Creating opportunities for adults with disabilities since 1974 |
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A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
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The things we have been enthusiastically wishing for are starting to happen. We welcomed back some of our program participants beginning in June and all of our staff have been brought back to work this month. We are still in need of more staff to fully reopen programs in order to meet our ratio requirements. Our House of Champions Clubhouse is also back in full swing. The Enchanted Evening Planning Committee has reconvened to start their work on the April 30, 2022 event. Many of our clients who are employed in local businesses are now back to work as well. The renovations to our buildings are completed. It feels so good!
We are appreciative of the support we have been receiving through our year-end appeal financial donations and also through in-kind donations. Microsoft recently donated laptops to enhance our program participants' access to technology. FirstService Residential, where our board member Sheri Lee works, is embarking on a supply drive next month to benefit our organization.
We have been working on a big project with local Chevron gas stations to hire our participants to work in the mini-markets associated with their stations. This will provide employment opportunities for many individuals. This opportunity was shared with Vocational Visions by PathPoint, a Santa Barbara based program serving adults with disabilities. We are excited to partner with them and grateful that they reached out to us for this endeavor.
I'm so happy to share all of our good news with you. Happy Summer!
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MICROSOFT
VV PARENT - JEFF DAVIDSON
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We received a really cool donation from Jeff Davidson, on behalf of his employer Microsoft. Jeff is a VV parent. His son Anthony has been a participant in our ADP program since 2014.
Earlier this month, Microsoft shipped us 15 beautiful lightly used (but look brand new) Surface Pro laptops. Our IT team is setting them up and Joan will work with the management team to determine best practices for participant access to these amazing devices and to ensure they are well cared for. We are thrilled to be the recipient of this super useful donation. Thank you Mr. Davidson and thank you Microsoft.
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AMERICANS with DISABILITIES ACT (ADA)
31st ANNIVERSARY
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VV is proud to support the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 31st Anniversary. On July 26th, we celebrate this important civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation and all public and private places that are open to the general public. The purpose of the law is to make sure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.
Did you know that the ADA National Network is a free resource that provides information and training on the Americans with Disabilities Act? Learn more about the resources you can access here: https://adata.org/national-network
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PARTICIPANT SPOTLIGHT
ROBBIE HUMPRHREYS
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We are shining our participant spotlight on Robbie Humphreys this month. Robbie, who participates in our ADP program, joined VV in 2016.
Below, we have the opportunity to learn some interesting facts about Robbie in his own words.
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My name is Robbie. I am originally from Surrey in England. I have lived in America for fifteen years now. I became a United States citizen in 2019. My family and I felt very proud at my citizenship ceremony in January 2020. It was very cool. |
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I have been with Vocational Visions for five years. I have really enjoyed the zoom sessions and seeing my friends safely online during the pandemic. Some of my favorite sessions are dance, reading, counting and group chat.
In my spare time, I like to play FIFA ⚽️ on my PlayStation 4. My favorite soccer team is Arsenal. They are a north London premier league club. My family loves soccer. I hope to visit the UK again one day to see a live game at the Emirates Stadium. I like to watch soccer on TV with my Dad. We’re the best of friends! Here's a picture of me, my dad and my nephew Liam in our soccer shirts.
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I like to watch other sports too including 🏎 Formula 1 (F1) car racing.
Over the years, I have played soccer, basketball and floor hockey. I learned to swim when I was small. I like swimming in the lake & pool. I also like relaxing in the pool on a hot summer day.
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I like to be helpful and responsible and enjoy doing lots of things for myself including cooking and cleaning my room. I like to be organized. |
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I help my oldest sister with taking care of my 14-month old nephew. His name is Liam. He is lots of fun and we take him to the park.
I push him on the swing and he likes to go down the slide on his tummy.
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My sister Elizabeth lives on a mini farm so I also help with the horse, pony & chickens. We also have dogs which were all rescued from animal shelters. I love them all. I sometimes bake dog treats for them with my sister and I even hosted a Zoom activity for ADP where we taught my VV friends how to make pumpkin and peanut butter flavored dog biscuits. Of course, our dogs loved appearing in the Zoom activity with me. I even got the opportunity to show off our horse Alfie. |
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I am passionate about music. I play a mix of different songs. Anyone who knows me knows my favorite singer / actor is Selena Gomez.
I hope you enjoyed getting to know about me. Thank you for shining the spotlight on me. We ALL shine bright🌟
Robbie Humphreys, age 27.
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EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
ELIZABETH ANDERSON
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Our organization is blessed to have a magnificent staff of Direct Support Professionals who provide guidance to our participants. This month, we are highlighting Elizabeth Anderson who joined VV in 2017. Elizabeth recently transitioned from our HRS program to our DTAC Pala program.
Question: How did you first find out about VV?
Answer: I heard about VV through a friend of mine.
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Question: If someone has never heard of VV, what would you share with them to help them to understand what VV is about?
Answer: I would tell them about my experience when I first started working at VV. I worked with this participant who has difficulty communicating with people. At first it was a hard time working with her. I felt challenged trying to understand her needs. But, over time, I got to know her and interact with her in a way that made her feel happy and special! My job allows me to pursue my passion for helping others every day. At VV, I get the opportunity to spend time with people who really need someone to spend time with.
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Question: What is your favorite part of your job at VV?
Answer: Making and creating arts and crafts activities for everyone to enjoy!
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Before the pandemic started, I would come up with arts and crafts projects for the HRS program. I would provide hands on assistance to the participants helping them to create their own masterpieces. When the pandemic hit, we all had to improvise. Zoom enabled me to continue spreading a love for art to the HRS participants.
I recently took on the responsibility of becoming an Activity Coordinator. I now plan and prepare themed art activities for all four of our licensed programs and I do the art supply shopping for each of these programs monthly. I still host the HRS Zoom art activity every Tuesday and I often create and share fun step by step videos. Below you can watch one of the art tutorial videos I made recently for our 'Paper Fireworks' art project.
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Question: What is something that could be added, removed or changed to make VV better?
Answer: I think VV has done a great job so far. They’ve been getting it right so keep up the good work. Teamwork makes the dream work! I am grateful for the wonderful bosses I have. I want to thank them for believing in me and having confidence in my ability to plan thematic art activities for our licensed programs.
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Question: Did you volunteer or work with people who are uniquely abled before working at VV?
Answer: Before VV, I used to work as a health care worker with the elderly. I would tend to their health related needs and make sure they were comfortable.
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Question: Are there any interesting, unique or fun facts about you that you would like to share with us?
Answer: Sure. My favorite color is purple. My spirit animal is the horse. My favorite number is 7. My favorite food is sushi and I love arts and crafts! I have passed on my artsy and crafty ways to all of my children.
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Question: What is your motto for life or a quote that really resonates with you?
Answer: I have three.
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“There are friends, there is family, and then there are friends that become family” - Unknown
- “Be happy, not because everything is good, but because you can see the good side of everything.” - Unknown
- “Life is too short so you have to make the most of it.” - Elizabeth Anderson (me)
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Congratulations on your new role in our organization Elizabeth. A recent Facebook comment from one of our VV parents sums up collectively how we feel about your efforts to create an organized, quality art program for VV:
"Kudos to Elizabeth! The ideas are so cute and all of the pre-planning and preparation to send packets out is so labor intensive. Thank you so much for the time and effort, Elizabeth. Appreciate it so much!" - Karen Sharman
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Disability Pride Month
4th of July Holiday *
ADA Awareness Day
VV Board of Directors Meeting
EE Planning Committee Meeting
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Entire Month
July 5, 2021
July 26, 2021
July 28, 2021
July 28, 2021
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* Vocational Visions is closed on this day in observance |
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Enchanted Evening 2022
All You Need is Love
Saturday, April 30, 2022
Hyatt Regency
John Wayne Airport, Newport Beach
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July is Disability Pride Month
Disability Pride has been defined as accepting and honoring each person's uniqueness and seeing it as a natural and beautiful part of human diversity. Disability Pride is an integral part of movement building and a direct challenge of systemic ableism and stigmatizing definitions of disability.
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EARN DONATIONS FOR VV WHILE YOU SHOP |
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Click on this link to smile.amazon.com to go right to the page to select Vocational Visions as your charity for Amazon purchases.
Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible purchases to us.
Click here for instructions to activate AmazonSmile on your Amazon mobile app.
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Link your Ralphs Grocery Store shopper's card to Vocational Visions:
Then, swipe your shopper's card, or enter your associated phone number, whenever you shop at Ralphs and Ralphs will make a quarterly donation to us.
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