Casting light

Inclusion in action
On any given day in Healdsburg, the Plaza and our parks are kept free of litter and debris thanks to a dedicated crew under contract to the city.
A team sets out on foot, adorned in orange vests to make their role even more visible, with buckets and grab poles in hand. Their presence often catalyzes conversation, at minimum friendly greetings, all of which create connection to community. This team is comprised of adults with disabilities who are hard at work, increasing their capacity to participate in the community they are a part of, and that is what Becoming Independent (BI) is all about.
“BI allows him and our family a spectrum of life that wouldn’t otherwise exist. They fit him into social settings and jobs that allow him to express his life in a situation that otherwise wouldn’t be possible. He would probably sit at home all day,” says Paul Grill, whose son Alex participates in the Healdsburg BI program. The Healdsburg campus, located on Center Street, currently serves 49 adults like Alex, ages 19-68, providing specialized learning and experiences to do just what the organization name says, become independent.
When Mary Kate Grace, who has Down syndrome and is a paraplegic dependent upon a wheelchair for mobility, graduated from high school, the question for her and her family was, what’s next? What’s possible? As Lisa Folsom Ernst, BI Director of Fund Development said, “How do you launch a kid into a future when their capacity does not fit the mainstream requirements?”
BI offers an alternative to college for people with disabilities and works to build awareness among local employers. “We’re really adept at identifying abilities,” Lisa says, “Hiring our folks offers lovely opportunities for increasing our sensitivity to the entire spectrum of abilities.”
With BI’s help, Mary Kate is now working at Mary’s Pizza Shack and her mom wants people to know “It sure would be nice if there were more people who would be willing to employ this population. They do need to be out in the community way more than they are, and they’re capable.”
With recent radical changes in government funding models for people with disabilities, the old paradigm of congregate service settings is being phased out in favor of inclusive opportunities for skill acquisition, work, educational and social activities that are both individualized for participants and integrated throughout the community. Taima Thompson, Director of Services at the Healdsburg Center adds, “People with disabilities, most of the people they deal with are caregivers and family, someone who’s doing something for them. Natural interactions bring a richness to life that is so valued.”
Parents are the most acutely aware of how their sons and daughters are perceived in the community and they are eager for all of us to have a broader understanding of their adult childrens’ capabilities. Mary Kate’s mother adds “We need agencies like BI because there is a disabled population that needs supportive care, and to be a part of the community. We need BI because they get our family members out into the community, try to have them be more independent, to be like us, to have a purpose, have friends and have a life out in the community. It’s important.” Alex’s father echoes this sentiment, “Basically without BI, most of these people would not have a life. That’s it in a nutshell, they’d be sit-ins.”
Next time you see a crew caring for our outdoor spaces around town, say hello, ask them about their day and learn a little more about how their abilities are making a contribution to our community, every day.
Taya Levine lives in Healdsburg and can’t be here without being involved in community. She has a passion for promoting philanthropy and is currently the board chair of Healdsburg Forever.org, our community endowment fund. Taya can be reached by email at

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