This month, we honor those who are members of the Deaf community! Did you know that April 15th is also National American Sign Language (ASL) Day? ASL is considered to be the backbone of the Deaf community. It allows people who are Deaf or hard of hearing to communicate their opinions, beliefs, and values. It can also enhance their cognitive, academic, social, and emotional development, which supports them in maximizing their potential and leading full lives.

Here at Las Trampas, we believe in inclusion for all! We are committed to providing resources and promoting communication access for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), including those who are Deaf or hard of hearing. Let’s continue to work towards a more inclusive world where everyone is capable of connecting and communicating! https://www.nad.org/resources/american-sign-language/

Joe has been a participant in Las Trampas’ Supported Livings Services (SLS) for over 20 years! Joe is able to live on his own with 24-hour support and care from our staff who help him with his everyday living and community outings, such as grocery shopping and attending doctor appointments. Joe loves to attend baseball and football games in person, and he also loves the holidays. He especially loves dressing up in theme for Halloween and Christmas. Joe’s caregiver, Paris, comments that Joe is an extremely loving participant! We are excited to see what great things Joe accomplishes in the next 20 years.

In honor of World Autism Awareness Day, we are celebrating the amazing adults with autism in our community and their unique strengths and perspectives! At Las Trampas, we are committed to fully supporting participants with autism in discovering their capabilities and leading full lives. Click https://mobilize4change.org/9mMIGix to show your support for the latest autism legislation and receive updates in autism policies and efforts.

March 25^th is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day! Cerebral palsy is a permanent disability that impacts the mobility and muscle strength of 17 million people worldwide. At Las Trampas, we celebrate the strength, resilience, and determination of adults with Cerebral Palsy. We are committed to supporting them in achieving their goals and leading full lives. Show your support for people with Cerebral Palsy by wearing the color green today! You can also download your free cerebral palsy guide at https://www.cerebralpalsyguide.com/free-download/ and advocate for cerebral palsy research funding at https://www.gogreen4cp.org/

This week is Neurodiversity Celebration Week and today is World Down Syndrome Day! All around the world, neurodiverse individuals and those with Down Syndrome are denied quality education and health care, the chance to work and earn their own money, and the ability to make decisions about their own lives. These individuals have the right to be accepted and included as valued members of the community. At Las Trampas, we are so proud to support neurodiverse adults and those with Down Syndrome to lead full lives in their home, and work, and in the community. Sign up to advocate for the rights, inclusion, and wellbeing of people with Down Syndrome at https://bit.ly/WDSD

This Women’s History Month, we celebrate the strength, compassion, and dedication of all the women at Las Trampas. Did you know that women comprise the vast majority of our direct care staff? We are so grateful for their incredible work empowering and supporting adults with developmental disabilities.

This Women’s History Month, we also celebrate Judy Heumann, who is widely recognized as “the mother” of the Disability Rights Movement, and who was instrumental in the development and implementation of disability rights legislation. Let’s honor Judy’s legacy by continuing to break barriers and advocate for an inclusive future. #womenleaders #WomenMakingADifference

For more resources, check out this article on the bias and barriers that women with disabilities face in the workplace: https://www.disabilityempowhernetwork.org/our-research

Las Trampas and SEED invite you to “Navigating Tomorrow: Planning for Your Child (or Family Member) with an Intellectual or Developmental Disability’s Future” on May 4th from 10am-2pm. Expert speakers will present on government benefits, estate planning, and financial planning. Register now at https://bit.ly/48IjkrM

We are thrilled to announce that our very own Executive Director, Dan Hogue, has been selected to participate in this year’s O2 Initiative’s Sabbatical Award! This award honors dedicated nonprofit executive directors in San Francisco, Alameda, and Contra Costa counties with a three-month break for essential rest and renewal. While this award allows executive directors to recharge, it also empowers organizations in building their leadership capacity. Please join us in congratulating Dan for being a 2024 awardee! https://o2sabbatical.org/sabbatical-award/

Meet Betty, an Adult Day Program Instructor who has been with Las Trampas for almost 9 years! Betty says that our new state-of-the-art facility has been fantastic for both staff and participants. She especially loves spending time with participants in our safety-regulated kitchen and our accessible garden. Betty shares that Las Trampas has had a tremendous impact on her life. Seeing participants laugh brings joy to her heart, and she enjoys seeing community outings bring out the best in participants. Betty loves her job and all the participants at Las Trampas so much!

Our community came together today to celebrate the life of Jeremy, our beloved participant of 40 years. It was a beautiful gathering filled with lots of shared stories and love. Jeremy will be forever missed, but his memory will live on in the heart of Las Trampas.