Peter Beckh: 40 year career working with people with disabilities

Peter Beckh retired at Abiliities United after
a 40 year career serving people with disabilities. 

Peter Beckh’s career path happened to take him into the field of working with people who have disabilities, and he considers it to be a wonderful stroke of luck.

In 1974, Peter received a Masters degree in social work, and though he had never worked with people with disabilities, he eventually took a position at the Golden Gate Regional Center. Such regional centers place children with significant disabilities with various organizations. “My first case visit was to a girl who was blind, and who had no arms or legs. She had to roll over in order to move,” he says. “I put my hand on her while saying hello; I remember she was warm and alive. It was a transformative moment; I realized she was just like me.”

Through his work at the Golden Gate Regional Center, he became familiar with what is now Abilities United, and with a background as a successful administrator he joined Abilities United in 1989 as Associate Director. 

“I really liked the people we served,” says Peter, who spent 14 years with the organization until retiring in 2012. “Many have become my personal friends, and they’re a big part of my life.” When Peter celebrated his 60th birthday, the party was at Abilities United. 

Peter gets enormous satisfaction seeing the progress that clients make at Abilities United. “For some it’s being able to lift a spoon so that they can feed themselves,” he says. “For others it might be overcoming an overwhelming fear of the water and then learning to swim; for others it’s developing their social skills and getting a job. The look on someone’s face when they get a job, or when they get their first paycheck – they are so proud!”

Peter has the highest regard for the staff at Abilities United. “They are my heroes; they are amazing people. It’s a great place to work because of their spirit,” Peter says and then pauses. “I thought it was a privilege to work here.”

Based on a 2012 interview with Peter Beckh.  Written by Bob Thomas and edited by Sally Mickel and Wendy Kuehnl.

Jackie Thielen: lifelong philanthropist; advances her values beyond her lifetime

Jackie inspired many through her philanthropic work
and continues to advance her values beyond her lifetime

Jackie Thielen, a Palo Alto resident since 1959 when she moved to California with her husband Lawrence and their children, was involved in many charities. However, her longest relationship was with Abilities United (then C.A.R).  When the family first arrived in Palo Alto, a neighbor invited her to volunteer at the C.A.R thrift shop “Market of the Flea”.  Thus began a 50-year commitment to Abilities United.

“My mother was genuine, generous and cared about others.  She had a deep sense of fair-mindedness, respected others and was never judgmental, ” recalls her daughter, Laura. “Mom was an authentic person, not interested in social advancement.  She was modest, quiet and assured of herself but never wanted to be the center of attention.”

Despite being very busy raising six children and hosting home dinner parties for her husband’s business, Avantek,  Jackie continued her volunteer work. Thinking back to her childhood, Laura remembers that her mother required the children to engage in volunteer work.  “As a teenager, I was not pleased, but soon realized the value of giving. Now I am grateful for mom’s insistence.  She believed, and instilled my belief, in social responsibility,” Laura recalls with pride.

After several successful decades running Avantek, Lawrence sold the business and retired to spend more time with the family.  A year after his retirement, he, Jackie and the two youngest children vacationed in Kauai, Hawaii.  Tragically, Lawrence, an accomplished swimmer, drowned while snorkeling during a sudden change in weather. 

After Lawrence’s death, Jackie accelerated her interest in philanthropy.  She particularly valued supporting those who have difficulty helping themselves – especially children.  “Mom was passionate about her philanthropy. She gave to many charities and was primarily interested in helping the less fortunate,” states her son, Ed. She wanted to give financial support to charities quietly and, during, not after, her lifetime. She was most interested in supporting organizations that live in the “shadows”, not the charities that are highly and publically visible.  More importantly, she wanted to know that her support made a difference in someone’s life.  In time, Jackie developed a deep interest in Abilities United, which ultimately became her primary charity of interest.   For decades she was active in the Authors Luncheon fundraising event as well as an annual donor. 

When Abilities United honored Jackie at the 20th annual Authors Luncheon in 2011, “she was deeply pleased,” recalls Ed.  At that time, Jackie was quite ill and could not leave her home. Laura and Ed attended the event to represent her.  They remember vividly how happy Jackie and each of them felt when she received this honor from her friends at Abilities United.

Jackie lived a full life that embraced family, friends, travel, and an enduring passion for the arts until October 5, 2012.  “My mother possessed many wonderful qualities. However, most importantly, mom passed along acceptance of people who are different in any way; she took everyone at face value,” states Ed with warmth and admiration.

Jackie's gentle, generous, loving nature embraced and influenced family, friends and others in profound, enduring ways. She inspired many through her philanthropic work and continues to advance her values beyond her lifetime through the legacy gift she has left Abilities United. Abilities United is grateful for Jackie Thielen and her support throughout the organization’s history and into the future. 

Based on a 2012 interview with Jackie's children, Ed and Laura. Written, edited by Carol Lillibridge and Wendy Kuehnl

Kelly Wong: Blossoms in work and personal life

Kelly Wong's life changed drastically after
getting a job through Abilities United. 

Six years ago, Kelly Wong, a charming young lady who is developmentally delayed, was using the rehabilitation services of another provider. Her mother Wanda had dreamed that perhaps someday Kelly could work, but she simply was not progressing.

“I found Abilities United, and after they did an assessment, they said that Kelly had the ability to hold a job,” says Wanda. “I was surprised and excited. They worked closely with Kelly, training her on a variety of tasks and helping her prepare for an interview.”

With training and support from Abilities United, Kelly got a job as a courtesy clerk at Safeway in Milpitas, where she bags groceries, collects carts, and helps in various other ways. She has been there for five years, working four days a week. Reflecting that the significance of having a job cannot be over-stated, when asked if she enjoys working, Kelly answers an emphatic “yes” and absolutely beams with excitement. 

Wanda has been thrilled with how Abilities United has helped transform her daughter’s life. “Since she started with Abilities United, there’s been a drastic change with Kelly,” says Wanda. “She’s able to be more independent, her speech has improved, she’s much more confident, and her personality has blossomed. What a difference there’s been!”

“The Abilities United staff is so passionate; I’m so impressed,” Wanda says. “They’re upbeat and professional, and they make you feel important. They’re just amazing.”

At Abilities United we appreciate the wonderful feedback, and it’s amazing people like Kelly that inspire us to do what we do.

Based on a 2012 interview with Wanda and Kelly Wong. Written by Bob Thomas, edited by Wanda Wong and Wendy Kuehnl.

Sally Mickel: career and life changed by grand-daughter

Sally Mickel & grand-daughter, Amber,
experience many aspects of Abilities United.

Like many of the employees at Abilities United, Human Resources Director Sally Mickel came to Abilities United for one purpose but found herself engaged with the organization at a whole different and unexpected level.

"I'd been working as a human resources professional at a software company, but I knew that I wanted to do something different," says Sally. "I knew about Abilities United, and I had relatives who had been diagnosed with cerebral palsy. There was some sort of inner calling, and I decided that this was the place I really wanted to work."

Once Sally started working at Abilities United she realized that the services could benefit her granddaughter Amber.  Now a beautiful 18-year old girl, Amber contracted pneumococcal spinal meningitis at the age of three months, which left her profoundly deaf, with a brain injury and a diagnosis of cerebral palsy. The doctors said Amber would be dependent upon a feeding tube, confined to a wheelchair, and had little to no chance of ever regaining independent movement of her body. What the doctors did not understand was the determination of her, her family, and Abilities United to prove them wrong.

"Our first experience with Abilities United services was when Amber was eight years old and a respite worker came to visit Amber at home. That moment the respite worker walked in, there was just an immediate connection," says Sally, who is moved at the memory. "They communicated by sign language, and then embraced. It was very special. After all these years, she is like our family member and Amber is a family member to her." The respite service was invaluable, enabling the family to spend time with Amber's sister, or to simply have a break of a few hours knowing that Amber was in good hands.

Like so many clients, Amber also found the warm-water pool at Abilities United Betty Wright Swim Center to be incredibly helpful as she worked to develop her ability to walk. "Each time I recall her first visit to the pool, I am overwhelmed with happiness,” says Sally. “I remember walking over to the pool to watch. As my son helped Amber down the ramp into the water, I looked away for just a moment when my son yelled, ‘Mom, look at Amber - she's walking!’ My heart skipped a beat and my eyes welled up with tears of joy. Amber had just taken her first independent steps! As she took off through the water running, she looked over her shoulder at her dad and sister and began to laugh - as if to say, ‘Look at me, I can run!’"

Today Amber is in the Abilities United After School Socialization program where. "She engages everyone; the staff and the participants,” says Sally with pride. “She laughs and high fives all her classmates and teachers. She owns the place."

Amber continues to grow socially and intellectually. She is happy and healthy and striving to achieve greater independence. "Her social skills, self awareness, and sense of humor have just blossomed,” says Sally. “We attribute that largely to her interactions with everyone at Abilities United. Amber is a happy soul, and she has a joy of life that is contagious.  I think she changes people's lives and their perception of people with disabilities. I know for a fact that she has certainly changed my life and the lives of her large extended family - all for the better!"

Based on a 2012 interview with Sally Mickel.  Written by Bob Thomas and edited by Sally Mickel and Wendy Kuehnl.

Linda and Robin Vargas: 4 decades of giving and receiving services

Volunteers are a key part of the team at Abilities United, and long-time volunteer Linda Vargas helps set the standard. We are not the only ones who appreciate and recognize her service; the White House does too!

Linda Vargas and her daughter Rhonda, celebrate
Linda's 30+ years of volunteer work at Abilities United.

Linda’s relationship with Abilities United began forty years ago when her son Robin started attending Abilities United. Robin is challenged with cerebral palsy, and at that time, there were no comparable programs in the San Jose area and no public transit options, so she and Robin drove the twice per day, 72 mile round trip to Palo Alto. Since then, both Linda and Robin have become a vital part of our Abilities United community.

Linda helps support fundraising activities at Abilities United, and has logged thousands of hours helping our cause. For decades she’s been willing and able to do whatever it takes to help support the fund development team, and has helped enable raising over $1million each year in donations for services for people with disabilities.

In January of 2011, Linda, Robin and the rest of their family, along with  Abilities United, were thrilled to learn that she had been selected to receive President Obama’s Volunteer Service “Call to Service” Lifetime Award. The blue pin featuring the presidential seal is the highest of many honors that Linda has received for her volunteer service.  She proudly wears that pin along with her historic collection of Abilities United pins.

Though Robin is now able to get to Abilities United on his own using a public bus, Linda continues to make the trip to the office each week to volunteer. She finds her work to be personally very rewarding, and though she had planned to retire from volunteering at 75, at 84 she’s still a regular here.

We are fortunate to have wonderful volunteers such as Linda, and we’re proud to join the White House in recognizing her decades of volunteer service.

Based on an interview with Linda Vargas. Written by Bob Thomas, edited by Linda Vargas and Wendy Kuehnl.

Molly Hale: warm water therapy helps dream come true

Molly & Jeramy Hale each benefited from the
warm water of the Abilities United Aquatic
Services in the Betty Wright Swim Center

There are many individuals at Abilities United who represent thet, and one is Molly Hale, who has been coming to Abilities United for 17 years.

In 1995, Molly was in a car accident that resulted in a broken neck, and doctors told her that she would be permanently paralyzed from the neck down. But Molly wasn’t buying it.  

She started rehabbing in the warm water pool at Abilities United and became a huge believer in the powers of aquatic therapy, gradually getting increased use of her hands and arms. Then, with the help of a highly trained therapist on the Abilities United team, she reached the huge milestone of being able to stand in the pool, and then later on land.

“It took six years to be able to be able to stand,” says Molly. “What a thrill that was, to finally be able to stand! It was like a dream. Today I can stand on land, and I can get around a bit as long as someone is there to help me with my balance.”

Molly continues to make progress with her rehab, and her enthusiasm is inspiring. She tools around in her colorfully adorned wheelchair, rides a horse with the assistance of two “sidewalkers” who help her maintain balance, continues with martial arts training, and is currently looking forward to an upcoming wheelchair ballroom dance class.

Molly’s husband Jeramy has also used the aquatic facility at Abilities United. “I had thought it was just for people with disabilities, and not for me,” he says. “Then I pulled a hamstring doing martial arts training, and with the help of one of the Abilities United staff, I starting rehabbing in the pool. I’m now a huge proponent of using the pool to rehab sports injuries.”

You can see Molly at the pool at Abilities United several days each week; just look for a happy lady that’s swimming and tumbling in the water, while merrily chatting up anyone in ear-shot.  Thanks Molly, for setting such an amazing example for all of us!

Based on a 2012 interview with Molly and Jeramy Hale.  Written by Bob Thomas, edited by Molly and Jeramy Hale and Wendy Kuehnl.

Pauline & Ryan Navarro: Enjoying happy times

The Navarro family feels they are more unified
and cohesive because of services from Abilities United.

Pauline Navarro, whose son Ryan is challenged with Down Syndrome and autism, is an enthusiastic lady who is relentlessly positive. 

“It was 18 years ago that Ryan came into the Infant Program at what is now Abilities United,” says Pauline. “Having a child with significant disabilities can be traumatic for the family. Abilities United helps the family grow the child in the best way possible, and unlike other programs, helps the family build the unity and cohesiveness that is so important at such a difficult time.”

“Ryan’s teacher in the Infant Program told me to enjoy him,” Pauline says of those days, “and not to be consumed by being his therapist and teacher. It was wonderful advice and I repeat those words to other parents with a disabled child; enjoy the happy times.”

When he was ten years old, Ryan returned to the After-School Program. “The Abilities United program is a model for the nation,” says Pauline. “The children are taught social integration skills and taught to have leisure skills on their own. The impact is enormous.” Pauline pauses as her voice catches. “Lastly and perhaps most importantly, with Abilities United Ryan has friends; he has a social life. It’s the only place he can have a birthday party that has any meaning whatsoever to him”

“I’ve seen many other organizations who work with the disabled,” says Pauline, “And Abilities United is far and away the best I’ve seen.” 

Based on a 2013 interview with Pauline and Ryan Navarro. Written and edited by Bob Thomas, Pauline Navarro, and Wendy Kuehnl.