet Graves-Wright
Kelly King
Rhona Schwartz
Suellyn Sherwood
TLC News is a biannual publication
of TLC—The Treatment and
Learning Centers.
2092 Gaither Road, Suite 100
Rockville, MD 20850
301.424.5200
Kristin Fletcher
Director of Marketing and
Communications
Debbie Ezrin
Director of Development
©2011, TLC—The Treatment and
Learning Centers.
2 www.ttlc.org
Stay Connected with TLC
T
here are many ways you can connect with TLC to take advantage
of our different programs and events. Here are just a few.
Join the TLC Facebook Community
For the latest news and photos, articles, special announcements and other interesting
stuff, become our Facebook fan. The link is on our website homepage at www.ttlc.org.
Attend a Professional’s Workshop
Each fall and spring we offer a workshop series for broad range of topics that qualify
for childcare continuing education credits. More information is on our website at
www.ttlc.org, or contact Julie Bobrow at [email protected].
Take a Tour
Come and visit our wonderful new home on Gaither Road, our Early Learning Center
childcare and preschool on Dufief Mill Road, or the Katherine Thomas School on Medical
Center Drive. For more information call our main number at 301.424.5200.
Volunteer
We have many volunteer opportunities throughout the year for classroom and therapy
aides as well as at our fundraising events. Contact Tracie Trilling at [email protected].
Send Us Your Email
Help us keep our costs down and get news and information more quickly by receiving
this newsletter and other communications via email. Send your email to our marketing
department at [email protected].
FALL / WINTER 2012
PB 53 Awards Ceremony > continued from page 1
TLC was also profiled in a special section as part of the Friday, October 21, 2011
edition of The Gazette of Politics and Business. Of note were the $300,000 in
scholarships and subsidies we provide each year, our family-friendly work environment, and our most recently added programs — feeding therapy, transition
advocacy, and an autism testing battery for young children.
TLC Welcomes New Board Member Betty Anne Aschenbach
The Family Hearing Center Staff
Since 1961: TLC’s
Family Hearing Center
I
n 1961, TLC, then known as the
Easter Seal Treatment Center of
Montgomery County, established
the first private audiology services in the county for individuals with
hearing loss resulting from disease,
trauma, injury or aging. Today, the
Family Hearing Center serves over
800 individuals annually, from the
youngest newborn needing hearing testing to the oldest senior citizen needing hearing aids. TLC audiologists provide direct services and
an educational program of complimentary screenings, workshops and
seminars to community groups and
organizations throughout the year.
The center’s Help Others Hear
program (see article on page 7) also
raises funds to provide hearing aids
for those that cannot afford them.
“Needless to say, after being told
that nothing could be done for me,
hearing again like a normal person
was a blessing. The audiologists at
TLC are patient, kind and extremely knowledgeable. I highly recommend their services.”
— Mary Jo Simeo
For more information on TLC’s
Family Hearing Center services and the Help Others Hear
program, visit www.ttlc.org.
T
LC welcomes Betty Anne Aschenbach to the Board of
Trustees. Ms. Ashenbach is currently President of Kia
of Silver Spring. She has been working in the local automotive industry since 1983. Ms. Ashenbach served on the
Board of Trustees at the Norwood School in Bethesda,
and on the Board of Directors at Adventist Health Care
in Rockville. The Aschenbach family has a long history of
dedicated support to TLC through their business King
Auto, located in Rockville. King Auto has been the lead
sponsor for TLC’s King of the Road 5K Run since its inception seven years ago, including the upcoming November 20, 2011 race. Lois
Aschenbach, Betty Anne’s mother, was also a TLC board member.
“I look forward to joining the board at TLC. I really love the work they do to
provide children the opportunity to grow and learn in an environment that is
uniquely supportive of their needs,” said Betty Anne.
New TLC Holiday Shopping Guide
for fun & educational toys, visit www.ttlc.org  
Gifts for Growth
Holiday Shopping With Development in Mind
By the Outpatient Speech-Language Pathologists and Occupational Therapists at TLC
Excerpt Washington Parent / Dec. 2011
F
inding the perfect gift for the child in your life
does not have to be difficult. There are many
toys and games that are educational and address a child’s development of fine motor, gross
motor, visual, sensory, speech-language and social interaction skills.
Most children develop these skills as a result of
typical childhood play and interaction with peers
and family. Others may need skill development
with the help of a trained therapist. Because a
Meridith and Noah enjoy a game
of Hi Ho! Cherry O
child learns through exploration and play, pediatric speech and occupational therapists incorporate toys, books and games into
therapeutic activities to facilitate a child’s development in the following areas:
Fine motor
Sensory Processing
Speech-Language
Gross motor Social Interaction
Visual Perception
To find out more and read the full article, visit
www.washingtonparent.com after December 1.
TLC has also produced a Holiday Shopping Guide
available at www.ttlc.org.
301.424.5200 3
TLC News
news from the Katherine Thomas School
A Note from
Cathy Burgess
A
s I look around me
this weekend at the
brilliance of the changing colors and feel the
touch of warmth that
the fall light brings, I am
reminded that change brings new challenges, but also
the pleasures of new beginnings. Settling into my new
position as Director of the Katherine Thomas Lower/
Middle School and my new home in Gaithersburg, MD,
has afforded me with both opportunities and this fall,
I am happy and excited about all the gifts this season
has offered me both personally and professionally.
Blessed with an extraordinary staff devoted to our
incredible students, not even the threat of earthquakes, hurricanes or tornadoes could alter our
commitment to providing quality education for our
children. Welcoming back both old and new students,
we began our year invested in our SAALT initiative.
This year we will further enhance our teaching with
a focus on Strategies, Accommodations, Advocacy
and Learning Techniques that will allow each student
to reach their greatest potential for learning. Utilizing
the power of visual, auditory, tactile and technological accommodations, each student is provided the
necessary tools to achieve, and as I observe our
classrooms daily, I witness the magic of success that
abounds in each new lesson.
Kind, Thinking Scholars are empowered at KTS, as
reflected by our most recent Silver Award for our successful use of our Positive Behavioral Support System.
Catching kindness, good behavior and achievement
in academics with positive reinforcement enhances
skills for lifelong learning and is rewarded in fun filled
activities at the end of each month. We are proud
and honored to be selected out of 43 other Maryland
schools for this award!
Yes, the change of seasons brings a sense of renewal and belief that each new time in our lives allows
us to capture the unique gifts that life has to offer.
The patience, kindness and care of staff, students
and families has helped make this transition for me a
wonderful gift, and I look forward with great anticipation to the months ahead!
4 www.ttlc.org
I
KTS Wins
Silver & Bronze Awards
for “Positive Behavior”
n September, teachers from the Katherine Thomas
Lower/Middle School and High School attended the
PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention System) Special
Schools Returning Team Training at Turf Valley in Howard
County. Matthew Vadney and Dustin Hartwigsen accepted special recognitions for how effectively KTS had
introduced and implemented PBIS in our school.
In a statewide group of 417 participating schools, our
high school won a “Bronze” banner for their successful
implementation of the program that seeks to use only
positive reinforcers and motivators to create a positive
environment for students to be successful. The lower/
middle school received a “Silver” banner for effective implementation of the program, including adding a CICO,
tier two approach. CICO stands for “Check in, Check
Out,” which provides students with more structure and
individual support throughout the day, enabling them to
be more successful in their classes.
“These banners were awarded because the Katherine
Thomas School met a lengthy set of criteria in proving that
we had implemented the PBIS program with fidelity, a testament to our staff,” said Sally Neuberger, who was instrumental in developing the program. The criteria included
creating token economies, setting school-wide, positively
stated behavior expectations for providing rewards both
for individuals and groups, and for tracking student behavior and building a database
of information.
The Maryland State Department of Education,
which has been promoting
PBIS, visited KTS last spring.
They interviewed both staff
and students, inquiring as
to how well people knew
the school-wide expectations, how behaviors should
be handled, how students’
positive efforts should be
rewarded and recognized,
and whether data was effectively used to shape staff
responses to school-wide
and individual challenges.
FALL / WINTER 2012
I
s your son or daughter soon to graduate? Sign up for the KTS alumni listserv!
The goal for this Yahoo group is to be responsive to KTS alumni interests and
encourage parents to stay in the network after graduation. The listserv is currently limited to KTS alumni, KTHS seniors, and KTS staff. If your child attended any
KTS program for as little as one year, you are eligible to join. The listserv address
is: [email protected]. You can join by sending an email to [email protected] or join via the Yahoo site at www.yahoo.com.
Staff and Students Shine in Baltimore: KTS at MANSEF
A
LL KTS staff attended the MANSEF 2011 Conference in Baltimore, MD in November. MANSEF
(Maryland Association of Nonpublic Special
Education Facilities) currently represents 99 schools
serving over 4,000 children and youth with disabilities
in Maryland. At the conference, held every three years, professionals and
parents enjoy opportunities for training and networking with colleagues in
the field as well as with other parents.
KTS staff presented three workshops at the conference. Sally Neuberger
presented “I’m Not Worried – Ok, Maybe I Am…A Little,” describing techniques for helping anxious students including accommodations and coping
strategies for optimizing school success. Aaron Stone and Rhona Schwartz
presented “Lights, Camera, Summarize,” talking about how to incorporate
tableaus into summarizing skills for narrative texts in the classroom. Ria
Mahendrepersad presented “Teaching a Foreign Language to Students
with a Learning Disability,” where helpful techniques to motivate students
learning basic Spanish based on real life situations were discussed.
Students are also an important part of the conference. A wide selection
of KTS student artwork was on display at the MANSEF Art Show from the
lower/middle school and the high school. Congratulations to KTHS 2011
graduate Gabby Wallace, whose artwork was selected for the online version of the conference program cover!
KTHS 2011 graduate Gabby Wallace’s artwork
graced the cover of the MANSEF digital program
KTS artwork on display at
the MANSEF Art Show
301.424.5200 5
TLC News
Development Digest
By Debbie Ezrin / Director of Development
King of the Road 5K Run!
> continued from page 1
Our fast course begins and ends at TLC’s Katherine Thomas
School and winds through the Shady Grove Life Science
Campus. Cash prizes will be awarded to top finishers, and
other prizes will be given to top age bracket finishers.
5K a bit too far? O
ur 1-mile fun run is perfect for casual
runners and walkers who still want
to participate.
As always, the Montgomery County Road Runners
Club will provide technical support for our
USATF certified race by
providing chip timing
and managing the start
and finish lines.
Plan on staying after
the race to enjoy our merchant expo with great food
and giveaways from our spon-
sors. Runners and volunteers will have the chance to win
great raffle prizes provided by local merchants.
With your participation and our generous sponsors’ support, we hope to reach our goal of raising $30,000. This
year’s event promises to be one of the biggest and best
yet so don’t foget to visit our website at www.ttlc.org/
race.htm to find out this year’s winners!
We thank our generous sponsors for their outstanding
support of this year’s race:
Title Sponsor — $6,000
King Automotive
Prince Level Sponsors — $1,000
Avenue Wealth
Giant Food
Shady Grove Orthopaedic Associates
Duke Level Sponsors — $500
Adventist Health CareMusic Therapy 4U
Fleet Feet GaithersburgThe Orthopaedic Center
Limbach, Inc.
Radiant Blue Technologies
Prince Level Sponsors — $250
Athena Consulting
Bark!
Cava Mezze
Fitness First
Schrier Physical Therapy
Potomac Pizza
TLC Joins National Youth Transitions Collaborative
T
LC values its longstanding partnership with The HSC Foundation (HSC). Our organizations share a mutual commitment to serving individuals with disabilities including youth in transition. The transition years, when young adults
leave the school system and move on to post-secondary education and/or employment, are especially critical for
individuals with disabilities. Throughout their school years, they had supports in place to help them succeed. But these
supports may not always be readily available beyond school, yet they still need guidance to achieve their goals.
In response to these needs, HSC built the National Youth Transitions Center (NYTC) in Washington, DC to house resources and develop programming to support young people and returning veterans with disabilities as they enter the
world of work and independence. On October 26, 2011, TLC joined federal
and local officials for a ribbon cutting ceremony to formally dedicate this
exciting new facility. “We were honored to be part of the ceremony and
join with our friends and colleagues in support of this new center,” said
Pat Ritter, Executive Director of TLC.
To support the facility, HSC created a National Youth Transitions
Collaborative and invited TLC to be one of the 35 members. The collaborative will provide guidance for the NYTC and collectively the members
will offer a range of programs and services to help young people and returning veterans with disabilities build paths to independence. From offering career counseling to hosting regular speakers, the facility will house a
wealth of resources for the disability community, all under one roof.
Rhona Schwartz, director of TLC’s Katherine Thomas High School, has
seen several graduates benefit from HSC Foundation’s LEAP (Life Enrichment Awards Program) grants and is eager for students to learn about the
opportunities the new center will bring. John Raymer, director of TLC’s
Outcomes Service which provides job coaching and placement for young
adults, noted that “It is an extraordinary opportunity for like minded
organizations to grow stronger together.”
The new National Youth Transitions Center in
Washington, DC
6 www.ttlc.org
FALL / WINTER 2012
Change Someone’s Life Today: Help Others Hear
The Simeo Family
Challenges of Hearing Loss:
My Family’s Story
R
ecently I took a trip with my
family for my parent’s 60 th
anniversary. Both of my parents
have hearing loss, so I suspect
if genetics have their way I will
be a TLC Family Hearing Center
patient sometime in the future.
As we enjoyed many long leisurely meals in restaurants sharing
stories, and taking tours, there
were always hearing challenges. I could not help but think of
how much my parents would have
missed had they not had good
hearing aids. Hearing aids are their
lifeline to the world.
My mother has been wearing hearing aids for 17 years, and was told
at one point when her hearing was
getting worse that nothing could
be done and no hearing aids would
help. Luckily she decided to give
TLC a try, and discovered that in
fact, there were newer hearing aids
that could help her hear again more
like a normal person. Yet many individuals will never know what it is
like to hear again because they cannot afford hearing aids. They live
in isolation from family and friends.
Our Help Others Hear program was
created for these individuals.
Please help us to help those
who cannot afford hearing
aids. There is nothing better
than to be able to say, “Yes,
we can help.”
— Pat Ritter (nee Simeo)
Help others hear. That’s what we do every day at TLC’s Family Hearing
Center. But a few years ago, those words took on new meaning. It all began
with an estate gift we received from a patient who passed away and requested that we use her donation to provide hearing aids to people who could
not afford them.
Her generosity prompted us to create the Help Others Hear program in
2008, and since then, we have helped dozens of people in our community
who could not otherwise afford hearing aids. But the need continues to be
overwhelming, and in fact, we currently have four patients on a waiting
list to receive hearing aids.
A single hearing aid costs at least $2,000, which can be unaffordable for
many people in our community. Perhaps you know that Medicare does not
cover the cost of hearing aids and that private insurance companies provide
minimal, if any, reimbursement for hearing aids.
Today, you have the chance to change someone’s life with a generous
tax-deductible donation. People like Queenie, a woman who lost her job
as a result of the economy and eventually became homeless. She then
accidentally lost her two hearing aids, making it impossible to get a job.
Queenie’s new hearing aids have
enabled her to get two part time
jobs and restored her dignity as she
strives to find permanent housing.
As you consider your ability to
support Help Others Hear, we are
excited to tell you that our friends
at the Trawick Foundation and the
Evans family want to help us reach
our goal of raising $30,000 to give
12 more people the gift of hearing.
The Trawick Foundation and the
Evans Family have issued a challenge grant and will match every dollar you
give to Help Others Hear up to $15,000. That means if you donate $25,
Help Others Hear will get $50. And if you donate $100, Help Others Hear
gets $200!
During this season of giving, please consider the gift of hearing for someone in our community and know that 100% of your donation will be used to
purchase hearing aids and provide related follow up care.
You can give today with a credit card at www.ttlc.org/donate.asp or with a
check made out to TLC’s Family Hearing Center and return it in the enclosed
envelope. Thank you in advance for your support and commitment to
“Help Others Hear” in our community.
— Susan Yaffe-Oziel, Director, The Family Hearing Center
“Thank you so much for changing my life! Thanks to the Helping Others
Hear program I got new hearing aids and I love them! The best part
about them is that they don’t hurt when there’s loud noise, and they’re
so small and barley noticeable! I wear them all the time and I’m hearing
new sounds like conversations behind me, birds chirping, and people
across the street talking! It’s amazing! I want to thank TLC and its kind
donors who gave the money for my new hearing aids! It made a big difference in my life and I LOVE hearing!”
Sincerely, Jessica
301.424.5200 7
Non-Profit Org.
PAID
Rockville, MD
Permit No.68
2092 Gaither Road, Suite 100
Rockville, MD 20850
301.424.5200 | www.ttlc.org
Change someone’s life today...
!
sity
ro
During this season of giving, please consider the gift
of hearing for someone in our community and know
that 100% of your donation will be used to purchase
hearing aids and provide related follow up care
through our Help Others Hear program.
Tha
nk
Help Others Hear
r your ge
o
f
u
ne
o
y
We currently have four patients on a waiting list to
receive hearing aids. Please make your check payable
TLC’s Family Hearing Center — a return envelope as
been enclosed for your convenience. Or you can
put your gift to work faster by donating online at
www.ttlc.org/donate.asp.
TLC NEWS is a biannual publication of TLC—The Treatment and Learning Centers