Creating opportunities for adults with disabilities since 1974
|
|
A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
|
|
Four and a half months ago, we had to discontinue in-person services due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It seems much longer than that for all of us at Vocational Visions. Since that time, we have made great strides to reach out to the people we serve in ways we never imagined we’d be delivering services: phone calls, Zoom classes/meetings, sending cards/letters in the mail and dropping off activity supply kits. For our clients that continue to work in grocery stores and other essential businesses, we continue to provide job coaching support. During this challenging time, our staff members have completed a lot of online competency based training to enhance their knowledge and skills as Direct Support Professionals.
Due to the recent surge in coronavirus, we still cannot project a re-opening date. We are going to continue to enhance our virtual services throughout the month of August and going forward in response to directives from the
Department of Developmental Services (DDS)
. Our goal will be to have contact with each of our clients every day starting in September. In addition, other service delivery options may be available: in-home visits/activities with Vocational Visions staff, community based learning activities with Vocational Visions staff, continuing to deliver activity supply kits, wellness checks via phone/face time and a host of other supports to ensure our clients are engaged in meaningful ways.
There are a lot of barriers to accomplishing this: access to technology/internet for some, support needed in the home to assist clients to participate in virtual classes/meetings or to complete the activities delivered to them, scheduling the most convenient times for daily contact, etc.
I would like to hear from care providers and family members about their concerns as we move forward with new ways for service delivery.
- What challenges do you face?
- What concerns do you have?
- Are you open to Vocational Visions providing in-home services (following all recommended safety protocols of course)?
- Are you open to community based services?
- How about a combination of service delivery options?
I welcome your emails and input.
Be well!
|
|
EMPOWERING POSSIBILITIES OC RESULTS
|
|
Thank you to the approximately
75 donors
who gave to Vocational Visions during the
Empowering Possibilities OC
fundraiser on July 16, 2020. We raised
$19,570
including some mail in donations. This will help us tremendously with the unexpected costs due to COVID-19 and this is also our largest fundraising opportunity for 2020 since our Enchanted Evening event this year has been canceled for safety reasons. We sincerely appreciate your support.
|
|
Happy 10th Wedding Anniversary
Erica Davis Popely and Ben Popely
|
|
Erica Davis Popely, who has been attending our DTAC Pala program since 2000, and her husband Ben Popely recently celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary.
Ben and Erica
met back in 2007 through Vocational Visions' now defunct Guys and Gals social group.
|
|
"We have a good friendship and she’s beautiful.” - Ben
“I love him like the whole world.” - Erica
|
|
Their happy occasion was highlighted in an Orange County Register article. Click on the link below to read the full article.
We at Vocational Visions want to say congratulations and we look forward to their future milestones.
|
|
CONRATULATIONS
PARTICIPANT EMPLOYMENT
|
|
Congratulations to ADP program participant Paul Hayton who just started a new job at
Cats Luv Us Boarding Hotel
in Laguna Niguel on July 28, 2020. He receives job coaching 100% of the time. Fun fact about Paul - he and Vocational Visions employee David host a virtual dance party via Zoom for program participants every Thursday.
|
|
WELCOME
NEW PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS
|
|
Natalie Legaux is a new Supported Employment program participant. Natalie was placed by her Adult Transition Program at the
Ralphs grocery store
in Mission Viejo in March of this year. She was referred to Vocational Visions for job coaching support to help her maintain stable employment. We just started providing support to her on July 27, 2020. Nancy Hunter is her Job Coach.
|
|
PARTICIPANT SPOTLIGHT
JOSHUA ORRO
|
|
In this issue, we are highlighting Joshua Orro who has been attending our ADP program since 2012.
Here, Joshua shares one of his very special talents in his own words:
|
|
|
My name is Joshua Orro and I love to use my acting talents to bring a smile to the audience.
My interest in acting began in December 2000 when I sang for my elementary school choir. In junior high (middle) school, thanks to some influence from a drama teacher I had, I joined
Musical Theatre Village
(MTV for short) in the fall of 2005 and my passion for acting has been growing ever since. I have also managed to make new friends with many of the other MTV performers and I consider them as my second family.
I’ve had a blast in many of the shows MTV has done over the years and I appear in five or six musicals and plays each year with them. By the way, in some of them, I got to perform multiple characters. I would like to talk about three characters I have played which meant a lot to me.
|
|
Oz in The Wizard Of Oz
During the Summer of 2010, The Wizard of Oz became my big break at MTV. After I did my first performance as the great and powerful Oz, several members of the theatre, as well as the audience, were completely blown away by my powerful booming voice. Some said that I sounded like a completely different person.
|
|
The Sultan in Aladdin
During early 2013, I was really excited to play a Disney character. Aladdin is my absolute favorite animated Disney film from my childhood. Even though I didn't get the Genie part that I auditioned for, it was a great experience playing Princess Jasmine’s father, The Sultan. By the way, that is not a fake beard. I had to grow out a full beard for this role.
|
|
Ali Hakim in Oklahoma
Oklahoma was the very first show that I ever ever did with MTV. While I have performed as an ensemble cowboy (2005) and as Slim (2013), the time when I performed as the Persian peddler man Ali Hakim (2018) would have to be my favorite role. This is not only due to the Persian Goodbye scene and the numerous kissing scenes I had to do, but also because of the accent I had to perform which was, at first, hard to pull off. I’m glad that I made the audience laugh several times.
Hopefully, some day, I can use my acting talents to make millions of people all over the world happy.
__________________
On Saturday, August 8, 2020, MTV will be hosting a free virtual event called '
A Disney Cabaret
' at 7:00 pm. Joshua will be singing '
Will the Sun Ever Shine Again?
' from the animated Disney movie called '
Home on the Range
'.
|
|
BOARD MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Edward Kenna
|
|
Our organization is blessed to be served by a dedicated volunteer Board of Directors (BOD). This month, we're highlighting Edward Kenna who is our Parent Representative and has served on our BOD for ~ 35 years now. Let's get to know more about Ed below.
Question:
Time is a valuable commodity. What inspired you to dedicate some of your valuable time to Vocational Visions (VV)?
Answer:
I was asked to join by a man already on the board. Like us, he had a child who was developmentally disabled and attended Esperanza Education Center with our daughter. He felt the board needed some more business oriented members.
I joined because we felt that VV (which was called Saddleback Community Enterprises back then) would be where we would send our daughter after she left school at Esperanza.
__________________
Question:
What line of work are you in?
Answer:
I am currently retired. My first job was with the General Electric Major Appliance Division. I was hired as a kitchen designer and ended up as the manager of Kitchen Sales (cabinets, appliances and complete installation services). After 10 years, I left and joined a company called Plan Hold Corporation as the District Sales Manager for the Midwest area. After 14 years in that position, I was transferred to their Irvine headquarters as the Western Regional Manager. I moved into the Director of Sales role and retired as VP of Sales & Marketing.
__________________
Question:
Have you ever volunteered or worked with people with disabilities in the past?
Answer:
When we lived in the Midwest, my wife and I worked with
Kirk Center
in Palatine, IL which is a facility much like VV. It was both a school and, what was called in those days, a sheltered work center. Our daughter attended school there.
__________________
Question:
What is a your motto or, a quote about life, that really resonates with you?
Answer:
God answers all prayers. Some people can’t understand that sometimes he says ‘no’.
__________________
Thank you Ed for your many years of dedication to our organization.
|
|
Stay tuned to see which board member we will shine our Q & A spotlight on in next month's e-news.
|
|
Employee Spotlight
Erma Strunk
|
|
Our organization is blessed to have a wonderful staff of Direct Support Professionals who provide guidance to our participants. This month, we would like to highlight one of our newcomers, Erma Strunk, who joined our DTAC Pala program as an Instructional Assistant in January 2020.
Question:
You had not heard of Vocational Visions until you found the job posting. Now that you have been here for a few months, how would you describe VV to others who haven't heard of us?
Answer:
I would
describe VV as a family. It’s a place where people are loved, respected, understood and heard. Management and coaches are working hand in hand to provide the necessary support that each client needs.
__________________
Question:
What is your favorite part about your job so far?
Answer:
Prior to this pandemic, I loved going out with them to the park and play ball games and listen to music. During quarantine, I have loved video chatting with my clients one by one. I get to know them more and get to know their families as well. I give a regular schedule to my clients, when possible, so they can develop a routine which is really helpful during this time. We all need a sense of belongingness.
__________________
Question:
What is an interesting fact about you that you would like to share?
Answer:
I moved here from the Philippines in November 2019.
__________________
Question:
What is a your motto or, a quote about life, that really resonates with you?
Answer:
I love the line from the Cranberries song called 'Free to Decide' -
“I live as I choose or I will not live at all.”
|
|
Sometimes the greatest gift you can give to another person is to simply include them.
- Unknown
|
|
Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month
Happiness Happens Day
Labor Day *
|
|
Entire month
Aug 8, 2020
Sep 7, 2020
|
|
*
Vocational Visions is closed on this day
|
|
|
|
Enchanted Evening 2021
Saturday, April 24, 2021
Hyatt Regency
John Wayne Airport, Newport Beach
|
|
Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible purchases to us.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
