You can help kids like me!

Charlotte Rayfield with her mother, father, and brother. “Abilities United put me on track to know that I could follow my dreams. Please make sure other kids and their families have that opportunity too!”

- Charlotte Rayfield

When you have a kid it’s hard, but when you have a kid with a disability...

wow, that’s crazy. I was about two years old when my mom and I joined an Early Intervention class at Abilities United. The moms shared their experiences and fears for our future. It prepared them for a future with us. The class was great for us, too, as we played with other kids and learned a lot. Abilities United was my first playground, my first classroom. I have Cerebral Palsy, a physical disorder caused by a stroke I had before I was born. Since it happened on the left side of my brain, it means my right side is weaker. I use an assortment of mechanical and power wheelchairs to get around in my daily life. I can’t walk, but I can still do pretty cool stuff. Without my disability, I wouldn’t be a part of the ski program that allows me to ski at insanely high speeds while remaining seated. Now, I am a senior in high school. I plan to study at Foothill College for a few years while I figure out how to live on a college campus. It’s scary yes, but I can figure it out. I love reading and want a job working with books - a writer, a publisher. I also think it would be great to be a history professor as it’s my favorite subject in school. I love horses and have a passion for carriage driving, so I hope to incorporate that into my future. Without Abilities United - I wouldn’t be on the track I am on today. I wouldn’t be the person I am today. Other kids deserve that chance too. Thank you for helping kids like me by making a gift today! Charlotte Rayfield graduate of Abilities United Early Intervention program

Community support turns burglary into an inspiring event

Adult Services Camping and hiking trip 2015

On behalf of everyone at Abilities United, and particularly the campers, we thank the community for their outpouring of support to replace the camping equipment that was stolen from Abilities United in early April. What started out as a sad and unfortunate event turned into an inspiring rally of support from our broader Bay Area community.    We also want to thank the media who reported on this story  in such a compelling way that these dozens of people came forward with cash and inkind donations. 

 

Since the news broke on April 7th, donations have flowed in:

• $10,000+ in cash donations as of Monday April 18, from 30 donors
• Donation amounts ranged from $10 to $2,000
• In kind donations of tents, sleeping bags and pads, camping stoves and lanterns, and other camping items from 7 donors
• New donors from as far north as Napa, as far east as Danville, and as far south as Hollister, and many points in between!
• Existing donors including Palo  Alto Rotary, Palo Alto Kiwanis, Palo Alto Community Foundation, and individual friends

 

We received at least 6 media stories including the following local coverage:

 

Print

1. Palo Alto Daily Post with a front page headline on April 7th.

 

Online

1. Palo Alto Online (Palo Alto Weekly) online story and community comments on April 7 and 8th.

http://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2016/04/07/burglars-hit-abilities-united

2. Palo Alto Patch online story April 11

http://patch.com/california/paloalto/burglary-abilities-united-leaves-disabled-participants-without-gear

3. Mercury news online story April 11 http://www.mercurynews.com/peninsula/ci_29753631/

 

TV News

1. NBC Bay Area 11 pm news story on April 7 http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Burglars-Break-Into-Non-Profit-Organization-in-Palo-Alto-374999411.html

2. KTVU Channel 2 10 pm news story on April 8 http://www.ktvu.com/news/119591822-story

 

 

Social media also shared this story with great results such as:

o  Facebook reach of 1,500  people (KTVU news story) and thousands of others reached through the posts of the stories listed above

o  Nearly 30% increase in web traffic from April 6 - April 11

 

We will replace  the stolen equipment, buy the additional equipment the 40 campers need, and store the new equipment in a more secure location inside one of our building

 

Many thanks to all of you for sharing the story and helping to spread the word to generate this very positive outcome!

Abilities United "Community Connections": finalist for Western Video Excellence award

We're very proud to announce that the "Community Connections" video is once again a finalist for the Western Access Video Excellence (‪#‎WAVE‬) Awards in the Accessibility-Abled programming category. Check out the video featuring the Bridge School in Hillsborough, CA  to see why this is our 6th finalist in that many years! Abilities United Presents: Community Connections, Partnering with the Bridge School

Our partner Midpen Media Center posted the abbreviated summary of the various awards starting with a great mention and acknowledgement of the Abilities United Community Connections videos!
http://midpenmedia.org/congratulations-to-the-wave-award-finalists/

"Midpen Media Center producers have garnered 14 finalist nominations for the 2016 Western Access Video Excellence (WAVE) Awards — more than any other access center in the Alliance for Community Media Western Region! These were programs produced and aired between August 1, 2014 and August 2015. Below is a list of the productions and their respective producers. (Of course there were many crew members involved too!)

Drum roll please……
Accessibility-Abled Programming (Andrea Throndson, Community Producer)"
Abilities United Presents: Community Connections, Partnering with the Bridge School
Congratulations to all the Community Connections participants who helped make this and the many other video Community Connections has created since 2004.  You can see all of the Community Connections video on the Abilities United Youtube channel
https://www.youtube.com/user/AbilitiesUnitedVideo

In appreciation of our donors and partners who make our accomplishments possible

This edition is dedicated to  Lynda Steele
April 1948 - February 2016

As we enter into spring, we are honored to share that you have contributed nearly $1.1 million through our Aquathon, Authors Luncheon and annual appeals. You have positioned us to reach our year-end fundraising goal of $1.4 milllion which will continue to support the essential and professional services we provide to thousands of individuals and their families who live with a developmental or physical disability.  A quick summary of your contributions since July 1, 2015 include:

donor generosity ensure our achievements

    united for success: fundraising on target
    Our annual appeal for the end of 2015 and beginning of 2016 was extremely successful.  To date, we have raised $240,000 which is critical to our ability to provide educational, therapeutic, social, and vocational services to children and adults with developmental and physical disabilities. The annual appeal revenue, along with the combined $450,000 raised at the Authors Luncheon and Aquathon, plus individual gifts since July 1, 2015  bring us to our current $1.1 million in donated revenue.

    united for the future donation results
    We are now halfway through our 2015-2018 "United for the Future" funded projects. Many of those gifts came as naming opportunities for specific projects or programs that Abilities United needed to launch to remain competitive in disability services.  We have met with many of these major donors to share with them the impact their gifts have made on the lives of the people we serve. A quick summary includes:
        Art Program: Abilities United participant artists have increased exposure and art revenue in the Bay Area through exhibits at notable locations including the de Young Museum and the Children's Discovery Museum San Jose.
        Art Scholarships: Nearly 50 adult artists have enrolled in art classes in the community to further develop their artistic talents and techniques and be exposed to new teachers and painting styles. The original art works produced have been on exhibit and available for purchase in our Art Program art collection.
        Technology Fund: Staff and participants have better access to modern technology software and hardware; the necessary infrastructural developments have been made to prepare us for more sophisticated and robust technology solutions to ensure the organization runs more efficiently and effectively.
        Memorial Fund: Adult Day Activities staff members participated in meaningful and effective team building opportunities to develop the skills and competencies to be better leaders. They share what they have learned with other staff to improve services to all Adult Services participants.
        Employment Placement Enhancement Fund: Employment placement increased to 39 individuals (up from 32 the previous year) while another 13 individuals received employment readiness support services.  Today, approximately 385 individuals served are currently employed in the mainstream workforce

partnerships make our work possible

    united for children: how early intervention changes lives
    Board members, Cassy Christianson, Dr. Heidi Feldman, and Rachel Segars teamed up for an intimate and personal presentation on how early intervention services have impacted their lives and the lives of their children and families.  A dozen friends of the board members gained a more in-depth understanding of how these Abilities United services change the future of individuals, families, and the community.

    stronger united: employment services business partners
    Employment partners enjoyed networking with like-minded business professionals who have committed to help close the employment and income gap by hiring people with disabilities.  One of our new Employment Services partners, Homewood Suites-Hilton in Palo Alto, sponsored the appreciation breakfast to recognize the contribution of our 140 employment and volunteer partners.  We cannot place individuals in jobs that match their skills without the partnership of these employers.

    united for art: a universal language
    Community School of Music and Art (CSMA) once again partnered with Abilities United to host an art and wine social  for an intimate group of art supporters.  Donors from CSMA and Abilities United bonded over freshly and artistically made hors d'oeuvres prepared by the Abilities United Integrated Living program participants.  The evening concluded with an enjoyable acrylic painting class led by Abilities United artist, Ingrid Lai, and CSMA Art Program Director, Linda Covello.  Each artist left with a smile and newly discovered pride in their artistic talent and an appreciation for the artistic talents of others.

    united by abilities: the capacity to overcome challenges
    Concentric Media and filmmaker Dorothy Fadiman  joined forces with Abilities United to host a film festival debut of "The Annie Gill Story" as well as present three additional Concentric Media films. The audience of 250 community members was moved by each of the individuals featured in the films, including Abilities United participant, Molly Hale, whose story of how she utilized warm-water aquatic exercise and other therapeutic exercises to recover from her spinal cord injury was recounted in the film "Moment by Moment'.

    united for education: Palo Alto Adult School
    Celebrating its 95th anniversary,  Palo Alto Adult School provides classes for English learners, parents, job seekers, travelers, and hobbyists. The Adult School recognizes Abilities United this quarter for its high quality services for community members with disabilities. Are you caring for a family member? Consider taking a class for yourself. Learn about the various Spring quarter class offerings beginning March 21st at PAAdultSchool.org


Abilities United cannot achieve our mission without your help. Thank you for all your contributions because everything you do brings us closer to reaching our goals to:

    Provide seamless transition from one service to another throughout the lifetime of participants
    Increase Abilities United brand awareness
    Assess the community needs to help define the future of Abilities United services

As we approach the close of our 2015/2016 fiscal year, I look forward to keeping you informed about more progress at Abilities United.

Charlie Weidanz
CEO

Thank you! You made all these achievements possible!

Authors Luncheon authors Thomas Mallon, Annie Barrow, Silicon Valley tech writer, Ashlee Vance andPam Muñoz Ryan

We had a wonderful autumn and I want to share these successes with you because you made all this possible! Much has been accomplished in the last couple months, so as we celebrate Thanksgiving and on behalf of everyone at Abilities United, thank you for everything you have done to help people with developmental and physical disabilities.  

In the spirit of the season, please join us to celebrate “Giving Tuesday” on December 1. Now in its fourth year, Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration. GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season, when many of us focus on our holiday and end-of-year giving.  Abilities United’s Giving Tuesday campaign goal will be to raise the final $15,000 needed to place 50 individuals with disabilities in jobs that match their skills and interests and meet the needs of the employer.

You can donate to our Giving Tuesday employment campaign now or look for our "Giving Tuesday" email next week.

Thank you for all your contributions because everything you do brings us closer to reaching our goals to:
    •    Provide seamless transition from one service to another throughout the lifetime of participants.
    •    Increase Abilities United brand awareness.
    •    Assess the needs for redevelopment of Abilities United facilities.

Join me in celebrating the successes of the last couple months.

fundraising events

    •    authors luncheon The 24th annual Authors Luncheon once again broke its fundraising record and raised $356,000 for services for children and adults with developmental and physical disabilities. More than 500 book lovers and friends of Abilities United joined four acclaimed authors Annie Barrow, Thomas Mallon, Pam Muñoz Ryan, and Silicon Valley tech writer, Ashlee Vance for an entertaining lunch on Saturday, November 7, at the newly remodeled Crowne Plaza Cabaña in Palo Alto.   Many thanks to the hundreds of dedicated volunteers, donors, and book lovers who consistently make this one of the community’s most anticipated and beloved annual fundraising events. Please join us for the 25th anniversary of the Authors Luncheon in 2016!



    •    aquathon The 38th annual Aquathon made a splash on Sunday, September 13, at the campus pool of West Valley College in Saratoga.  Returning lead sponsors were Oracle and De Mattei Construction.  Twenty swim teams with 126 swimmers raised over $80,000. The Abilities United Aquathon is a community event that demonstrates how each person can participate and contribute. Special thanks to all the individuals, teams, and groups for their support of the people with developmental and physical disabilities that Abilities United is privileged to serve. Congratulations to everyone and let's dive in to the Abilities United Aquathon 2016!

staff and volunteer awards
    •    sarc "service above self" awards  We are so proud of Lupe Arizaga, our Children’s Services Occupational Therapist, and Board Member Mike Aquilar, who each received a coveted SARC recognition awards. Lupe’s 20 year career with Abilities United Children’s Services and Mike’s decades of work as an advocate for people with disabilities garnered them the “Support Staff of the Year” and the “Advocate of the Year” awards respectively.  We are also delightged to note that Abilities United staff has received the award 4 out of the last 6 years and participants have won the "advocate" award two times!  Join us in congratulating Lupe and Mike on being recognized for their professionalism and leadership!

services

    •    employment services The compelling Palo Alto Weekly cover story “Able and Willing”, about employment options for people with disabilities, featured Abilities United Employment Services participant Brett Carmody, an auto detailer at Tesla in Palo Alto and Joel Martinez, a morning server in the dining room of the Homewood Suites Hilton Palo Alto.  Read the story here.



The Abilities United special guest speaker at the Authors Luncheon, Pat Romzek, father of a son with Down syndrome, Vice President of Cloud Strategy of Cisco Systems, and a member of the Abilities United board; further expounded on the importance and power of employment in the lives of all people, and especially people with disabilities.   His impassioned speech about the employment rights of people with disabilities compelled the Authors Luncheon audience to donate approximately $115,000 to fund the placement of 50 individual with disabilities in jobs in the community.
Watch Pat Romzek’s speech here.

    •    integrated living Abilities United celebrated the grand opening of the 1585 Studio apartments located in Mountain View. As part of the grand opening, they purchased and showcased ten original works of art by artists from Abilities United.

 Eleven Abilities United participants are residents of 1585 Studios and also receive personalized one-to-one coaching through our newest program “Integrated Living”. This two-year pilot project is a coordinated program of educational, social, vocational, and independent living training needed by post high school or college-aged students with disabilities. The extensive instruction will benefit the participants with employment placement, increased independence, and access to college and community resources and activities. The ultimate goal is for these young adults to live independently after completing the two-year program.
Learn about the new Integrated Living program. 


As we approach 2016, I look forward to keeping you informed about more progress at
Abilities United.

Charlie Weidanz
Executive Director

An end of year report on July 1, 2014 through July 31, 2015

Reflections on your contributions this past year

This year, Abilities United celebrates 52 years of service to our community. I am proud to be a part of this important agency that you helped create and sustain and am pleased to report out on the highlights of this year.

Our success is due in large part to you, our thousands of donors, volunteers, and partners who support the organization.

Each of our donors and philanthropic partners was critical to the successful completion of our United for the Future campaign, which raised over $2 million.  We also had record revenue from the Authors Luncheon which raised $350,000 and the Aquathon having raised $125,000, and The Sobrato Family Foundation 2 to 1 Challenge grant which contributed an impressive $225,000.

Like any nonprofit, Abilities United depends on the generosity of our volunteers to propel us beyond what our existing human and financial resources can accomplish.  In 2014/2015, dedicated and talented volunteers donated nearly 6,500 hours to Abilities United services and administration. Their hard work is valued at over $170,000 and is equivalent to 3 full-time staff members!   This year in particular, we have had tremendous insight and talent provided by more than 335 dedicated and talented volunteers.

Our community partners ensure that the people we serve receive the best services available. The Regional Centers, as well as the Department of Rehabilitation, are key partners in our ability to provide award winning services to thousands of Peninsula and South Bay children and adults.  To enhance all of our service offerings we have also partnered with over 200 corporations, nonprofits, schools, service organizations such as Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs, and government organizations including the City of Palo Alto and the City of Sunnyvale.

Highlights of accomplishments you made possible

• children's services Early Intervention, Therapy and Milestones Preschool benefit children and their families throughout San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. New in May 2015, Milestones Preschool was licensed for and expanded to be a full-day preschool in addition to a half-day program.  We also launched our collaboration with Stanford University to offer social skills classes to children with and without autism.
• family support We continue to provide after school care, respite services, and computer education classes to people of all ages so their family members can continue to work full-time and attend to other familial and personal needs.  We continued our partnership with the City of Palo Alto for a second year to manage the city's "Summer's Excellent Adventure Camp" designed for children with and without disabilities
• adult services The Adult Services program offerings continue to expand having received regional center authorization to open two new services: Tailored Day and Integrated Living, both of which offer one-to-one coaching for adults to expand their skills to live independently.  Continued partnerships with over 100 Bay Area employers ensured that we placed 40 individuals in appropriate jobs, including placements at Homewood Suites-Hilton in Palo Alto, Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Stanford University, and Safeway stores throughout the area.   We continue to provide employment assessment, job placement, and job coaching. We are proud that we now have over 400 individuals placed in jobs that utilize their skills and interest. Adult Day Activities participants also produced their first two TV shows for MidPeninsula Community Media Center, "Using our Community Connections" and "Betty Wright Aquatic Services"  to promote and educate the community about the  accomplishments, talents, and rights of people with disabilities.
• aquatic services The rehabilitation, fitness and recreation aquatic programs continue to be offered in local warm-water pools including the Timpany Center in San Jose and Channing House in Palo Alto, as well as our new Redwood City partner, Hoover Pool. We are proud and delighted to have provided swim and water safety lessons for over 400 low-income children from Redwood City and water safety education for their parents.  This special program was made possible by a generous donation from a family who believes in the importance of water safety for all.

You're sure to make an impact in 2015 and into our next 50 years!

The Abilities United Board of Directors had an extremely fruitful year.  In September it approved the Abilities United 2015-2018 Strategic Plan, which positions us to address the changing needs of people with disabilities and our community.  Specifically, our 2015-2018 goals are to

• Provide seamless transition from one service to another throughout the lifetime of participants.
• Increase Abilities United brand awareness.
• Assess the needs for redevelopment of Abilities United facilities.

I can't thank all of you enough for the diverse contributions you made to Abilities United in this past year.  Each of you, whether you are a donor, volunteer, partner, staff member, participant or long-time friend of Abilities United, truly is what makes Abilities United successful and a valued member of the local community.  All of our accomplishments are only possible because of your support and belief in this organization.  We sincerely appreciate your ongoing commitment to the people who benefit from Abilities United services.

As we begin our new fiscal year, I look forward to keeping you informed about progress at Abilities United.

Charlie Weidanz
Executive Director

Lupe Arizaga, Occupational Therapist with Abilities United for 20 years, wins SARC "Support Staff of the Year" award

Lupe Arizaga accepts her SARC "Service Above Self"
award Support Staff of the Year

On Saturday, October 24, Lupe Arizaga, received the San Andreas Regional Center "Service Above Self"  Support Staff of the Year award.  Lupe has been an Occupational Therapist and led the Early Intervention Spanish-speaking parents groups at Abilities United for over 20 years. Over the years, we estimate that she has impacted the lives of thousands of children and their families from throughout Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.

Lupe has an amazing personal story that has led her to being an exceptionally dedicated, talented, effective, empathetic, and compassionate occupational therapist for children and their families.
Lupe was only 3 years old when she was in a car accident. While the car tumbled over and over, her arm went out the open window.  A large piece of glass from the shattered window shield fell on her right arm and severed it above her elbow.  Lupe was one of thousands of people, who, each year, acquire a disability.  Unlike most people, Lupe was very young and grew up and into her disability.  She affectionately refers to her right arm as her “little arm”.   Lupe has adapted well to her “disability” and together with the experiences she has had in life because of it, Lupe is the strong, determined, accomplished person she is today.

As an amputee, Lupe spent entire days of her childhood and as an adult with doctors and residents throughout Northern California.  She experienced the medical model first hand (pun intended) and through her father who was born deaf.  Lupe is tri-lingual having grown up speaking Spanish with her mother, using sign with her father, and speaking English in school.  Learning English, and adjusting to life without an arm was quite an adjustment.  But adjust she did, and Lupe won a scholarship to the UC-Davis developmental preschool where she got her first introduction to teachers especially preschool teachers. She learned that school is a wonderful place to learn new things every day, including how to navigate her new world.  As an only child, Lupe needed to learn how to interact with her peers despite getting teased about having one arm.  When she wore her prosthesis, other kids and even professors noticed her arm looked different and teased her well into her college years.  She credits her father for being a great example of how to handle teasing.  Because Lupe’s father was deaf, he also got teased but put on a good face in public.  He didn’t receive the adaptive services he needed early in life or as an adult and this had a deep impact on Lupe and this drove her to want to ensure other people with disabilities and their families receive the therapeutic and medical services needed to minimize the long-term impact of their delays or disabilities.

Motivated by these early experiences, Lupe began to chart her professional course in life and by the time she was in junior high, she knew she wanted a career in Occupational Therapy to help the disabled community, especially in the Spanish speaking community. Lupe eloquently expresses why she became an Occupational Therapist and her passion for serving families: “I was fortunate my family and community let me be who I am.  They never belittled me, they didn’t treat me any different from before my accident.  I never heard ‘No, you can’t do it.’ They were very supportive and provided me an opportunity to be the first family member of our entire family to graduate from high school, read and write, and graduate from college.”

Explaining further, Lupe said: “I know exactly why I do what I do.  I am happy to have this opportunity to work at Abilities United and work with the families we serve.  I have worked with families from all walks of life; from the converted one-room garages in East Palo Alto to the mansions in Atherton.  But that doesn’t determine what is going to happen with the child or family.  Look at me.  I grew up with parents who were illiterate, who never went to school.  My father was deaf and couldn’t speak Spanish or English but developed his own verbal language.  My mother couldn’t write her name until I was in 5th grade, until then she marked a document with an X.  My family provided me a home and clean clothes and good food.  I didn’t even know I was low income until I went to school and got a ticket for lunch.  But they showed me the importance of hard work and making no excuses.  That’s why I value every family and respect their cultural experience.  I am being invited in to their family and am honored to have that invitation.

I’ve been with Abilities United for over 20 years because the organization shares my values.  I like the fact that we serve people of all stages of their life and of all abilities.  When I am working, I see the child and I get to be a part of their family.  I don’t pigeonhole a kid because that’s not how I see things; you don’t know what a child can do, what the family can do, what the community can provide.”

Lupe didn’t let anything stop her from taking every opportunity life had to offer.  She made some choices just to make a point.  Lupe played competitive sports in high school partly to show other kids what she was capable of. And capable she was!  She made varsity soccer as a freshman.  She tried out for field hockey and played all 3 years.  She amazed her coach who didn’t believe Lupe could hold a stick with only one arm.  She broke pushup records in the high school President’s Physical Fitness exam.  In college, Lupe made NCAA track shot put, discus and javelin. She also took up fencing and martial arts and practiced with the men’s soccer team because she played at their level.  By the time Lupe was well into college, she no longer felt a need to prove to people that she was capable.  She stopped using her prosthesis all the time and only used it when she needed it to accomplish a task.
Lupe says she became an Occupational Therapist because she wants to help others.  She received her Bachelors of Science degree in Occupational Therapy with a minor in Arts from San Jose State University.  She wanted to specialize in Pediatrics and did her 3-month internship at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital in Palo Alto.  While working at the amputee clinic at the hospital, Lupe realized she needed to wear her prosthesis; to be a role model for children who were going to have an amputation.

The families at Abilities United have come to respect and love Lupe.  They value the fact that she has lived with and gone through many of the same things their child and family are going through.  And they appreciate her hopeful way of looking at life.  Her optimism is contagious and they have hope for their own children.  These families say Lupe is “inspirational”. 

For the Spanish-speaking families experiencing the challenges and struggles of helping their child with a developmental disability or delay, it is vital to have therapists and educators who speak Spanish because the information they are getting is complex and medical in nature.  It is also very important for the therapists to understand the Latin culture and relate to families through their language and culture.  Because of Lupe’s personal background and cultural identity, she has empathy.  As an individual, she has experience with the medical model, the appointments, the emotions, and the translations for parents.  She understands how difficult it is for parents to know what to do and how they can help their child.  Lupe recognizes that her mother trusted the system but didn’t have the resources to help her as a child.  This has made a huge impression on Lupe and she wants to help parents feel empowered and better equipped to help their children.  Because she knows these children will have long-term or lifelong affects, she acknowledges and reinforces what families are doing positively.  Most often, Lupe is working with mothers and encouraging with every interaction.  She understands the psychological stages families experience and that each one is unique for each parent and family member.  Lupe respects where families are in this process and she’s sensitive to their individual needs and where they want to be.  Lupe states; “If they invite me to help, I am happy to encourage them and help.”

Lupe has successfully aided, encouraged and inspired families for over 20 years at Abilities United.  In those years, she has impacted thousands of lives…the lives of individual children, their parents and siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, along with their entire community.  Lupe has taken on many roles to serve children and families who need early intervention services.  She is a therapist, teacher, role model, confidant, resource, and cheerleader.  And a dedicated friend.  Lupe’s personal experiences and her infectious philosophy and optimism, truly speak to the power of “the village” and she takes pride in taking on a matriarchal, or as she calls her “co-madre” role in this village of families who desperately need and benefit from early intervention and occupational therapy.  Lupe states: “My personal experiences have helped me to understand and highly value what families want for their child and I see my role as being one that supports, rather than hinders, their decision.  I believe in making decisions with them, not for them. And this in turn teaches the parents how to work with their children.”