Preparing Students For Life!

Paradigm Development Center (PDC) is an affordable education option for families of students with learning disabilities. In addition to daily academics aligned with Texas Education standards, students at PDC engage in workforce & college transition classes, independent living skills, volunteer opportunities, field trips, computer science & robotics, art & nature education, fitness & well-being, and social & emotional awareness activities.

Why is PDC affordable?

PDC offers small student enrollment for real one-on-one assistance and attention. Small student enrollment requires fewer teachers. PDC teachers are able to be more focused on individual students. 

Daily Academics @PDC

PDC curriculum and day-to-day lesson plans align with the Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills (TEKS) standards. PDC employs the learner-centered curriculum design when developing curriculum & lessons. Lessons revolve around student needs, interests, and goals. Students receive one-on-one and group lessons. Student-Teacher ratio is 3:1. To learn more about PDC teachers, click here.

Each student takes grade placement tests. Student education plans are written and parent interviews are required to discuss the plans. Progress reports are sent out at the end of the first semester. End-of-year reports and grades are emailed to parents at the end of the school year.

Preparing for Life After Grade School

Through PDC's Vocation & Independent Life (VIL) program, students engage in work readiness and independent living skills activities. Each year PDC students take a career assessment, practice filling out job applications, engage in brief speech activities, and are asked to think about life as an independent person. Independent skills activities include Money & Consumer Math, phone interactions, how to change a light bulb, hammer a nail, how to shop for groceries, gardening, healthy eating, checking tire pressure, etc.

Office skills & activities such as typing, data entry, and Google applications (G Suite) are also a part of PDC's Vocation & Independent Life (VIL) program.

Computer Science & Robotics

Students enrolled in PDC's academic program engage in computer science & robotics activities and projects. PDC's growing technology program includes Google's Computer Science education platform, a MakerSpace, 3D printer training, and the Mindstorms EV3 robotics education curriculum. Students learn the basics of computer science, develop their own video games, create 3D designs, and build customized robots.

Volunteer Opportunities & Field Trips

Students enrolled in PDC's academic program volunteer at non-profit organizations and businesses in the Houston Metro area. During the 2019-2020 school year, students will volunteer at a resale shop, a kitten rescue, horse ranch, and a grocery store. These opportunities expose students to workplace settings and responsibilities.

Students also enjoy school field trips at least twice a month. During the 2019-2020 school year, students are going hiking, fishing, horse riding, on mock job interviews, to two museums, the Hobby Center, and other places. 

Art & Nature Education

PDC students are introduced and exposed to seven elements of art, drawing, painting on canvas, mixed media projects, and holiday-focused art. At PDC, we believe some of the best learning and awareness of self & others occurs in nature. The nature education program includes lessons on insects, animals, life cycles, plant life, the environment around us, camping skills, and how to stay safe outdoors.

Fitness & Well-Being

Every morning, during Calm & Concentration, students & staff gather in the recreation room on exercise mats and are led into 10-minutes of breathing exercises followed by 10-minutes of Yoga. After lunch, daily, students & staff participate in Yoga, REFIT®, or other physical activities. These exercises & activities help to reduce anxiety, increase attention & concentration, and they assist in bringing minds to a calmer emotional state.

Social & Emotional Awareness

At PDC, students engage in numerous group activities that challenge them to recognize their strengths & weaknesses, understand the importance of social interactions & expectations, and they are provided many opportunities to practice emotion regulation.

Transition Classes 

PDC offers transition classes that focus on preparing students for the workplace, college, and independent living. These classes are open to students not currently enrolled in PDC's 2019-2020 academic program. All students with and without learning disabilities may enroll in the transition classes. Click here for more information.

Afterschool Program

PDC's afterschool Computer Science & Robotics Club meets every Friday. Click here for more information.

Summer Programs

During the Summer months, PDC offers 3-day Computer Science, Robotics, Money Math, and workplace readiness workshops.


Camp Paradigm is PDC's Summer camp. The theme the past two years has been STEAM + Nature Education. During PDC's 2019 STEAM + Nature Summer camp, campers 10-19 years old engaged in group activities focused on awareness of self & others, Technology + Art activities, Lego robotics, recreational activities such as yoga, REFIT®, outdoor activities, games, STEM challenges, and nature-related activities. In addition to these activities, campers also engaged in independent living activities such as automated phone service interactions.

www.paradigmdevelopmentcenter.com

(281) 755-6631

houstonpdc@gmail.com

Why We Do What We Do!

PDC attended the 10th annual camp & resource fair hosted by Ingrid & her team from Mikey's Place.

During the resource fair, I met providers, family members, and parents with similar concerns. One lady, in her 60s, approached our table and asked, "Do you have any programs or activities for my 44-year old autistic daughter?". I perused through the volumes of resources & information that myself & Birgit Fisher post on Houston Autism Resources & Support and I came up with nothing. The lady told me her daughter worked part-time and had a job as a mail sorter prior to that. She also told me that activities and programs for adult autistics were scant. My mind started racing. I realized the lady standing before me could be me in 20 years! My autistic daughter is, currently, 13-years old. She is the reason Mr. Loren Marvin and I founded Paradigm Development Center (PDC).

I locked into this lady's words like my life depended on it. She went on to tell me that things never really got easier, she just got stronger. She grew as her daughter grew from one year to the next. She said that for years she has been connected to the same group of people who also have adult loved ones on the spectrum. I am very thankful to have met her and even more thankful she was so willing to share. It's always productive to gain real insight from people that are experiencing similar life circumstances. This insight is valuable because at Paradigm Development Center (PDC) we understand that this is a long-term educational journey, for our students. A journey that more than likely will not end at 18-years old. We are preparing our students for the 18 to 50 years AFTER they complete the formal education required by the state.

Workplace readiness or college readiness is at the center of our focus. We know that academics alone will not and is not assisting our student population to grow and reach their full potential as independent adults. Did you know that up to 85 percent of college graduates on the autism spectrum are unable to find and maintain stable employment? This article highlights ONE reason.

Each day, at PDC, we focus on academics equally as much as we focus on office skills, workplace or college readiness, social mannerisms, psycho-social management skills, self-awareness, and problem-solving skills. Every lesson and every activity at PDC is not just to educate but also to provide our students with the skills to survive in a society that may not understand them. A society, I might add, that typically doesn't want to understand them.

At PDC, we understand the importance of bringing awareness to others about autism. However, we also understand this is not necessarily an immediate reality that will have positive effects on our students. The bottom line: We teach our students where they are so they can slowly transition into society. Yes, society should be accepting but realistically society is not always accepting. We must accept this fact and move past it by teaching our students how to succeed.

The lady, from the resource fair, shared a reality that all parents of students on the autism spectrum must face. She said, "There is not one day I haven't worried about how my daughter will survive when I die". This reality is the driving force behind everything we do at PDC!


- Maranda Marvin. PDC School Director