December 3rd is International Day of Persons with Disabilities! Today we are celebrating the achievements of Mike, a participant in our Independent Living Services (ILS) program for the past 16 years. Mike works at the Safeway in Lafayette and likes to cook chicken noodle soup at home. A few years ago, Judy, our director of ILS, took Mike on a tour of the San Francisco Channel 7 and 5 studios, where he learned how to be the weather man for the day.

On this International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we show support for and a commitment to creating inclusive, accessible, and diverse communities so people with disabilities can participate fully, equally, and effectively in society with others.

Dear Friends,

Watching the steady stream of contributions coming in on #GivingTuesday, it was hard not to feel overwhelmed by the generosity of our community.

On this day of collective giving, our Las Trampas community came together to raise nearly $30,000 for our friends and neighbors with developmental disabilities!

THANK YOU to those who contributed to our #GivingTuesday campaign! Your support for Las Trampas creates opportunities for inclusion, friendship, and belonging for our participants, and helps us go the extra mile to ensure they receive the increased services they need to discover their capabilities and lead full lives.

With immense gratitude,

Dan Hogue

Executive Director

November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month! Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that can cause seizures, mood changes, sleep challenges, and thinking and memory issues. 3.4 million people in the United States are living with epilepsy, and a third of them live with uncontrolled seizures because no available treatment works for them.

Gabby, one of our newest participants in our Adult Day Program, lives with epilepsy. Gabby likes cooking Mexican food, watching soap operas, dancing, coloring, and doing yoga. She values the independence of living in her own home because she likes to have her own space and organize it the way she wants. At Las Trampas, Gabby really likes the “Life Skills” class because she has learned how to be patient when she is frustrated with others. Gabby is super excited to make more friends at Las Trampas!

View more stories of people living with epilepsy at https://www.epilepsy.com/changeourstory

Happy Halloween from Las Trampas! Catch a glimpse of some of the exceptional costumes our participants showed up in today.

Meet Jeffrey, who has been an Adult Day Program Instructor since November 2022. Jeffrey enjoys working at Las Trampas because he likes learning new things every day about how to support individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. His favorite memory at Las Trampas was winning the ugly sweater competition at our Christmas party last year. We appreciate all you do, Jeffrey!

Thank you to all of our participants, families, and staff who made it out to our “Participant Appreciation Day” on Wednesday, October 18th! We had so much fun celebrating our participants and the community that we have built where all individuals have the right to lead meaningful, self-determined lives.

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month! Down syndrome is the most common type of intellectual disability, and it occurs when an individual is born with a full or partial extra copy of the 21st chromosome. Join us in celebrating and supporting the many abilities and accomplishments of our friends and 9 participants with Down syndrome during this special month. https://ndss.org/down-syndrome-awareness-month

October 6th is World Cerebral Palsy Day! 17 million people worldwide live with Cerebral Palsy, a physical disability that affects movement and posture. It is often tied to other related vision, hearing, communication and mobility needs.

Our friend Heather, who has Cerebral Palsy, has been at Las Trampas’ Day Program since 2012. Heather’s face lights up when she listens to music, hears stories read, and goes for walks in the park. Heather is self-sufficient, has a great sense of humor, and is very considerate of others.

We recognize individuals living with cerebral palsy, their families, supporters, and organizations with the aim to ensure a future in which individuals with cerebral palsy have the same rights, access and opportunities as everyone else. https://worldcpday.org/

Meet Garrison, a participant in Las Trampas’ Adult Day Program and Independent Living Services. Garrison has been coming to Las Trampas for 8 years, and he loves being a part of our paid janitorial work crew, specifically “dusting and wiping down the sinks in the bathrooms.” In his free time, Garrison loves going bird watching with his mom at the reservoir. His favorite bird is a Common Pochard, which he loves drawing when he is in our art room. Thank you for always being such a valued member of our community, Garrison!

The holidays will soon be upon us, and with them the season of greeting cards. Fortunately for you, Las Trampas’ Participant Art Greeting Cards are now available for pre-order! Thank you to Annie, John, Heather, and Emma for sharing their beautiful art with the Las Trampas community. Proceeds help provide essential programs and learning opportunities to individuals served by Las Trampas. Available for shipping or pickup on campus. Click this link to pre-order your cards today! –> https://bit.ly/3LrN83b