The Pediatric Movement Center is an inclusive, sensory gym and therapy clinic with locations in Hagerstown and Frederick who strive to be a ray of light in a world that needs it. They provide pediatric physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, aquatic therapy and recreational classes. They are an extension of your family, getting to know each child, their siblings, and you, the parent, as individuals in a clean, safe, warm and nurturing environment that is unmatched by others in the area. Their team is fully invested in the development and success of every child, empowering them through movement. With cutting-edge treatment techniques and class curriculum, Pediatric Movement Center equips children and their families with the tools to grow physically, emotionally, and socially.
A conversation with Anna Strickler, PR & Business Development Liaison
Tell us your business or organization origin story!
Our founder and owner, Christina Snyder, was working as a Physical Therapy Assistant in home health services when she met a young girl named LeChe. LeChe, who had SMA (spinal muscular atrophy) was a dreamer, a lover of gymnastics and a pillar of strength. PMC was founded in 2017 as a small step towards preserving LeChe’s legacy: a place where any child can enjoy learning new skills, feel inspired, and be welcomed into a community that is like an extension of your family. PMC is a place for honoring, respecting and building up children of all abilities and reminding them that they are special, and will achieve greatness.
What do you like most about being a business or organization located in Frederick County?
Frederick county is a diverse, supportive community with a small town feel and a strategic location close to major metropolitan cities, including healthcare facilities that are important to our outpatient therapy services such as Children’s National and Kennedy Krieger/Johns Hopkins. The centrality of Frederick county also allows us to serve patients from all over Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Virginia.
What makes your business or organization unique?
At PMC we connect, commit and change lives. We do this through creating a community where everyone belongs and anything is possible.
We are friends, family and advocates for you and your child. When you choose PMC, we are here for you throughout parenthood. For our recreational programs, the curriculum for each class is carefully curated to foster a love for gymnastics and developing different muscle groups for children of all abilities. For our therapy programs, our therapists listen to your needs and create a personalized treatment plan to help your child reach their goals. Our focus in on helping your child become better than they were yesterday, starting where they are rather than having a rigid and competitive structure.
What do you want your business or organization to be known for, or what do you wish people knew about your business or organization?
PMC offers inclusive classes and outpatient therapy services for individuals of all abilities in a movement based atmosphere while building confidence, strength, coordination, communication, and regulation skills in a neurologically-centered sensory environment.
We want you to know you are not alone, and that there is a whole community of support and resources for you at PMC. One of our goals is to overcome obstacles as a community of parents, professionals, instructors and peers. Our therapy and recreational programs are unique in that we encourage children to become better than who they were yesterday. We are about embracing the journey, together.
What are some of your community involvement efforts?
Our team believes in giving back to our community. One way we give back is through our PMC Gives Back program. With this initiative, we create educational campaigns that highlight a local non-profit, promote inclusive cultures, and align with our mission of creating strong kids and families.
PMC Gives Back is a company-wide program that rallies individuals to do their part in developing a supportive and inclusive community that provides recreational, educational, work, and leisure opportunities for individuals of all abilities. Each quarter, members of the PMC team highlight a diagnosis that affects community members, providing practical information and resources on the topic. During the campaign, PMC Gives Back shares inspiring stories from local families, provides educational resources, and fundraises on behalf of a non-profit who has parallel goals. Together, our local community will continue the journey of creating a more inclusive community for neurodiverse and physically diverse individuals. Our most recent campaign highlighted Sophie and Madigan’s playground, an inclusive playground in Frederick county. Over the years, our campaigns have raised over $15,000 for nonprofits throughout Maryland and across the country. Some of the organizations we have donated to include: Pathfinders for Autism, The Angel Fund, Zullinger Community Center, AMCSI, Coalition for a Healthier Frederick County, Chesapeake District Civitan and the Baltimore Saints.
What do you do best?
PMC is a place that offers a bright spot in lives that are often hectic, at capacity, and sometimes stressful. Kids get what they need and parents get support, encouragement, and resources. Our facility has a welcoming atmosphere, friendly and knowledgeable staff, and an effective therapy program. Children receive individualized attention in an engaging atmosphere that motivates kids during therapy sessions. We are committed to helping children achieve their developmental goals in a compassionate and fun setting.
Is there anything else exciting about your business that you want the Chamber membership to know about?
We have 2 exciting events coming up!
Open House: Saturday, September 28th (Free! Mini class sessions, meet recreational instructors, learn more about our gymnastics classes)
PMC Halloween and Open Gym: Saturday, October 19th
Frederick Chamber Insights is a news outlet of the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce. For more information about membership, programs and initiatives, please visit our website.