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CDS Presents the Summer Financial Literacy Series

Posted by & filed under Media.

Contact: Blair Stephenson
(864) 331-1304
blair.stephenson@cdservices.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CDS Presents the Summer Financial Literacy Series

This summer, the Center for Developmental Services (CDS) will be hosting a free 7-week financial literacy course for our staff, families, and friends. Beginning June 24th and continuing every Friday through August 5th, a variety of financial topics will be covered. Each session will last from 4pm-5pm, and childcare will be provided.

Topics to be covered include 401(k) and Retirement Planning, Personal Banking, Managing Debt, Estate Planning, and Family Budgeting in addition to other financial subjects. This series will feature guest speakers from local businesses, including representatives from South State Bank, SANDLAPPER Securities, and Northwestern Mutual.

For the family who attends the most classes in this series, Don Clardy with Northwestern Mutual has donated a iPad to be given away.

The seminar will be held in the 2nd floor conference room at CDS in downtown Greenville. For more information or to sign up, please visit our website at www.cdservices.org/event/summer-financial-literacy-series/.  Seating is limited.  If you have any questions, please contact Dana McConnell at (864) 331-1307 or at dana.mcconnell@cdservices.org.

 

About CDS
CDS is the largest multi-disciplinary treatment facility in the Upstate for children with disabilities and developmental delays. In one location, children receive services in therapy, diagnosis, school placement, day care needs for the medically fragile, and a family support network. The partnership is comprised of Clarity; Family Connection of SC; the Preschool Special Education Program of Greenville County Schools; KidVentures of Thrive Upstate (formerly the Greenville County Disabilities and Special Needs Board); and four programs of the Greenville Health System: Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, Kidnetics, The Wonder Center, and Prosthetics and Orthotics. CDS and its partners serve over 6,000 children and their families each year on property donated by the First Presbyterian Church at 29 North Academy Street in Greenville. For more information about CDS or its partners, visit www.cdservices.org.

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Never Stop Learning

Posted by & filed under CDS.

nonprofit_learning

by Dana McConnell, CDS Executive Director

One of the greatest gifts in life is a good education. A strong foundation of language, math, science, and history is the basis for getting a job, becoming financially independent, and contributing to the community. This gift opens up a world of opportunities and possibilities.

But it shouldn’t stop there. Once in the workforce, professional development courses provide on-going training and fine tuning of soft skills that are needed in everyday life. These courses are often very rewarding, although difficult, because they challenge the way we think, manage, and communicate with others. In a nutshell, they help us to grow.

Over the past few years, CDS has encouraged our employees to participate in personal development opportunities. As our team continues to gain valuable knowledge, we are able to strengthen our overall quality of service to the community, our partners, and the families we serve.

The Upstate is home to some incredible programs, both in the for-profit and the non-profit sectors:

  • Shine the Light offers four half-day leadership development seminars each year to area non-profits and their board members.
  • The Greenville Chamber of Commerce has Leadership Greenville, Friday Forums, Net Night, PULSE, the Non-Profit Alliance, and Intercommunity Leadership Visits, to name just a few.
  • SCANPO organizes a wonderful 3-day conference each year with over 50 breakout sessions ranging from board development to grant writing.
  • The Furman University Riley Institute DLI program invites participants into a dialog about diversity, understanding the root cause of our own biases, and appreciating our differences.
  • The Rotary Club offers an annual seminar on peace and conflict resolution, which is very timely amidst our current political and cultural strife.
  • Ten at the Top provides several forums where our Upstate communities can connect and learn from each other.

Personal development is something we value at CDS. It does require a commitment of company time and resources, but the investment is worth it.  In return, we see increased confidence in the staff, we celebrate each other’s achievements, and we seek more opportunities that challenge us.  This is the power of education. Never stop learning.

2016 Blue Ridge Fest

Posted by & filed under Media.

Contact: Blair Stephenson
(864) 331-1304
blair.stephenson@cdservices.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CDS a Beneficiary at the 2016 Blue Ridge Fest

The 19th annual Blue Ridge Fest is right around the corner, and CDS is excited to be part of the fun this year! The Center for Developmental Services (CDS) is one of twelve upstate charities that were selected as this year’s beneficiaries. Everyone is invited to this family-friendly night of classic cars, beach music, and dancing on Friday, May 6th from 6-10:30pm at the Blue Ridge Electric Co-Op on 734 W. Main Street in Pickens, SC.

Classic cars from all eras will be on show, and the entertainment will feature artists such as Jay and the Americans, Jimmy Beaumont and The Skyliners, and Jim Quick & Coastline. Food and nonalcoholic beverages will be available for sale. Parking is free, and all events will be held rain or shine.

For more information or to purchase tickets in advance, please check out the 2016 Blue Ridge Fest website at http://www.blueridge.coop/blueridgefest/.

About CDS
CDS is the largest multi-disciplinary treatment facility in the Upstate for children with disabilities and developmental delays. In one location, children receive services in therapy, diagnosis, school placement, day care needs for the medically fragile, and a family support network. The partnership is comprised of Clarity; Family Connection of SC; the Preschool Special Education Program of Greenville County Schools; KidVentures of Thrive Upstate (formerly the Greenville County Disabilities and Special Needs Board); and four programs of the Greenville Health System: Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, Kidnetics, The Wonder Center, and Prosthetics and Orthotics. CDS and its partners serve over 6,000 children and their families each year on property donated by the First Presbyterian Church at 29 North Academy Street in Greenville. For more information about CDS or its partners, visit www.cdservices.org.

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CDS Welcomes Two New Board Members

Posted by & filed under Media.

Contact:  Blair Stephenson, Business Office Associate
(864) 331-1304
blair.stephenson@cdservices.org

For Immediate Release

CDS Welcomes Two New Board Members

The Center for Developmental Services (CDS) is pleased to announce the selection of two new members to their Board of Directors.

Brian_Stewart

Brian Stewart is the Missions and Outreach Pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Greenville. Originally from Greensboro, NC, Brian has been with First Presbyterian for seven years and will be instrumental as the liaison between the church and CDS.

Joe_Pazdan

Joe Pazdan is a partner with McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture and Planning firm.  A Greenville native, Joe graduated from Clemson University with a degree in architecture before helping to establish his current company in 1993.  He is active in the community and has been involved in numerous Greenville initiatives.

CDS is honored to welcome these outstanding community leaders as they commit their invaluable time and talent to supporting individuals with developmental needs and their families.

About CDS

CDS is the largest multi-disciplinary treatment facility in the Upstate for children with disabilities and developmental delays.  In one location, children receive services in therapy, diagnosis, school placement, day care needs for the medically fragile, and a family support network.  The partnership is comprised of Clarity; Family Connection of SC; the Preschool Special Education Program of Greenville County Schools; KidVentures of Thrive Upstate (formerly the Greenville County Disabilities and Special Needs Board); and four programs of the Greenville Health System: Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, Kidnetics, The Wonder Center, and Prosthetics and Orthotics. CDS and its partners serve over 6,000 children and their families each year on property donated by the First Presbyterian Church at 29 North Academy Street in Greenville. For more information about CDS or its partners, visit www.cdservices.org.

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Volunteering at CDS

Posted by & filed under CDS.

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by Dana McConnell, CDS Executive Director

Volunteering is a wonderful way to connect with your community.  It allows you to live your passion while making a difference in the causes that matter to you most.

Here at CDS, we have numerous ways that students and adults can volunteer their time with us.  Depending on your time commitment, interest, and level of ability, you can do face painting or arts & crafts with children in the lobby or sign up on a weekly basis with a recurring project, like organizing our library.

Volunteering can be an individual passion or a group project.  Some individuals share their talents by playing guitar, reading aloud, or representing Disney characters.  We also host several groups each year that do outside maintenance projects or help with special community events.

Last year, 291 volunteers donated 929 hours of their time with CDS.  That’s a value of $18,580 to the organization and represents significant savings to the community.  With your volunteer hours, more of our dollars can go directly into programs that benefit our children and families with disabilities and developmental delays.

So where could you go to find out more information?  Great question!  CDS has a volunteer page on our website at www.cdservices.org/get-involved/.  In addition, we often post projects on the United Way’s Hands on Greenville website at www.handsongreenville.org/agency/detail/?agency_id=44967.  But for more immediate and tailored volunteer needs that match your specific skills and time availability, you could call our Volunteer Coordinator, Andrea Christy, at 864-331-1318.  She’ll let you know what we have coming up that needs your help the most.

I challenge each of you to live out your passion, get involved in your community, and make a difference today.

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Comfortably Seated

Posted by & filed under CDS.

 

Alvarez Family_Landscape1

by Dana McConnell, CDS Executive Director
Photo credit:  Better Tie Productions

CDS is a place where over 6,000 children with disabilities or developmental delays come for therapy, diagnosis, and family support.  Each family has an incredible story.  Some of the children have overcome great odds already in their young lives; others have become more confident in themselves and their abilities.  And many are hitting milestones their parents were told to give up on.

One incredible story is the Alvarez family who chose to move to Greenville because of the services available for their youngest child, Emily.  Their journey has caught the attention of film producers who plan to bring their story to life in the form of a major motion picture titled Comfortably Seated.

As a child with disabilities himself, Ruben Alvarez knew firsthand the difficulties his daughter would face growing up.   His comical take on life is both inspirational and refreshing.  Ruben is now active in the Greenville community and is often a featured guest at speaking engagements, TEDx events, or in civic and church group gatherings.

The movie teaser is already available for viewing on You Tube.

We’re grateful for the part that CDS has been able to play in the Alvarez family’s needs. You can learn more and get involved at http://comfortablyseated.com/.

What I Learned During a Tour

Posted by & filed under Guest Blog.

by Elizabeth Fields, a student at Bob Jones University

The Center for Developmental Services (CDS) gives frequent tours to the community.  Some are scheduled group tours, and others are given impromptu as often as needed.  Recently, one of their group tours was scheduled through my Early Childhood Education class at Bob Jones University, and I had the opportunity to see this organization first hand.  Afterwards, each student was challenged to describe three things we learned or understood better as a result of the field trip, and I chose to share my answers on this blog.

Overall, I was very impressed by CDS. I thought it was interesting to see how many different services they offer and the variety of disabilities that are represented there. Another interesting aspect of the center was that they are not only focused on helping the child, but the whole family as well.

1.  As far as what I learned, I now understand how a child’s disability majorly affects the entire family. I’ve always known how hard it is to have a child with a disability, but I never fully understood the amount of pressure and stress that really goes on until watching the video at the center.

2.  I understand better how many different disabilities there are and how they each require different treatments, training, or therapy. It was interesting to walk around the center and see the various rooms, machines, and tools that are used to help the children.

3.  I also learned that a disability does not define the child.  Rather, the child defines their disability. While watching the video, it was amazing to see how the parents would not change anything about their child. They recognized the positive impact their child has had on their lives.

Learn. Grow. Thrive

Posted by & filed under CDS.

 

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by Dana McConnell, CDS Executive Director

Our lobby is the hub of over 30,000 family visits each year (that’s almost 120 visits per day!). Some of our families may only visit a few times a year for an evaluation, diagnosis, or follow up. But most of the time, families come in on a weekly basis for therapy. These are the children we have the privilege to watch as they grow, develop skills, and reach milestones.

I became especially close to three families recently who were willing to share their stories. It was not just their stories, though, that inspired me. It was their children who, no matter what obstacles were in front of them, found a way to communicate with me and warm my heart.

Hannah was diagnosed with Prader-Willi syndrome which gives her a constant sense of hunger. Although this condition can be life threatening, she has the biggest smile and radiates friendship and acceptance, whether you’ve known her your entire life or just a few minutes. After several months of visiting with her family, we both attended the same community event. Hannah recognized me from across the room and ran up to give me the biggest hug! I may have been in a crowded room of 200 community leaders, but in that moment, she made me feel like the most important one there.

Jax was born with CHARGE syndrome, a condition that causes hearing loss, vision loss, and balance problems which delay his development and communication. Early on, his family taught him sign language to help him communicate. Before he could even walk, Jax knew how to sign every letter in the alphabet. In fact, he was fascinated with anything that had letters: books, magnets, puzzles, you name it. Jax allowed me into his world one day and taught me a few signs. He taught me the sign for “tree”. He saw my name tag and signed my name. He then taught me how to sign his name. At only 3 years old, Jax became my teacher. I just marveled in amazement at his abilities.

Sophia is an active 5 yr old who loves soccer and playing with her brothers. She has Apraxia of speech, which limits her ability to communicate verbally. After talking with her mom, I gave Sophia a few smiles and an exchange of friendly gestures. Before long, Sophia showed me her finger nail polish and we started a conversation as if we were best friends. Now, every time I see my little Sophia, I’m transferred back to my own childhood as we play a hand-clap game of “Miss Mary Mac”.

I invite you to watch these three family stories in our newest video, Learn. Grow. Thrive.

Impacting Lives

Posted by & filed under CDS.

Kim Perez - cropped

by Kim Perez, CDS Coordinator of Outreach and Bilingual Services

My journey with CDS started in April of 2015, when I applied for the job of my dreams without realizing it. Walking into CDS for the first time, I instantly felt the happiness. There were children playing, laughing, and enjoying their time in the lobby. The hustle and bustle of my first day now seems like a flash, but I knew from that moment this was where I would enjoy spending my 40 hours a week. The job description let me know I would be attending health fairs, interpreting, and building relationships with my community. However, I was unaware of the impact that CDS makes that would unfold in front of me almost daily.

It was in my third week of work at CDS when I had the pleasure of interpreting for a family with one of our partners, Clarity. This family had driven from Saluda to Greenville to receive services because they did not have a local hearing center with bilingual staff. So, for six years their daughter’s hearing loss had gone undetected. It wasn’t until she was about to be held back a grade that her teacher suggested getting a hearing test.

My first encounter with this little girl was a quiet one. Her parents let me know that she barely ever spoke, and was very shy. She has a pretty significant hearing loss that would need to be corrected with hearing aids. After the hearing evaluation and ear mold impressions, came the chance for her to pick out a pair of hearing aids. She chose the purple pair with glitter! The next step was the waiting period of several weeks for the hearing aids to be ready, and another trip to Greenville. The weeks flew by, and in what seemed like no time I was interpreting for the family again. I was there as her audiologist was programming the hearing aids and explaining to her parents what each part was and how to properly take care of these two new devices that their child would have to wear for the remainder of her life.

Next came the moment of putting in the hearing aids. The change was almost instantaneous. The shy little girl with her head down that barely spoke looked up at all of us talking with the biggest smile on her face. She could hear, and she knew it! I handed her a book with baby animals and she started pointing to each animal and telling me what they were. As we were wrapping up the appointment, she turned around and gave me a hug. It was at this moment that I realized what great changes happen daily here at CDS.

I am not providing prosthetics or orthotics like Equipped for Life, or helping a family with service coordination like KidVentures, but I get to see the gratification that these children have for the services they are receiving. The true difference that it makes within their lives, the need for what it is that each individual at CDS does. It is remarkable, and I am humbled and overjoyed to be a part of this excellent team.