SUMMER 2024 NEWSLETTER
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TCFD: A Month of Discovery Dear Friends, What an inspirational summer it was! We celebrated one of our favorite seasons with limitless outdoor adventures, showcased our dairy goats and won big at an annual fair, highlighted our transformative food and farming program in the news, shared our best practices near and far, welcomed new board members, and continued making an impact on so many individuals here at The Center. And just like that, we’re gearing up to welcome another new season. Before we do, read our Summer 2024 Newsletter for updates on all-things TCFD. |
The Center for Discovery Announces Five New Board Members
The Center for Discovery announced that five new members have been elected to its Board of Directors. Mimi Clarke Corcoran, Former Executive Director of the Child Mind Institute; Lon Dolber, Founder & Former CEO of American Portfolios; Ari Greenburg, President of WME; Brian Harper, Founder and Managing Partner of 11North and Former Chairman of the Board of Autism Speaks; and Veronica Sullivan, SVP and Head of Global Production External Affairs and State & Local Government at NBCUniversal, were all elected by unanimous vote. Their appointments are effective immediately.
Read more via the full press release.
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The Center’s Healing Power of Food Featured in Local Press Coverage Cesare Casella, Chief of our Department of Nourishment Arts® (DNA) shares in a Sullivan County newspaper how the DNA program is helping to heal and nourish the individuals in The Center’s care. Cesare “has crafted a program that involves residents in every stage of food production—from planting seeds to preparing meals, and ultimately, enjoying the fruits of their labor.” “We’re not just feeding people; we’re nourishing them,” Casella explains, emphasizing the holistic approach that defines DNA. With an impressive background including a Michelin star and a number of highly acclaimed restaurants, Cesare is helping to transform so many lives. According to him, this is the most special part of his career. Read the full article in the Sullivan County Democrat here. |
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Sharing our Best Practices Broadly We’re thrilled to share The Center for Discovery’s proposal to provide “Professional Development Services for School Districts Educating Students with Autism” was accepted by the Newburgh Enlarged City School District (NECSD) Board of Education! NECSD operates seven elementary schools, two middle school buildings, two K-8 buildings and a comprehensive high school with extended programs across four different buildings. The student population is approximately 11,800. Through this partnership, TCFD professionals will collaborate with NECSD Exceptional Learners Division Leadership to plan, create, and implement a professional development pathway for NECSD educators specific to each of their roles in educational programming for district students with Autism. “The Center has been proud to build our best practices through decades of experience and research, and we are thrilled to share this expertise more broadly with the Newburgh Enlarged City School District,” said President & CEO of TCFD, Dr. Terry Hamlin. “This partnership with Newburgh Enlarged City School District exemplifies our commitment to helping a growing network of communities embrace the life-changing goals our educational, clinical, and support teams strive towards every day. This relationship not only helps expand our services, but will support so many more students, staff, and families in achieving success,” said Keith Rico, Chief of Training and Program Development at TCFD. |
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SUNY Chancellor John King Tours TCFD We were thrilled to have had SUNY Chancellor, John B. King and his team visit The Center. It was an incredible visit highlighting our proactive and preventive model of health and education, research opportunities, partnerships with local school districts to support student outcomes, and ways to collaborate on staffing. During the visit, we were also thrilled to share the vision of our upcoming Children’s Specialty Hospital as a teaching hospital and school for nurses, teachers, clinicians, and other educators. |
TCFD’s 2023 Annual Report is Out!
Have you had a chance to read through our new Annual Report? It’s the must-read publication of the year – for TCFD and all those interested in our work! Check our annual highlights, incredible stories of teamwork and collaboration, research highlights, and so much more.
Everyone here at TCFD should be proud of the outstanding work and accomplishments made each day.
Read it here.
TCFD’s Research Partner Receives Thrasher Early Career Award
Congratulations to TCFD’s research partner, Yashar Kiarashi, Ph.D., a Post-Doctoral Fellow in the Department of Biomedical Informatics in the School of Medicine at Emory University for receiving the Thrasher Early Career Award. This award was granted to Dr. Kiarashi for his work and research on individuals with profound autism, as part of a collaboration between The Center for Discovery and the Clifford Lab, of which Dr. Kiarashi is a part. The work leverages unique data to develop preliminary AI models to predict ASD-related high-risk behaviors and medical events, such as self-injury and seizures, through innovative off-body sleep sensing and medical record mining.
Congratulations again for receiving an incredible award that highlights the development of research in child health! Our Chief of Psychology, Johanna Lantz, and other TCFD researchers are proud to be mentors in advancing Kiarashi’s work.
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Unleashing a Community’s Super Power Much has been said about the incredibly moving moment between a father, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and his son, Gus at the Democratic National Convention in late August. The father-son embrace has sparked a nationwide conversation that has shed new light on people with disabilities for the unique and individual differences of our community. In response to that moment, TCFD President & CEO, Dr. Terry Hamlin, shares that “there is more we can do to educate those outside the disability community, starting with advocacy and open conversation.” |
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Making an IMPACT at TCFD The Center for Discovery has a strong tradition of offering valuable opportunities for our staff members’ teenagers. Building on the success of previous programs like ACT, TAZ, and Dig It, we were excited to introduce this summer’s IMPACT program. IMPACT—short for Immersive Mentorship Program And Collaboration For Teens—was developed based on feedback from past participants about what they found most meaningful and helpful in preparing for their futures. This summer, IMPACT included a character-building program for 14 and 15 year olds, offering them a diverse range of activities across TCFD. Participants explored various programs, from spending a day going from Seed to Belly® with the DNA® team, meeting goats at Sweet Hill Farm, relaxing in a Sound Healing session, to taking part in a sound effects project with the music therapy team. They enjoyed a ZUMBA session with the dance department, kayaked with the recreation team, got creative at our Innovation Labs, and participated in a photography class with SOAP office photographer, Jesse Wall. Special thanks to Lindsey Parks, a recreation specialist on the HARP team, for expertly coordinating this program. Additionally, we offered a paid mentorship program for 16 and 17 year olds, where they worked up to 18 hours per week in various TCFD departments, including the Discovery Health Clinic, Adapted Physical Education, Recreation, Finance, the Wild Turkey Bakery and with the DNA team at the Farmacy. This experience allowed participants to explore areas of interest, with at least one discovering a future career goal. |
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Another Summer Partnering with Cornell University Cornell University students Jenna Cho and Frannie Castellano spent the summer assisting with a research project funded by the REI Cooperative Action Fund. The REI Fund’s Centering Health Outside initiative aims to “invest in, strengthen, and amplify scientific research that demonstrates time outside improves mental, physical, and emotional health, as well as resilience for people and communities.” In our research study, which is a collaboration between TCFD and Cornell researchers Dr. Nancy Wells and Dr. Timothy Mateer, we are investigating the impacts of outdoor vs. indoor exercise on behaviors and attention during instruction. We are also interested in seeing if the amount of movement varies across conditions using accelerometers worn around the waist. This summer, Frannie and Jenna were responsible for setting up cameras to record the lessons, ensuring the students were wearing the accelerometers, and then transferring the de-identified data to a Cornell digital platform. Once back at Cornell, Frannie and Jenna will work alongside other Cornell interns and Dr. Mateer to extract and analyze the data. TCFD behavior analyst Ryan Lay provided on-site guidance for Jenna and Frannie. A special thanks is in order for Deven Zehorsky and Chris Patete for welcoming Jenna and Frannie into their classrooms and being flexible with their schedules. Additional classrooms will have the opportunity to participate next summer. Minji Kim and Mariana Gianulis joined the Department of Nourishment Arts (DNA) from Cornell this summer for internships in Precision Nutrition and Nutrition and Health respectively. Together they did recipe testing for updates to our YUM Book for high calorie/high protein snacks, prepared recipes and samples for our CSA pick up, taught nutrition and cooking classes to our summer camp kids, and worked with the farmers to harvest summer crops. For Minji’s main project, she focused on a directed chart review, looking at tube fed residents who transitioned to an allergen free, plant based formula. She compared data at 3 months pre and post the switch including anthropometrics, labs, and GI data to try to determine what if any changes had occurred. Mariana’s main project was to revamp our DNA introductory presentation for new employee orientation to include updated research on ultra-processed foods and their effect on weight, chronic disease, and behavior. She then presented the revised presentation to our latest class of new employees. |
Understanding and Embracing Neurodiversity in Education: Building Inclusive Communities
TCFD’s Director of Community Services, Pediatric Education, Rebecca Acampora, recently presented a training to the faculty of SUNY Sullivan titled “Understanding and Embracing Neurodiversity in Education: Building Inclusive Communities.” This training opportunity was conducted through The Center’s ATLAS program.
The session provided college faculty with a comprehensive overview of neurodiversity and its implications for higher education. The presentation began with a clear definition of neurodiversity, highlighting the growing number of neurodivergent students in college classrooms. It explored how neurodiverse conditions such as Autism, ADHD, and dyslexia (to name a few) can impact both learning and social interactions, emphasizing the need for adaptive teaching methods. We discussed the challenges associated with social stigma and sensory sensitivities, and outlined effective support systems to aid in the success of their neurodivergent students. A key component of the training was offering practical strategies for creating inclusive learning environments. By equipping faculty with these insights and tools, the training aimed to foster a more understanding and supportive educational community, ultimately enhancing the academic experience for all students.
According to several faculty at SUNY Sullivan, Rebecca’s presentation came up as one of the best professional development sessions they have received at the college. Congrats!
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Sweet Hill Wins Big at the Grahamsville Fair! The TCFD crew had quite a triumphant weekend during this year’s Grahamsville Fair! The gentlemen of Sweet Hill entered several items into the open divisions (competing against anyone living in Sullivan County) and we can proudly say, they did exceptionally well! Each year, residents at Sweet Hill identify recipes to enter into the open baking division containing products from Sweet Hill Farm. This year, they collectively chose to enter cookies, a quick bread, and muffins. For the third year in a row, they dominated the division with:
The gentlemen then took to showing their beautiful Sweet Hill goats, earning many first-place wins. And finally, the weekend was not over as it was time for the students to participate in the 4-H Show. They garnered many top awards including championships in showmanship, breed classes, and even a Best-in-Show winner! These hard-working individuals then stayed throughout the duration of the fair, caring for the animals, answering the public’s questions, and hosting Milk-a-Goat contests! We ended the weekend with a costume contest that was certainly a crowd favorite! |
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Sail-Ebrating the Good Times! The Impossible Dream Catamaran is once again making the impossible, possible. The Center for Discovery and the Impossible Dream team had another incredible sail along the Hudson River. For those who don’t know, this incredible Catamaran is wheelchair accessible and sails along the East Coast each year. Assistant Chief of Integrated Arts, Jim Cashen said of the outing, “Under glorious blue skies, seven residents accompanied by several fortunate staff journeyed on the boat ride of a lifetime. Each year for the past three years, The Center has been grateful to be a part of a magical Impossible Dream catamaran adventure. This 60 foot boat provided a glorious two hour boating experience for some of TCFD’s most complex residents. Participants fully enjoyed sailing with a gentle breeze on the beautiful river guided by incredibly kind and experienced staff! Truly a day filled with excitement and memories that will last a lifetime.” Thank you, Impossible Dream Catamaran Team – we had the best time! |
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The Thrill of a Lifetime at the NYS Fair! WHAT A DAY. Our Self-Advocacy Group visited the New York State Fair in Syracuse for a day of good old-fashioned fun! Residents rode the swinging chairs, Ferris wheel, and roller coasters, while others made it their mission to see the cows and famous butter sculpture. And one of TCFD’s residents took home so many game prizes that it wouldn’t even fit in his van on the way home. For this, we’re thankful for carpools! One of the highlights was when our beloved Kadeidra texted and said, “Sorry we’re late for the group photo. We’ll be there soon. We are at the top of the Ferris wheel!” |
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Joystick Mods for Power Chair Our Users The Innovation Department connected with a few of our power chair residents that needed their joysticks replaced after significant wear. To bring some fun personalized options to their own individual chairs, the residents were asked what custom shaped joystick each were interested in. Our first two candidates opted for a dinosaur and a skull! If other power chair users who attend The Center are interested in their own joystick mod, submit a work order request and they’ll work together with the therapy team to make sure the request is both safe and able to be tailored to the user’s needs! |
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Peak Summer with the Recreation Therapy Team According to an ancient proverb, the body heals with play, the mind heals with laughter, and the spirit heals with joy. At The Center for Discovery, those who have the opportunity to participate in opportunities with our Recreation Therapy team are experiencing firsthand the joy that comes with each activity. A special shout-out to the Recreation Therapy team at TCFD for providing incredible programming to individuals in our care. This summer was certainly one for the books! From boating and kayaking, to apple picking, concerts, catamaran rides and more – we’ve seen more smiles than ever and we are so grateful for all of the team’s hard work and effort. |
