TransparencyPeter
Redwood SEED Scholar
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.
Aspen
Filmmaker
Aspen began taking interest in film
in October 2024 after she started at her day program, Futures Explored. But in
January 2025, she fell in love with it and is now pursuing it as
a full-time career and has goals to improve her filming and
expand her network to achieve her career dreams.
Justin
in recognition of Autism Acceptance Month
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.
Ana
Ana is a hard worker whose enchanting
smile and peppy personality make people gravitate to her. She has
worked with RL Liquidators for five years, obtained through
PRIDE Industries.
During her time, she has shown an exemplary work ethic and
fosters relationships to create a welcoming work environment.
How Mansoor and His Family Observe Ramadan
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.
How Rabia and her Family Celebrate Eid
Eid is a significant Muslim holiday
that is celebrated twice a year. The first Eid celebration is Eid
al-Fitr, which lasts three days, and translates to “breaking of
the fast.” It marks the end of Ramadan, which is a month long
fast. Since the Islamic calendar is on a lunar cycle, it depends
on the sighting of the moon to signify the end of Ramadan and the
start of Eid. For 2025, Eid al-Fitr is expected to start on March
30th or 31st.
Sparkles
Client and Mother
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.
Ohana
Future Business Owner
Ohana is a motivated young adult who
is actively working on improving her independence. She is in the
process of entering the Self-Determination Program, has goals to
start her own business, and is setting up to live independently
in an ADU (accessory dwelling unit) while still having access to
family support if needed.
Luis
his love for music and his favorite church day
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.
Aiden
How he and his family celebrate La Posada
For Ana, La Posada is an important
and joyous holiday celebration. La Posada commemorates the
journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem and is celebrated in
Latin American Catholic communities. Prior to moving to
Sacramento, Ana, her husband Daniel, and their two children would
celebrate the holiday by singing with neighbors, enjoying tasty
food, and giving the children in the community a pinata to find
treats in.
Anaya
How she and her family celebrate the holidays
One of the most important holiday
traditions for Hindus, Siks, and Jains is Diwali. This five-day
religious holiday is celebrated sometime between the second half
of October and the first half of November per the Hindu lunisolar
calendar. For Sharon, Anaya, and their family, they practice
vegetarianism during this time and pray to the god Maalaxmi (Maha
Lakshmi) for good fortune and prosperity, and they offer her
jewelry, food, and light candles for her.
Vue
How he and his family celebrate Hmong New Year
Hmong New Year honors the ancestors
and spirits and gives thanks for the completion of the year’s
harvest. Vue and his mother Khouthao, and father Xang, celebrate
Hmong New Year through prayer, celebration, and participating in
a ritual Hu Plig, which is a soul calling ritual. Hu Plig rituals
are conducted throughout the year to call to the spirit or soul
to come back to the body. Any event, like a car crash, or
sickness, can confuse or startle the soul so it is important to
perform Hu Plig to remind it of its physical home.
Irina
Artist
Ever since she was a child, Irina has
been interested in art. She loved how she could express herself
through drawing and found it comforting. However, she felt too
nervous to create art because she felt she wasn’t good at it. As
she aged, she would see her nephews draw and would try to copy
them. Once she reached her late 30s/early 40s, Irina really
embraced her desire to create art.
Liam
Succeeding in School
Liam is four years old and started
school in September. It has helped him make tremendous progress
in his development. Prior to school, he was non-verbal but now
can speak words like “sit” and “truck” which also showcases some
of his interests. Liam is infatuated with trucks and cars and any
time he sees a vehicle that sparks his interests outside, he
likes to check it out. He even carries a small toy truck or car
with him in his hands wherever he goes.
Justin
Paid Intern
Justin began services at California
Resource Services for Independent Living (CRS) through Alta
California Regional Center (ACRC) in March 2024. He had
difficulty managing the responsibilities adult life required of
him, but CRS helped with organization and understanding important
documents that would be addressed to him. CRS also assisted with
his employment pursuits, and Justin is happy to say he is working
through the Paid
Internship Program.
Lyndsey
Succeeding at Work
Lyndsey is proud to work on the
onsite laundry service for Thunder Valley Casino and Resort as an
employee of PRIDE
Industries. She began her position in 2020, during the
pandemic which required a very intensive cleaning service for all
the linens the hotel guests use. Even now, the cleaning process
is extensive, and the quality checks required to ensure the
freshest of linens are something Lyndsey diligently adheres to.
Vincent
On the Path to a Career
Vincent has made immense strides in
building his confidence through his time at California Resource
Services for Independent Living (CRS) and as a client of Alta
California Regional Center (ACRC). He struggled with being vocal
about his needs and would shy away from conversations, but at
CRS, he practices daily conversation to improve his speaking.
This improvement has helped him become more confident when it
comes to finding a job and being in job interviews.
James
Direct Support Professional
James began his career at
PRIDE Industries in December 2021 as a job coach. He is
instrumental in guiding clients through daily tasks for their
jobs and helps them understand the tasks assigned to clients
during their workdays. James provides support to a group of
clients who are employed at Thunder Valley and acts as a liaison
for the clients and the employer.
Mariano and Irene
Direct Support Professionals
Mariano and Irene both work for
California Resource Services
for Independent Living (CRS), a service provider of Alta
California Regional Center (ACRC). Service providers are vital to
the regional center system as they help provide direct services
that every client’s unique case needs. At CRS, they provide
Coordinated Family Support Services (CFS) to adult clients.
Nancy
Service Coordinator
Nancy has had a robust career that
enabled her to experience and serve people from all walks of
life. She began her education with a Bachelor’s in journalism and
minored in criminal justice. Nancy continued her education with a
Master’s from Arizona State University in criminal justice.
During the time she studied, Nancy also served as an intern
parole agent where she learned about prisoner safety and
security, along with how to handle dangerous situations. She
enjoyed the shadowing opportunity it provided her and piqued her
interest to continue.