SEEING HER POTENTIAL

Having recently sold her first piece at an art gallery in Upland, Carissa H. is proud of the independence she maintains as a Villa participant. Not only does she live apart from her parents while growing her artistic skills, but she also assists in hosting Zoom workshops for other artists with developmental disabilities. The road hasn’t been smooth, but Carissa has persevered to arrive where she is today.

As a child, Carissa was originally diagnosed as deaf, and she attended an oral school with mainstreaming. Later, she enrolled at an art high school in L.A. and then attended a college for the deaf. After college, Carissa began to wonder if she was autistic. She says she felt like she “was stuck. [She] had a hard time learning independent living skills for the first time.” Feeling isolated and unsure about living on her own, she did some Googling and found Villa, as well as a regional center that confirmed her autism, a condition that is often underdiagnosed in women and girls.

Now a part of Villa’s Independent Living Skills (ILS) and Residential programs, Carissa has found the support, guidance, and foundation she needs. Villa staff assist her with medication management, doctor’s appointment tracking, and living skills development. Carissa claims that with her newfound independence, “Villa has taken some of the load off [her] parents.”

Alongside the assistance of the ILS and residential staff, Carissa has found support from the Villa Apartment residents. “The apartments are great and a hidden gem,” claims Carissa. “It’s very rare to find this housing in LA and across the country. I have a disability community now, neighbors, a safe place to live, my own bathroom, a courtyard, and backyard with a barbecue grill. The residents like to hang out in the courtyard to catch up, too.” In a society that is not always inclusive, Carissa has found a safe space for belonging and support.

A well-informed, observant woman, Carissa notes that finding a job can be a challenge for people like herself. “The job market is not really inclusive to autistics, especially in design. It’s a lot of required social skills,” she says. However, she has found purpose in exploring her art at the Upland studio, and she enjoys assisting in hosting Zoom meetings for fellow artists with developmental disabilities, including autism. Carissa proudly states, “Villa has helped me to see my potential with autism.”

Would you like to make an impact on the lives of Carissa and others similar to her? Join our Hope Has Wings monthly giving family today.