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.”
