December 2025 Newsletter

"The rung of a ladder was never meant to rest upon, but only to hold the man’s one foot long enough to enable him to put the other somewhat higher." ~Thomas Henry Huxley

Maureen Murphy-Fernandez, our Director of Activities Management, and Melanie Bisaha, our Lead Program Coordinator, worked closely with our growing team of 30+ Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) and Activities Professionals, who in turn worked tirelessly with our participants to provide creative and enriching activities. This year, our program enrollment crossed 100 participants.

Our AfterCARE and Saturday programs continued to grow and evolve, and this year we started providing transportation to individuals who live close to the center. The number of participants accessing swim lessons through our partnership with Apex Swim Club, music lessons with Music Mike, and our salon services all grew significantly, and our team stepped up to support the increased interest in these services. The number of participants accessing our meal services (yes, we provide breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack at our program) also increased, and our kitchen staff, led by Lourdes Batista, stepped up to the challenge while working in an upgraded kitchen. Our Occupational Therapy services under OT, Lisa Caruso, continued to grow and benefited participants who received these services. Lisa also started yoga classes for our participants. In January, we introduced Physical Therapy services provided by our PT, Agota Rakozci, who now has a full schedule.

Under the able leadership of Jayshree Krishnaswamy, BCBA, who was recently promoted to Director of Clinical Management, our behavior support services and nursing services, under our Director of Nursing, Mike Smith, RN, continued to provide high-quality behavior support and nursing/medical services to participants. As part of her new responsibilities, Jayshree also took charge of compliance and audit management and made sure that we stayed on top of regulatory requirements—not just doing things right, but doing the right thing every time. Working tirelessly, our Compliance and QA Specialist, Kenny Adeyefa, has raised the standard for our transportation services, reducing delays and solving logistical challenges.

Our best is yet to come all around; however, we continue to make tangible progress, demonstrated by the gratitude and satisfaction expressed by many of the families and by the smiles and joy on the faces of our participants.

On the flip side, our prevocational training efforts and our staff hiring process did not progress as we had hoped. While we will continue to offer a limited amount of prevocational training, our learnings and analysis suggest that we are unlikely to see significant growth in this area in the near future.  On the hiring front, in the fall of 2024, we chose to partner with a temporary employment agency to meet our expanding staffing needs. We soon realized that the partnership was not the right fit, as their values did not fully align with ours. Although it took some time to transition away from this model, we were able to fully conclude the arrangement by February 2025. This experience reinforced for us that, while hiring and developing our own staff requires more time and effort, it ultimately leads to a team that is better aligned with our values and vision.

Armed with the momentum gained from our successes and the lessons learned, we look forward to bigger and better things for Dawn to Dusk.

Wishing you the best for a safe and healthy holiday season.

~ Sesh Subramanian

Life Skills and Growing Independence

Building Independence

November continued the season of celebration with a focus on Thanksgiving, traditions, and fun through hands-on life skills activities. Participants explored table setting in several ways, including learning a simple everyday setup, practicing a more formal arrangement for special occasions, and enjoying a game called “The Mixed Up Table,” where items were placed incorrectly and participants worked together to set everything properly before “serving” a meal. It was wonderful to see participants share their knowledge with one another—demonstrating correct placement of utensils, discussing the direction of the knife, and learning that there are many ways to set a table depending on the occasion. Participants also explored table design by deciding how to arrange settings on both round and rectangular tables, building practical skills that encourage independence and confidence in everyday routines.

Self Expression Through Creativity

Creative Self Expression

As Thanksgiving approached and tables were set for celebration, participants added a special touch by creating festive turkey decorations to enhance the table presentation. After assembling the basic template, creativity took over as feathers, gems, dot markers, and paper accents were used to bring each turkey to life in a unique way. It was a joy to offer choices and watch participants confidently decide how to design their creations, resulting in a beautiful splash of color that made the space feel warm and festive.

Throughout the center, displays from Beads and Buttons, Get Creative, and Artist Study projects showcase participants’ creativity and growing skills as they select materials, follow instructions, and create patterns through hands-on projects. Walking through the rooms and hallways feels much like visiting an art gallery filled with beaded pumpkins, paper-woven Kente cloth, and cheerful scarecrows—all reflecting the individuality and talent of our participants.

Physical and Mental Health and Wellbeing

Whether it is morning exercise, music enrichment, or Music with Mike, the sharing of movement, rhythm, and joy can be felt throughout the center each day. Over the past couple of months, we have also welcomed Dancing with Robin, led by a local dance instructor who visits once or twice a month and brings an unmatched level of energy and enthusiasm that spreads instantly through the room. Participants engage using drumsticks, parachutes, and a variety of dance steps that encourage both creativity and physical activity. This high-energy experience is filled with smiles and confidence-building, as participants are encouraged to join at their own pace, whether seated or standing. It is truly rewarding to watch individuals flourish as each movement is broken down in a way that supports success for everyone, allowing all to participate meaningfully and feel proud of their accomplishments.

Leisure and Recreation

Hobbies, Recreation, and Leisure brought participants back to the game of Bocce, an Italian-originated game often described as lawn bowling, which challenges both patience and hand–eye coordination. With staff support, everyone was successful in rolling the larger ball as close as possible to the smaller target ball, and the competition was spirited and enjoyed by all. While not part of the official rules, extra points were given to teams who hit the small white ball, adding excitement and helping sharpen everyone’s focus. The energy in the room was palpable as participants leaned forward in their seats, cheering as the ball rolled closer and closer to its mark.

Two additional games were also introduced this month—“Don’t Count Your Chickens” and “Flicken Chicken”—adding seasonal fun as participants opened eggs to discover surprise prizes and launched rubber chickens in hopes of landing them in their nests. It was impossible to miss the laughter as chickens flew across the auditorium and social connections grew through friendly competition.

For those seeking a quieter pace, Book Club offered a cozy opportunity to explore stories centered around seasonal changes and holiday traditions, including a book about a grandmother’s treasured strawberry shortcake recipe that sparked meaningful conversations and recipe sharing. Nature Club, STEM, and Creative Writing provided opportunities for hands-on learning and creativity as participants explored the changing seasons, built a “bionic hand” from craft materials, and reflected through writing with the prompt, “What are you thankful for?” making it a joy to listen as participants proudly read their work aloud to one another.

Community Corner

November community outings kept participants active and engaged as teams explored local libraries, shops, and community spaces throughout the month. Outings included visits to Cranbury Library, Barnes & Noble, PetSmart, ShopRite scavenger hunts, and Walmart, offering a mix of leisure, learning, and real-world experiences. Participants practiced important life skills such as following shopping lists, making choices, interacting with community members, and navigating public spaces with staff support. Whether browsing books, caring for animals, or preparing for the season with clothing purchases, each outing encouraged independence, social interaction, and confidence-building. These experiences provided meaningful opportunities to apply everyday skills in familiar and welcoming community settings.

Lunch Outings:

Lunch outings continued to be a favorite highlight for many participants as teams enjoyed meals at local restaurants, including Denny’s, Jersey Mike’s, Panera Bread, IHOP, and East Brunswick Chinese Restaurant. These trips offered more than just a meal, as participants practiced ordering from menus, using money skills, communicating preferences, and interacting appropriately with staff and peers. Lunch outings also provided an opportunity to develop patience, turn-taking, and table manners in a real-world environment. Whether enjoying breakfast for lunch, sandwiches, or family-style meals, participants shared laughter, conversation, and connection while strengthening their independence in the community.

Special Events:

Participants had the opportunity to put their life skills into practice while celebrating Thanksgiving together during a festive meal shared as a community. Each team prepared their table by laying out tablecloths and placemats and decorating personalized plate cards before sitting down for a joyful feast. The dining space was filled with excitement and pride as participants enjoyed a delicious Thanksgiving meal prepared by our kitchen, which included baked turkey breast, meatballs, mac and cheese, lettuce and tomato salad, and vegetable stuffing. It was a wonderful celebration of togetherness, independence, and gratitude.

If you have any questions or suggestions about the Day Program, please contact maureen@dawntoduskwellbeing.com  

Photo Gallery

Enjoy some special moments and smiles in our photo gallery here.