Sacramento program helps disabled adults achieve independence. ‘Waiting to be unlocked’

Activity hums at San Juan Adult Growth Experience, a day program for physically and mentally disabled adults through UCP of Sacramento and Northern California.

They engage inside the rooms at what was once, decades ago, an elementary school at 4640 Orange Grove Ave. in Sacramento. One man in the corner watches professional wrestling. Another person shows off a Christmas card they just made. And soon, in an adjoining room, a group will play a web-based version of the “Jeopardy” TV show.

One thing is missing, though, from this classroom: An interactive touchscreen that allows the adults of the program to do many different activities. The screen is connected to a computer and allows UCP program participants to draw, watch videos, practice handwriting, play games and more.

The center’s previous touchscreen gave out, according to Brenda White, assistant manager for San Juan Growth Experience.

“It was really, really handy,” White said. “They could do all kinds of things right there. They could touch the board and make things happen themselves.”

To replace it, UCP of Sacramento and Northern California is seeking $3,829 from The Sacramento Bee’s Book of Dreams Fund at the Sacramento Region Community Foundation. This breaks down to $3,400 for a new touchscreen smart board and $429 for a stand.

‘Use your mind’

UCP stands for United Cerebral Palsy, though the program serves more than just people with that disability, according to Megan Laurie, the group’s director of development and marketing. She said most people at the adult day program are diagnosed with an intellectual disability, while others have Down syndrome or epilepsy.

She said ages of program participants can vary greatly, from just out of high school to the mid-80s.

They include Adam Badger, 53, who was struck by a car as a child, which led to a diagnosis of cerebral palsy. Today, he uses a wraparound walker to move about and must expend great effort to speak even short sentences, though he retains a wry sense of humor that leaves staff members in stitches.

Badger enjoys making music and playing “Jeopardy.” When the center had a working smart board, he liked making art on it.

“Use your mind,” Badger said of his activities. “If you don’t use it, you lose it.”

Leslie Nunes, 63, said she enjoys drawing and painting and going on outings through the program to places such as Starbucks, where she and her friends can order their own drinks.

“I get to know people and enjoy communicating,” Nunes said.

‘More capable than what anybody ever thought they were’

White said the San Juan Adult Growth Experience used to have a set curriculum and people would do scheduled activities. Now, the center allows more choices.

“What we do is we serve adults with intellectual and developmental differences and help them integrate into the community,” White said. “We’re basically there to assist them in doing the things they want to do but maybe can’t do all on their own and need a little support.”

The program stresses helping people find independence.

“I’m basically trying to work myself out of a job,” White joked.

People can come a long way. Sometimes clients can be standoffish when they first come to the program. They also might arrive with a lack of belief in their abilities, even if those abilities are waiting to be unlocked.

“What we find is when they come to the program they’re much more capable than what anybody ever thought they were,” Laurie said. “So it’s really important that we don’t put limits on people, because they can always do more than we think they can.”

White, who has a son on the autism spectrum and has worked in her field for about 20 years, enjoys seeing what can happen as people in her program find more autonomy. That might be evident, for instance, when they learn how to independently use a computer.

“It really is amazing to watch that happen, watch that transformation from, ‘I can’t do this,’ that learned helplessness to, ‘Hey, hold on a second, I can do this, I can pull this up,’” White said. “And it’s just, I don’t know – for me, it just is so powerful.”

Book of Dreams

The dream: The San Juan Growth Experience seeks a new touchscreen smart board and stand

The cost: $3,829

This story was originally published December 14, 2024 at 5:00 AM.