July 9, 2025

Dear Friends,

I’ll be honest, writing this letter isn’t easy. I wish I didn’t have to sound the alarm, but the reality is stark: the intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) community is facing a crisis, and we need your help.

On July 4^th, a sweeping piece of legislation was signed into law, slashing over $1 trillion from Medicaid and Medi-Cal. This is the largest cut to these programs in U.S. history. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that up to 11 million Americans could lose Medicaid coverage as a result. Among them are millions of Californians on Medi-Cal, including nearly everyone we serve. These cuts also threaten the essential services that people with IDD rely on, including the ones we provide every day at Las Trampas.

As Andy Imparato, CEO of Disability Rights California, put it, “In my 34 years of disability advocacy, this is the most harmful bill for disabled people that I have ever seen.”

In California, 35% of IDD service funding comes from Medicaid/Medi-Cal. Without this funding, we’re facing painful losses. Services that our 110 participants rely on every day are at risk. We could lose essential staff, be forced to reduce programming, and see nearly a decade of progress erased. Most devastating of all, we risk failing the very people with IDD that we exist to serve.

This is why I’m asking for your help today. Will you consider making a significant gift – and if possible, doubling it – to help us weather this storm?

Here’s what’s at stake:

• All 20 participants in our Supported Living Services program rely on In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), which is funded by Medi-Cal, to live independently.
• Nearly all of our 110 participants rely on Medi-Cal for their medical care, including prescriptions, therapies, and specialist visits.
• Nearly half of our participants live below the federal poverty line, receiving limited monthly income through Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
• The new law’s stricter work requirements and frequent eligibility checks could disqualify thousands, simply for having a disability and being unable to work.

I know this is a big ask. But I also believe deeply in the power of our community to rise up in times of need. With your support, we can protect the dignity, independence, and futures of the people who count on us.

Please make the most meaningful gift you can. Together, we can stand strong and ensure our participants continue to receive the services, care, and respect they deserve.

With deepest gratitude,

Daniel Hogue

Executive Director

P.S. Your support today will help protect vital programs and bring stability to our participants with IDD when they need it most. Please don’t wait, your generosity matters now more than ever!

We are honored to share that we received a generous grant from the Community Foundation of Lafayette! Thanks to their commitment to enriching the quality of life in the greater Lafayette area, this support will go directly towards Las Trampas’ vital programs and services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).  Thank you, Community Foundation of Lafayette, for your continued commitment to Lafayette and the Las Trampas community! https://cflafayette.org/

Our offices will be closed tomorrow in observance of Juneteenth—a day that commemorates the delayed arrival of freedom for enslaved Black Americans in 1865. At Las Trampas, we believe that everyone deserves the chance to live fully and freely. As we honor this powerful history, we also reaffirm our mission to empower people of all backgrounds and abilities lead lives full of purpose, pride, and possibility! #juneteenth #juneteenth2025 #equityforall

View Juneteenth celebrations in the Bay Area: https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/juneteenth-bay-area-events/3893886/

View more information about Juneteenth: www.juneteenth.com

BBQ season is here, and we’re throwing it back to this awesome moment from 2013! Participants had a blast in our Chef’s Table class, learning to grill up some BBQ classics.

Happy Pride Month from all of us here at Las Trampas! Las Trampas proudly stands with the LGBTQIA2S+ community, and believes that every individual – regardless of ability – has the right to live safely, openly, and genuinely. Let’s continue to create spaces where people of all identities are seen, heard, and valued!

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month—a time to honor the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of AAPI communities across the nation. This month, we also recognize the vital work of AAPI individuals who advocate for disability rights and inclusion.​

One such advocate is Stacey Park Milbern, a Korean American disability justice activist who was born with congenital muscular dystrophy. Stacey played a pivotal role in co-founding the Disability Justice movement, emphasizing the intersectionality of race, gender, and disability. As we celebrate AAPI Heritage Month, let’s honor the contributions of individuals like Stacey who strive to build a more equitable and inclusive society for all.​

Earlier this month, our advocacy group traveled to California’s State Capitol to speak out against proposed cuts to Medicare and Medicaid – cuts that could seriously harm the vital services that our community depends on.

We need your voice now more than ever! The ARC of California has made it easy to contact your federal congressional representatives and senators directly at bit.ly/42mmyBw.

Thank you for standing with us and supporting our community!

Today is World Autism Awareness Day, a time to celebrate the unique strengths and contributions of individuals with autism! At Las Trampas, we are proud to support all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), including our 30 participants with autism.

People with autism bring incredible value to our communities, offering diverse perspectives, creative problem-solving skills, and a deep passion for the world around them. Let’s continue to celebrate people with autism and foster an inclusive community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive!

Visit https://www.autismspeaks.org/advocacy to advocate and take action today!

As Women’s History Month comes to a close, we are taking time to reflect on the incredible women who have shaped history, broken barriers, and paved the way for a more inclusive world! At Las Trampas, we are honoring the strength, resilience, and achievements of all the women in our community who empower themselves by discovering their capabilities and leading full, meaningful lives every day. Their determination and spirit remind us that progress is built by those who dare to challenge limitations and redefine what’s possible!