Tag: Lifelong learning

Why Disability Services Are Nonprofit Work at Its Purest

Posted on by Shannon Cherry

Every year on National Nonprofit Day, we celebrate the organizations that make our communities stronger, fairer, and more connected. For Las Trampas, this day is not just about recognition. It is about shining a light on why we exist and why nonprofits like ours are still essential in 2025.

Nonprofits step in where society falls short. They fill gaps that no one else is willing or able to fill. They make the invisible visible, often with fewer resources than most people realize.

In disability services, this mission is not abstract. It is lived every single day.

When “Option” Is Not Optional

For many adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), the programs we offer such as skills training, residential support, advocacy, and community inclusion are not extras. They are essential to living a life of dignity and independence.

Without them, opportunities can disappear overnight. The job interview never happens. The chance to live outside the family home evaporates. The ability to make friends or navigate public transit becomes an impossible leap.

Las Trampas was founded in 1958 by a group of parents who saw what others did not. Their children deserved an education, a future, and a place where they belonged. What began as a small school has grown into a thriving, participant-driven community where inclusion is not a promise. It is a daily practice.

More Than Services: A Force for Equity

We provide programs, yes. But our work is about more than classes or care schedules.
It is about removing barriers.

Sometimes that means helping a participant learn to cross the street safely so they can get to work.
Other times, it means standing at the State Capitol to tell legislators why Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) deserve wages that reflect the life-changing work they do.

Mission-driven is not just a label. In disability services, the mission is the difference between isolation and belonging, between surviving and thriving.

The Ripple Effect You Can See and Feel

Nonprofit impact does not stop with the individual. It spreads.

When one person gains a skill, their entire family feels the relief and pride.

When a participant gets a job, their workplace becomes more inclusive and co-workers become advocates without even realizing it.

When our self-advocates speak in Sacramento, they are not just influencing policy. They are shifting perceptions about what is possible for people with disabilities.

That is nonprofit work at its purest: change that begins with one person and grows into something much bigger.

Powered by People, Not Profit

None of this happens without the people who power our mission. Our Direct Support Professionals, program managers, residential staff, volunteers, and advocates make every step possible.

Unlike for-profit industries, nonprofits do not have profit margins to reinvest. Every dollar that comes in goes directly toward services, advocacy, and expanding opportunities. That is why community support through donations, volunteer time, and advocacy is not just nice to have. It is the fuel that keeps the work moving forward.

Where You Come In

On National Nonprofit Day, we invite you to not just celebrate us but to stand with us.

You can:

  • Take a tour of our Lafayette campus and see inclusion in action
  • Volunteer your time and experience the joy of real connection
  • Join our advocacy network to help push for the rights and resources people with disabilities deserve
  • Support financially knowing your gift directly fuels life-changing work

Nonprofits do not just exist to provide services. They exist to change what is possible. At Las Trampas, we have been doing exactly that for more than 65 years.

Learn more, get involved, and be part of our story at https://lastrampas.org

From Chalkboards to Community: The Las Trampas Journey

Posted on by Shannon Cherry

In 1958, a handful of parents stand outside a small school, not because it’s the easiest place to be, but because it’s the only place that made sense. Their children—kids with intellectual and developmental disabilities—deserved more than a system that ignored them. They deserved a space to learn, grow, and belong.

Our past…

That moment lit the spark for Las Trampas, a school founded not just on education, but on dignity, inclusion, and unwavering belief in potential.

Fast forward more than sixty years, and Las Trampas isn’t a school anymore. It’s become something bigger: a thriving, lifelong community where learning never ends, and everyone has a place at the table.

A Season of New Beginnings

Back-to-school season is more than a date on the calendar. It’s a mindset. A reminder that growth is possible, no matter your age or ability.

Las Trampas embodies that spirit year-round. What started with chalkboards and small classrooms has evolved into community-based services designed to help adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities live more independently, form meaningful relationships, and chase their personal goals.

For many, it’s not just “back to school.” It’s “back to being seen, heard, and empowered.”

The Power of Belief in Potential

There’s something undeniably powerful about walking into a space that sees what you’re capable of—before you do. That’s the heartbeat of Las Trampas.

Here, belief isn’t just a buzzword. It’s a practice.

  • It looks like teaching daily living skills that help someone cook their own meal for the first time.
  • It sounds like participants advocating for themselves in community meetings.
  • It feels like walking into a room and knowing you belong, exactly as you are.

This kind of belief doesn’t fade with age. If anything, it grows stronger, expanding opportunities and opening doors that once felt sealed shut.

A Different Kind of Classroom

While most kids are headed back to rows of desks and lockers, Las Trampas operates on a different kind of curriculum. Here, the lessons are about confidence, communication, and contribution.

The “classrooms” might be local businesses, kitchens, art studios, or even hiking trails. But make no mistake: the learning is real, and the impact is deep.

Back-to-school isn’t limited to children. The spirit of Las Trampas proves that education is a lifelong journey. Growth doesn’t have a deadline.

A Legacy That Inspires

Las Trampas didn’t just grow. It evolved.

The transition from a small, specialized school to a dynamic community center wasn’t accidental; it was intentional. And it was driven by one core belief: everyone has the right to a full, meaningful life.

That belief is what fuels the staff, empowers the participants, and inspires the families who continue to walk through its doors.

It’s not just about “services.” It’s about showing up, day after day, and creating a culture where people thrive.

Back-to-School, Reimagined

This time of year tends to stir up feelings of anticipation, nerves, and maybe a touch of nostalgia. But when we zoom out a little, we realize that “going back to school” is really about giving ourselves (and each other) the space to grow.

So whether you’re a child with a backpack, an adult returning to a program, or someone learning to live more independently—this season is for you.

Las Trampas reminds us that:

  • It’s never too late to learn.
  • Growth comes in many forms.
  • And belief in someone’s potential can change the course of their life.

Let This Be the Year…

As backpacks zip and classrooms fill, take a moment to look beyond the usual routines.

Ask yourself: What does back-to-school mean for me?

Maybe it’s recommitting to personal growth. Maybe it’s recognizing potential in someone else. Maybe it’s supporting organizations like Las Trampas that are doing the deep, quiet work of building a more inclusive world.

Because when you really think about it, we’re all still learning.

And we’re all better off when no one gets left behind.