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

Meet Jessica, an Adult Development Instructor for our Adult Day Program (ADP) and sister of our participant, Joshua! Jessica joined our team in April 2023 and has been working in our art room ever since, supporting participants to master their art skills and explore new creative interests. Jessica thinks that the design elements of Las Trampas’ new campus are incredibly beneficial for participants, allowing them to have ownership over and flexibility with what works well for them. She loves when participants’ personalities come out in different ways, especially for those who don’t communicate verbally. Thank you for all you do for our community, Jessica!

Meet Emma, a participant in our Adult Day Program since 2017. Emma has the most contagious laugh and loves to sing along to music while painting in our art room. If you play the song “Always On My Mind” by Elvis Presley, she will surely know all the words! Thank you for bringing such a warm presence into our community, Emma!

Meet Sekander, a participant in Las Trampas’ Adult Day Program for 8 years! Sekander’s favorite thing to do with Las Trampas’ outings class is bowling on Fridays and ordering a burger at the bowling alley. He also enjoys walking along the trail with staff member, Shereen, and getting pushed on the swings at Civic Park by Brandon. A fun fact about him is that he loves listening to the song “Yellow Submarine” by the Beatles. Whenever you see Sekander on campus, he will definitely put a smile on your face!

We want to introduce our participant with a “Hollywood smile”, Tevin! Tevin has been taking the BART to Las Trampas’ Adult Day Program every day for eight years. He is very excited to have learned more about cooking with the help of Las Trampas staff. With the skills he has gained, he can now bake his favorite chocolate chip cookies on his own at home, and he even helped cook a Thanksgiving meal for his family! Outside of Las Trampas, Tevin is a part of the PCT Theater Company, where he was previously in a production of Dreamgirls, and he is currently auditioning for the production of Young Frankenstein. We are so lucky to have Tevin and his smile as a part of our program!

Meet Ariel, a participant in Las Trampas’ Adult Day Program and Supported Living Services for 16 years! Ariel has built a lot of great friendships and memories during her time at Las Trampas. Some of her favorite moments include spending time in the new garden on campus, and going on Saturday picnics with Randy.

Ariel wanted to thank some very special staff, including Betty who helps her conquer her life skills, Shereen who helps her make healthy food choices, and Brandon who is helping her learn how to begin her new paid janitorial job in our building this week.

Thank you for being such an active member of our community, Ariel!