The PRACTICUM at Parkside: Bridging Disciplines for Kids Who Learn Differently

On Monday, September 14, we had the pleasure of opening our red doors to The PRACTICUM, welcoming more than 40 professionals for an evening of conversation, connection, and shared learning.

Psychiatrists, pediatricians, psychologists and neuropsychologists, educators, OTs, SLPs, learning specialists, tutors, BCBAs, education attorneys, parent advocates, and others all came together to talk, listen, and connect with one another. While everyone there shares a mission to help kids thrive, it is rare to find spaces and time when people from many different fields can come together and learn from one another.

There was truly wonderful energy and excitement in the room that evening. Conversations touched on a range of topics related to the work we all care so deeply about: understanding children, supporting families, and finding better ways to bridge disciplines and perspectives.

The PRACTICUM was founded by C. Zoe Cuddy, PsyD, BCBA-D, LBA, and Rachel Fisch-Kaplan, MS, CCC-SLP, as a cross-disciplinary think tank and professional network — bringing together clinicians, educators, and researchers for shared learning, inquiry, and dialogue. Its goal is to strengthen clinical insight, bridge research and practice, and foster collaboration that ultimately benefits the children and families we all serve.

At Parkside, interdisciplinary collaboration has always been at the heart of our work. But we also believe our responsibility extends beyond our red doors. We want Parkside to be a place where professionals from across the broader community can come together and exchange ideas that have the potential to strengthen practice and effect meaningful change for children and families well beyond our school.

We were proud to host The PRACTICUM and to be part of a professional community committed to learning from one another, and doing what we can to make a difference together.