A grand time was had at our 2nd annual summer celebration at Board President’s Mark Mahaney’s home! It was a fun afternoon where our staff and board shared reasons why Las Trampas is important to our community, and ideas for more successful years to come. Thank you for having us Mark and Tammy Mahaney!

When Kate Hartline, one of our most beloved team members, announced her retirement from Las Trampas after 16 incredible years, I was a mess of emotions. While I’m thrilled for her to enjoy a well-earned next chapter, her absence will be felt deeply by participants, families, and staff. During her exit interview, Kate shared reflections and memories so moving that I knew I had to share them with you.

Kate joined Las Trampas, like many do, hoping for a job where she could give back — not just earn a paycheck. Back then, Direct Support Professionals for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities earned just $10 an hour, and still she chose this work. From her first day, it was clear: this was her calling. She brought energy, compassion, and leadership. She committed to high-quality, person-centered care. She refused to let our participants just be “parked” in front of a TV. Instead, she created opportunities for growth – even founding our first walking club when she recognized a need for more physical activity. I soon promoted Kate to Adult Day Program Supervisor, confident she would inspire other staff to lead with the same passion and focus.

And she did just that. When Danny joined our day program, staff were told that he would never speak. But Las Trampas doesn’t accept “never” for an answer. Jeff Dollar, a long-time staff member, worked with Danny daily, encouraging him to say “hi, how are you?” They would walk along our beautiful trail, and every time they came upon another person, Jeff would encourage Danny to say, “hi, how are you?” The first time Kate heard Danny say, “hi, how are you?” the pride in his eyes moved Kate to tears. “Seeing participants achieve their goals is one of the best feelings in the world” she shared.

Kate vividly remembers her first interview at Las Trampas, when a participant named John ran up to greet her. Upon returning for a second interview, John recognized her instantly and exclaimed, “You’re back!” From that moment, Kate knew she had found her place. “The folks that I’ve gotten to know here have changed my life,” she shared. “Las Trampas participants are the most resilient, determined folks I’ve ever known. They face enormous challenges, but they never stop striving. During my time here, I went through a lot personally, and their strength inspired me to keep going when I was at my lowest.”

When asked what she would miss most, Kate didn’t hesitate: “Morning arrivals. That burst of joy when the buses pull up — it’s the best part of the day. Some participants even come in sick because they don’t want to miss out. That’s how I know we’re doing something right.”

Kate takes immense pride in Las Trampas’ status as a premier program. People would call her and say, “Las Trampas is the only place we want our child to go.” This is a reputation only made possible by donors like you. Our top-notch staff and state-of-the-art facility are game changers, but there’s still more to do. We need speech-generating devices, and access to occupational and physical therapy — tools that unlock independence and dignity for the people we serve. As Kate put it: “We can always do more. We can always do better.”

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 incredibly grateful to the Lowell Berry Foundation for their generous support of Las Trampas! Their donation helps us continue our mission of empowering people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to discover their capabilities and lead full lives in their homes, and work, and in the community. The Lowell Berry Foundation’s values align deeply with our own, and we are so grateful for their continued partnership in building stronger, more inclusive communities! https://www.lowellberryfoundation.org/

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.​