Category: Adult Day Program Services

Exploring Worlds with Las Trampas

Posted on August 30, 2018 by Las Trampas

The day program is always looking for new worlds to explore. We regularly use local libraries to seek out new sites and organizations we can partner with to help our program participants become more and more engaged in and with their community.

Our memberships at the Lawrence Hall of Science, Chabot Space and Science Center, Blackhawk Museum and Fitness 19 open up worlds of knowledge and experience while teaching us the importance of staying healthy and fit.

Our partnerships with Diablo Valley Bowl, Clayton Valley Bowl, and Danville Bowl give us the opportunity to participate in friendly competition while working on our social skills (e.g., Show a Good Attitude, Follow Directions, Give Positive Feedback). With ramps and bumpers, bowling is an activity open to almost every program participant. It is the first programming choice of many in the community groups.

On a daily basis, there are more than 40 day program participants exploring and engaging with their community. You will find us on the regional trails, at local parks and historical sites, in the shops and fitness centers, in classes and service centers. We volunteer, shop, compete, play sports and games, read, plant and grow, make friends, and, most important of all, we learn from our experiences.

We’re an awful lot like you.

July Employee of the Month–LaToya Hudson

Posted on July 25, 2018 by Las Trampas

July’s Employee of the Month is Day Program superstar LaToya Hudson.
Watching LaToya interact with Day Program participants, her focus is very clear: independence and decision-making. As one of the job coaches for the work groups, she sets high expectations for participants and helps them learn to do tasks well on their own. She also promotes goodwill in the community through her interactions with program participants and community members. Managers of local attractions and parks like Crab Cove in Alameda tells us that LaToya’s groups are respectful of each other and other visitors and that LaToya goes to great lengths to engage program participants and make experiences fun and informative.
Thank you, LaToya!

Las Trampas Cooks: Ingredients for Success!

Posted on July 25, 2018 by Las Trampas

What could be better than sharing a home-cooked meal, chosen and prepared with care by a friend or colleague? Each month, the 10 students participating in the Day Program Las Trampas Cooks program choose a meal each month based on a theme, and work with staff throughout the month make that meal a reality for each other as well as other Day Program participants and staff members.

In 2018, the monthly themes are based on countries of the world, often chosen based on where a student’s family is from, so participants learn about food and culture they may not otherwise get to experience.

Shopping: Once Las Trampas Cooks chefs have chosen their meal for the month, they help staff research recipes, compile a shopping list, and hit the stores! Participants go to multiple stores in the area (Safeway, Costco, Sam’s Club, Smart & Final, Trader Joe’s) and compare prices on the ingredients they will need for the month’s recipe.

Meal Preparation:
Participants are involved in all aspects of creating the meal. As much as possible, they use fresh ingredients rather than packaged. Participants work with program staff to learn about the textures, smells, properties, and uses of the ingredients they are using, as well as learning about kitchen safety, and food service.

Enjoying a meal together:
On Las Trampas Cooks day, Day Program participants and any Las Trampas staff who are on campus are invited to share the results of the group’s hard work. Spending time together eating a delicious meal prepared by friends is a great way to spend lunchtime!

Clean Up:
You’re not done cooking until you’ve cleaned up! Participants learn that leaving the cooking area cleaner than you found it? is as important as all of the other aspects of planning and cooking a meal. When the kitchen is clean and supplies are put away, we are ready to start planning for next month.
Las Trampas Cooks is a fun and delicious way to gain life skills, explore new foods, and learn more about the world. Here are some of the meals we’ve shared so far this year. We’ve included some of the recipes we’ve used, and we invite you to cook along with Las Trampas Cooks!

March: (Italy) Spaghetti, Salad, Garlic Bread, Strawberry Shortcake
April: (Japan) Teriyaki Bowls, Gyoza, Cherry Parfait
May: (Mexico) Mexican Chili, Sweet Corn Cakes, (Unfried)Fried Ice Cream
June: (U.S.A.) Sloppy Toms (Turkey Sloppy Joes), Potato Salad, Baked Peach Crumble
July: (Greece) Gyros, Greek Salad, Sparkling Santorini Jello