Creating opportunities for adults with disabilities since 1974
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August 2021 E-NEWSLETTER

A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
This is the time of year that we complete our Annual Report to highlight the significant accomplishments of our organization and the people we serve. The 2020-2021 Annual Report is posted on our website. Click here to read it.

Sheri Lee is a very dedicated VV board member. She works for FirstService Residential, a property management company. She and her colleagues conducted a supply drive for VV earlier this month. We are so grateful for their generosity and all the supplies donated will certainly be appreciated by our participants.

We have acquired two new vehicles for our Alambre programs to help expand community experiences for our participants. These vehicles were purchased with grant funding from the Department of Developmental Services & the Regional Center of Orange County.

We at VV live in a world that includes multiple oversight agencies. This has never been more true than during the COVID-19 pandemic. Regional Centers, Department of Rehabilitation, Department of Social Service Community Care Licensing Division, Department of Developmental Services, CARF International, OSHA / Cal OSHA, State Department of Public Health and Orange County Health Department are some of the agencies that influence how we operate our programs to ensure the safety of our participants and our employees. Their rules and guidelines seem to change day to day, especially now with the COVID variants spiking all around us.

As I write this, all unvaccinated staff must wear a surgical mask when inside the building and around other people. We may have to offer N-95 masks to employees that are not fully vaccinated and for whom we don’t know their vaccination status. We may also have to provide regular testing for this group of people. We can remain open at no more than 50% capacity to ensure adequate space for social distancing. We must limit the number of individuals in a vehicle, drive with the windows open and continue to sanitize vehicles after each use.

Our participants are not required to wear masks, although we encourage those who are able to tolerate wearing a mask to do so. We can group participants that live in the same home together without having to ensure social distancing.

It’s a lot of plates to keep spinning but we are doing our best to thrive in the world in which we find ourselves. Thanks for understanding our situation and for your patience as we continue to affirmatively respond to the ever-changing safety guidelines required of us.
DONATION APPRECIATION
FIRSTSERVICE RESIDENTIAL IRVINE
SUPPLY DRIVE
Thank you to FirstService Residential in Irvine for hosting a supply drive to benefit our organization earlier this month. One of their employees, Sheri Lee, is a long-time VV board member.

The supplies have been divided up and distributed to the programs for our participants to enjoy. Not shown in photos are two new vacuum cleaners (one for each of our buildings).
HEALTHY LIFE, HAPPY LIFE
WELLNESS PROGRAM
In our March 2021 newsletter, we shared how delighted we were to bring the 'Healthy Life, Happy Life' HLHL wellness program to our VV participants. Participants showing interest in learning about food, exercise and mental health choices that can lead to living healthier and happier lives joined this 14 lesson program that was created by Regional Center of Orange County (RCOC) and facilitated by VV employees.

We're super excited to share that we had 29 participants complete our first run through of this program which was offered via Zoom. We had such positive feedback from the graduating participants that we decided to offer the program again with new attendees and in person this time. We're thrilled to share that we have 19 participants who just completed the second round of this program. Congratulations to all 48 graduate participants! Each graduate receives a colorful certificate from RCOC who tracks all attendees. RCOC also shares the accomplishment with each participant's Service Coordinator.

We will be offering the program again soon and RCOC is incorporating some additions and improvements into the program. The first new module about hypertension should be released by next week. Participants are encouraged to take this program as many times as they like so we hope to have some repeat students soon.
Alexa R
Angel M
Artie H
Ashley O
Bailey N
Bel A
Ben L
Carlene S
Cindy B
Darla N
Debbie B
Desiree B
Elle L
Erica D
Gloria F
Hayley H
Iain F
Igor S
Jairus V
James E
James M
Jamie L
Jordana S
Josie S
Julie Y
Kevin C
Kristie T
Leanna S
Lisa B
Louis V
Margot C
Mark A
Megan R
Melissa F
Michael D
Nicholas J
Peggy C
Peter K
Rebecca D
Regan B
Robbie H
Ryan C
Sophia D
Steven C
Tavis K
Tracy R
Travis C
Trinh L
Here's a look at our June graduation ceremony for ADP participants.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS SPOTLIGHT
WAYNE HUNT
Our organization is fortunate to be served by a dedicated volunteer Board of Directors (BOD). This month, we're highlighting Wayne Hunt. Wayne has been on our BOD since 2009 and serves as our Participant Representative. Let's get to know more about him here.

Question: Time is a valuable commodity. What inspired you to dedicate some of your valuable time to VV?
 
Answer: When the previous participant representative could no longer fulfill her obligations, she asked me to step in and it was a request I couldn’t refuse. I've been a participant in VV's Supported Employment program since 2003 and am going on 12 years now on the BOD.
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Question: What type of work do you do?
 
Answer: I have been working at Albertsons in Mission Viejo since 2007. If you do your grocery shopping at the store on Alicia Parkway and Olympiad, it just might be me who bags your groceries. I really like all of the employees there and the repeat customers.
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Question:  Do you volunteer at any other organizations?

Answer:  No. I enjoy my volunteer work here though because I get to be a voice for the participants. I need to leave time for my hobbies. My wife Judy and I are members of the Hand 'n Hand Square Dancing Club and we really enjoy it.
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Question: What is your motto or a quote about life that really resonates with you?
 
Answer: I have two.

1. "Stay Positive." 
2. "Dance in a square, make a circle of friends."
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Thank you Wayne for being a part of our BOD team and serving as a voice for our participants.

Interested in learning to square dance like Wayne? The Hand 'n Hand' Square Dancing Club welcomes handicapable individuals 18 years and older. They meet Tuesday evenings at the Norman P. Murray Senior Center in Mission Viejo from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm. 
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
BETSY TIRADO
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 Ann (Betsy) Tirado who joined VV on exactly February 23, 2013. Betsy supports two of our programs. Betsy works in our DTAC Alambre program and in our Clubhouse program. Let's learn more about Betsy below.

Question: How did you first find out about VV?

Answer: I learned about VV through a former co-worker.
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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 explain a story about one of our DTAC Alambre participants. Her name is Alexa. We provide 1:1 support for her when she is onsite. Her smile just lights up the place. To engage with her is a reward in itself. Multiply that experience by each participant we serve. She has not returned to onsite programming since the pandemic but she has continually participated via Zoom so we still got to see her smile. Last week, VV started providing 1:1 in-home support services to Alexa in her group home on Mondays and Fridays. Here's a picture of her that I love. See what I mean about her smile?
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Question: What is your favorite part of your job at VV?

Answer: I'm a big fan of seeing the smiles on our participants' faces, as well as hearing their laughter and listening to their responses to everything and everybody. The interaction is priceless.
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Question: What is something that could be added, removed or changed to make VV better?

Answer: Find even more great places to visit out in the community. As many unique and fun activities as we can get them involved in as part of community inclusion would be awesome.
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Question: Did you volunteer or work with people who are uniquely abled before working at VV?

Answer: Yes. I worked with several people with disabilities before coming to VV.
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Question: Are there any interesting, unique or fun facts about you that you would like to share with us?

Answer: I remember all of the jokes that people tell me and I share them with others (only the good ones and clean ones). If you're riding in my car, you have to listen to K-Earth 101 because that's my favorite radio station. I swam with the dolphins at Sea World San Diego on my 50th birthday. In my spare time, I like to go walking in the harbor. I love to feel the sand on my feet and watch the waves.
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Question: What is your motto for life or a quote that really resonates with you?

Answer: I have three sayings that I live by.

  1. "Live every day to the fullest."
  2. “Enjoy what you are doing right in the moment."
  3. "Turn a frown upside down and turn on your smile so the world can see it.'
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Betsy enjoys making things fun for our participants. Here she is dressed up as the Easter Bunny when Clubhouse delivered bingo prizes to participants' homes this past spring.
Betsy has hosted many Zoom art activities for DTAC Alambre on Tuesdays and she recently took up hosting duties for Zoom science activities for our Alambre program participants every Monday. One of her favorite science experiments she has hosted is called Elephant's Toothpaste. Thanks for all that you do Betsy. We appreciate you!
CALENDAR
Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month
VV Board of Directors Meeting
EE Planning Committee Meeting
Labor Day
Entire Month of August
August 25, 2021
August 25, 2021
September 6, 2021
* Vocational Visions is closed on this day in observance
If you have any nice baskets that you would like to donate to VV to be used for our silent auction during our next Enchanted Evening event in April 2022, please drop them off at our Pala building reception desk. We have plenty of space to store them so feel free to drop them off anytime.
EARN DONATIONS FOR VV WHILE YOU SHOP
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.