CONSUMER SPOTLIGHT
Our goal here is to highlight some of the achievements and accomplishments of consumers and community members. If you or someone that you know would like to be featured, please contact our web developer by emailing Alexandra Manieri at alexandram@cidsanmateo.org
Spring 2016
A generous donor gave CID a Luggie Scooter in excellent condition but needed a new battery. CID contacted the manufacturer, FreeRider USA, and they provided a battery valued at $500! Consumer Dorina Castaño was so happy to take home the Luggie Scooter, she said:
“I don’t have to stay at home crying like I’ve been doing. I can now go around town like never before… it really is freedom! Thank you so much!”
If you have a gently used wheelchair, rollator or other valuable medical equipment to donate or you need one for yourself, please contact Vincent Lopez, Assistive Technology Coordinator at (650) 645-1780 x 127 or VLopez@cidsanmateo.org.
Fall 2014
I’m Vanessa Castro and grew up in the Bay Area. I was born with Cerebral Palsy with a speech impediment, so I have been using a wheelchair and a communication device since I was young. While I was growing up, I was taught not to allow my disability to stop me from doing what I want. I also learned that once I set my mind to do something I do it. It might take me longer than someone without a disability and that’s fine. I figured everyone works at their own pace for several reasons.
In 2003, I graduated from UC Berkeley with a Bachelor’s of Art degree in English with a minor in Education. My second year at UC Berkeley, I was asked to co-teach the Disabled Students’ Residence Program where I helped other disabled students learn how to live independently. I discovered that I really enjoyed teaching. I took several Educational classes and gained experiences working in classes of all ages, disabled and nondisabled students and I absolutely loved it.
After graduating from UC Berkeley, I became an Independent Living Skills Instructor for the Center for Independent Living in Berkeley, helping other people with disabilities. Then I worked for the San Francisco Unified School District as a tutor. I helped teenagers with speech disabilities learn how to use their communication devices.
However, these jobs were only a few hours a week or month. I would apply for other jobs, and even though I have my Bachelor’s degree and experience, most people just noticed my wheelchair and that was it. Plus, the fact that I use a communication device made it virtually impossible to find a steady job. It was extremely frustrating.
Since I had so much time, I would draw and paint for hours daily. Shortly, I had an abundance of artwork so my ex-boyfriend suggested that I should start my own art business. With lots of hard work and help and support, I created a business called, “Ness Ness Va’s Art.” I named my business after my dad’s nickname for me, Ness Ness Va.
I started out as a street vendor in San Francisco selling cards and prints of my art for over a year. I had an attendant, who worked for me for four years, and she had a gecko for a pet, so one day I was inspired to draw a gecko popping out of a pasta bowl holding clothes. That became my most popular and most sold piece. For some reason everybody just loved it, so I decided to create a children’s book using this gecko character. In 2010, I wrote, illustrated, and self-published my first children’s book titled, Gloria, The Gecko Attendant. It’s about a young girl with Cerebral Palsy and her gecko attendant. Since my gecko character was so beloved, I decided to do a sequel, so in 2014, I wrote, illustrated, and self-published, Rollerblading on Autism. It’s about a boy with Autism, and Gloria, the gecko teaches him how to rollerblade. My goal with writing children’s books is to educate kids about different disabilities. Both books are available to purchase on Amazon.com. Rollerblading on Autism recently got accepted to the Autism Speaks’ reading list. Currently, I’m working on my third book.
Since my business has been growing, I’ve been expanding my products. I now make and sell greeting cards, post cards, posters, prints, original paintings, hand painting wooden boxes, and children’s books. Also, I’ve been doing a super hero series and incorporating disability awareness in my artwork. For example, I painted Wonder Woman in a wheelchair. I also did a painting of Blue Ear who is a deaf super hero who uses a listening device that lets him know when someone needs help. I get so many responses about my super hero series, and it feels great that I’m able to show kids that even though someone has a disability, they still can be a super hero in their own way.
I do lots of art festivals throughout Northern California, which is the primary way of selling my art and getting my name out there. This year alone, I’ve done art shows in Burlingame, Berkeley, Petaluma, and Alameda. On October 9th 2014, I will be at the Supported Life Disability Conference in Sacramento as a vendor selling my art.
If you want more information about me and my artwork, please check out my website at www.nessnessva.com
You can also contact me on Facebook.
In 2003, I graduated from UC Berkeley with a Bachelor’s of Art degree in English with a minor in Education. My second year at UC Berkeley, I was asked to co-teach the Disabled Students’ Residence Program where I helped other disabled students learn how to live independently. I discovered that I really enjoyed teaching. I took several Educational classes and gained experiences working in classes of all ages, disabled and nondisabled students and I absolutely loved it.
After graduating from UC Berkeley, I became an Independent Living Skills Instructor for the Center for Independent Living in Berkeley, helping other people with disabilities. Then I worked for the San Francisco Unified School District as a tutor. I helped teenagers with speech disabilities learn how to use their communication devices.
However, these jobs were only a few hours a week or month. I would apply for other jobs, and even though I have my Bachelor’s degree and experience, most people just noticed my wheelchair and that was it. Plus, the fact that I use a communication device made it virtually impossible to find a steady job. It was extremely frustrating.
Since I had so much time, I would draw and paint for hours daily. Shortly, I had an abundance of artwork so my ex-boyfriend suggested that I should start my own art business. With lots of hard work and help and support, I created a business called, “Ness Ness Va’s Art.” I named my business after my dad’s nickname for me, Ness Ness Va.
I started out as a street vendor in San Francisco selling cards and prints of my art for over a year. I had an attendant, who worked for me for four years, and she had a gecko for a pet, so one day I was inspired to draw a gecko popping out of a pasta bowl holding clothes. That became my most popular and most sold piece. For some reason everybody just loved it, so I decided to create a children’s book using this gecko character. In 2010, I wrote, illustrated, and self-published my first children’s book titled, Gloria, The Gecko Attendant. It’s about a young girl with Cerebral Palsy and her gecko attendant. Since my gecko character was so beloved, I decided to do a sequel, so in 2014, I wrote, illustrated, and self-published, Rollerblading on Autism. It’s about a boy with Autism, and Gloria, the gecko teaches him how to rollerblade. My goal with writing children’s books is to educate kids about different disabilities. Both books are available to purchase on Amazon.com. Rollerblading on Autism recently got accepted to the Autism Speaks’ reading list. Currently, I’m working on my third book.
Since my business has been growing, I’ve been expanding my products. I now make and sell greeting cards, post cards, posters, prints, original paintings, hand painting wooden boxes, and children’s books. Also, I’ve been doing a super hero series and incorporating disability awareness in my artwork. For example, I painted Wonder Woman in a wheelchair. I also did a painting of Blue Ear who is a deaf super hero who uses a listening device that lets him know when someone needs help. I get so many responses about my super hero series, and it feels great that I’m able to show kids that even though someone has a disability, they still can be a super hero in their own way.
I do lots of art festivals throughout Northern California, which is the primary way of selling my art and getting my name out there. This year alone, I’ve done art shows in Burlingame, Berkeley, Petaluma, and Alameda. On October 9th 2014, I will be at the Supported Life Disability Conference in Sacramento as a vendor selling my art.
If you want more information about me and my artwork, please check out my website at www.nessnessva.com
You can also contact me on Facebook.
Summer 2014
Our first spotlight is featuring CID's very own Maisoon Sahouria! She has recently graduated with a Doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology. We are all incredibly fortunate to have Maisoon working at the center.
Our first spotlight is featuring CID's very own Maisoon Sahouria! She has recently graduated with a Doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology. We are all incredibly fortunate to have Maisoon working at the center.
Q. How long have you been working at CID and what do you do at the center?
I have been working at CID since December 2012. I am an Independent Living Skills Advocate and a Peer Support Coordinator. As a peer support coordinator, I facilitate a support group at the center every Tuesday from 3pm to 4pm.
Q. What do you like most about working at the Center?
I love the team of employee’s at CID. We are a small close knit family with the same passion to help the people with all disabilities in our community empower themselves to become independent. I also love the mission behind CID: to provide support services, community awareness, and systems change advocacy to promote full and equal community integration and participation for people with disabilities in San Mateo County.
Q. Congratulations on your recent doctorate degree. Can you tell us a little bit about it?
I obtained an Ed.D in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Education. I attended Argosy University in Alameda, Ca. I chose to attend Argosy because it had an online/blended program which allowed me to work during the week, and attend classes one weekend of the month and online during the week. I chose to obtain this degree because I had previously worked for a social service agency with court ordered families and children. I was in this field for 12 years and part of my work was as a program manager. As a program manager, I really enjoyed working with volunteers and interns and offering insight in the path of their education and career. After many years in this position, I realized that I wanted to change my career path to focus more on education, such as working with students or adults to help them achieve an educational or vocational goal as well as facilitate workshops or classes to aid and support individuals in their educational and/or vocational path.
Some of the struggles I faced were when my modified joystick computerized minivan decided to break down; I faced challenges to get from the Peninsula where I lived to Alameda in the East Bay one week out of each month. Thanks to family and classmates, I was able to get to school with their help.
Q. How do you plan to utilize your degree?
I am not quite sure how I am going to utilize my degree; however, ideally my goal is to reach out to or collaborate with high school professionals to aid students with disabilities to transition to college and graduate from college. In addition, I would like to also support students with disabilities once in college by advocating for them and teaching them tools to learn how to advocate for themselves within the college world, such as but not limited to, appropriately asking for academic accommodations.
Q. Any words of advice for students?
The best advice I can give all, not just students is that education is a powerful tool that nobody can take away from you. With that said, anything is possible as long as you believe and have the right support and tools. Obtaining a degree can be accomplished with hard work, support and persistence.
I have been working at CID since December 2012. I am an Independent Living Skills Advocate and a Peer Support Coordinator. As a peer support coordinator, I facilitate a support group at the center every Tuesday from 3pm to 4pm.
Q. What do you like most about working at the Center?
I love the team of employee’s at CID. We are a small close knit family with the same passion to help the people with all disabilities in our community empower themselves to become independent. I also love the mission behind CID: to provide support services, community awareness, and systems change advocacy to promote full and equal community integration and participation for people with disabilities in San Mateo County.
Q. Congratulations on your recent doctorate degree. Can you tell us a little bit about it?
I obtained an Ed.D in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Education. I attended Argosy University in Alameda, Ca. I chose to attend Argosy because it had an online/blended program which allowed me to work during the week, and attend classes one weekend of the month and online during the week. I chose to obtain this degree because I had previously worked for a social service agency with court ordered families and children. I was in this field for 12 years and part of my work was as a program manager. As a program manager, I really enjoyed working with volunteers and interns and offering insight in the path of their education and career. After many years in this position, I realized that I wanted to change my career path to focus more on education, such as working with students or adults to help them achieve an educational or vocational goal as well as facilitate workshops or classes to aid and support individuals in their educational and/or vocational path.
Some of the struggles I faced were when my modified joystick computerized minivan decided to break down; I faced challenges to get from the Peninsula where I lived to Alameda in the East Bay one week out of each month. Thanks to family and classmates, I was able to get to school with their help.
Q. How do you plan to utilize your degree?
I am not quite sure how I am going to utilize my degree; however, ideally my goal is to reach out to or collaborate with high school professionals to aid students with disabilities to transition to college and graduate from college. In addition, I would like to also support students with disabilities once in college by advocating for them and teaching them tools to learn how to advocate for themselves within the college world, such as but not limited to, appropriately asking for academic accommodations.
Q. Any words of advice for students?
The best advice I can give all, not just students is that education is a powerful tool that nobody can take away from you. With that said, anything is possible as long as you believe and have the right support and tools. Obtaining a degree can be accomplished with hard work, support and persistence.
