Our Stories

Russell recently retired from his job at McDonalds after 27 years. He started working there in April of 1998, and during his last week of work, McDonalds threw him a retirement party. Russell enjoyed working and talking with his coworkers and the customers that came in. Russell’s Manager and SEP worker said that Russell was punctual, completed his job and was always ready to help where needed. He liked washing dishes and talking about the news with customers when he cleaned the dining room.

Nicole has worked at On My Own Independent Living Services since July 2020 as an ILS Skills Trainer. She has a natural way of connecting with clients and meeting them where they’re at. She adapts to each person’s needs and creates an environment that really helps them grow and become more independent. On top of providing great direct support, she’s a strong advocate and works with Service Coordinators and families to ensure clients are supported.

Jacob is a California State University, Sacramento graduate who received a Bachelor’s in Arts degree in Design Studies. When he first started at Sacramento City College in 2016, he was uncertain of what path to take. Jacob decided it was a time of exploration and used it as an opportunity to discover what his interests are before he decided to pursue a specific career.

Piper is a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community. As a child, she realized she was a part of the community since she was born, but her identity really started to become clear as a teenager. At 14, Piper recognized she is gay, then at 18, Piper realized she is trans. These moments are when she understood her identity felt very normal for her, like breathing. At 27 years old, Piper stands proud in her identity. Pride month is important for her because it celebrates the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community, and this is something she doesn’t take for granted.

Peter is a community-minded person who was one of the 13 students to be accepted into the Redwood SEED Scholars program (Supported Education to Elevate Diversity). The program is conducted through the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) and is an opportunity for students with intellectual disabilities to participate in a four-year non-degree program that focuses on academics, social inclusion, health and wellness, residential living and employment.

 When Justin’s father died in 2023, the loss resulted in regression to some previous behaviors. He was grieving the loss of someone who was very important and close to him, and it was difficult for him to find ways to cope because he is non-verbal and couldn’t express his discontent. He became much more violent, impatient, and struggled with any person being within feet of him.

Mansoor and his family look forward to observing Ramadan every year. As a father to a client of Alta California Regional Center, Mansoor instills his culture in the lives of his children and helps them find their journey with Islam. Ramadan is a month of fasting, and its beginning depends on the Islamic calendar’s sighting of the crescent moon. For 2025, Ramadan begins March 1, but its beginning and end is variable every year.

Sparkles is a full-time mother and proud of her children, her accomplishments, and of herself. Despite having an intellectual disability, she is both a capable and loving mother who takes her real-life experiences to better her children, two out of her three children are also clients of Alta California Regional Center. Her warm and affectionate personality makes people flock to her, and she is a pillar of positivity and advice for extended members of her family.

Luis is extremely friendly, and his positive demeanor has given him many friends. He likes to maintain his connections through online social media platforms, like Facebook. He loves to watch TV, listen to music, and go to the movie theaters. Any time he is out, Luis makes it a point to greet anyone who passes him.