Welcome to Our New Space!

The Center for Connection (CFC) recently added another office, 1021 E Walnut St., Suite 200, Pasadena, 91106, in order to accommodate our ever-growing staff and better serve our clients. With more space, more equipment, and more therapists come more opportunities, more potential for therapeutic progress, and more collaboration.

The educational therapy team now located at the Walnut office includes two part-time Educational Specialists, Tami Millard and Tiffanie Hoang, who are both seasoned educators working toward completion of requirements to become Educational Therapists, and Debra Hori, who is an experienced full-time Educational Therapist for CFC. In addition, Janel Umfress serves as a consultant to CFC for matters relating to educational therapy, school support, and speech/language pathology. We also have two full-time Occupational Therapists at the Walnut office, Dr. Jamie Chaves, and Justin Waring-Crane. Dr. Chaves has her state certification in feeding and swallowing.

At the center of the new space is our full sensory gym, rich in a variety of climbing components, swings, tactile experiences, chalkboard wall, and ample space to move around. Not to mention it is surrounded by windows to give a gorgeous view of the mountains and abundant natural light. Because the sensory gym serves as the central hub, our educational therapists and speech therapists can utilize the space in order to regulate clients before or during their sessions. This puts clients in a better state of mind for learning, allows them to be open to new challenges, and facilitates improved focus—all of which result in more productive sessions. Our occupational therapists find the new space to be more conducive to a sensory integration approach and the wide assortment of sensory-based activities allows them to tailor a “just right challenge” to children of many abilities and ages. Listed below are several of the most utilized pieces of equipment in our sensory gym and a brief description of how they might be used in therapy.

Full-Sensory Gym

Our full sensory gym is rich in a variety of climbing components, swings, tactile experiences, chalkboard wall, and ample space to move around. Learn more here.

Sensory Gym with log swing

Our full sensory gym is rich in a variety of climbing components, swings, tactile experiences, chalkboard wall, and ample space to move around. Learn more here.

Vaulted Ceilings and Plenty of Sunlight

Log Swing

This padded cylinder (log shaped) swing is hung so that it is parallel to the floor. A child can sit with both legs on one side (like a traditional swing) or with one leg on either side to further engage core and back muscles that are so important for posture. Or for a different challenge he can stand atop the swing or hang upside-down like a koala bear. When sitting, he must coordinate how to pull on the ropes and shift his body position in order to propel the swing forward and backward. This swing can also act as an obstacle that needs to be dodged during an obstacle course, for example. A child would need to plan how and when to move his body to avoid being touched by the swing as it is in motion. 

Vestibular Dome

Vestibular dome: This large, cushioned dome provides an unstable surface on which to practice balancing activities, helps a child feel where her body is in space, and facilitates the development of coordination. It can be used by itself, while playing catch, or as a part of an obstacle course. Think therapeutic American Ninja Warrior with kids!

Vibration board

When you sit or stand on this device, it vibrates back and forth at a designated level to provide an intense amount of vestibular and proprioceptive input. As a result, children gain better postural stability, balance, body awareness, self-regulation, and activation of the auditory system. The possibilities are endless for different types of activities you can do while using this: playing catch, playing zoom ball, blowing bubbles, exploring whistles, solving puzzles, to name a few.

Quiet Room

Nice Views

Activity Room

Platform swing

This square platform swing can be used in a variety of ways to provide a child with calming or alerting sensations. Aside from swinging side to side, the swing can also be spun rapidly like a merry go round or swung in an orbit (the way planets orbit the sun). A child can lie on her tummy, lie on her side, stand up, sit down, or kneel for different levels of difficulty while completing activities that require her body to integrate information from several sensory systems. 

In addition, the Walnut space is equipped with a full kitchen that has ample space for feeding therapy. Kids can engage in making new food creations, constructing food houses and food faces, or simply having a picnic. The kitchen is quiet and exclusive so children can remain regulated and feel in control as they explore the world of new tastes, temperatures, and textures. 

Please stop by to see our new office!