Our Clients, Past and Present

Mike M., who passed away in 2011, spent the majority of his life in the Sonoma Developmental Center.  When he came to OFI in 2003, we were told that Mike did not speak or understand language. When he became a resident in the Supporting Living Services program, Mike acquired a vocabulary of fifty words and became skilled at sign language.  He could often be heard singing his two favorite tunes, "Downtown" and the "Batman" theme.

Mike was one of those rare people who has a lot of energy at the end of the workday (Mike was also a participant in our NOVA program); doing household chores brought him great pleasure-- he particularly liked vacuuming, taking out the trash, and preparing his meals.  A lover of country music and western movies, Mike was something of a cowboy himself.  Every weekend, he went horseback riding, a hobby for which he won several trophies.  Mike loved to be out and about in the community, enjoying other interests such as shopping, going to parks, and attending church on Sundays.  If you saw him, you may have been lucky enough to have Mike greet you with a high-five or a peace sign.

Michael C. chose to move to the Lincoln Avenue Apartment Program in 2009 because he wanted more freedom and a place to call his own.  Since moving in at LAAP, Michael has gained independence in a variety of areas, including grocery shopping, budgeting, and doing laundry.  He has also mastered the use of public transportation so he can make it to his job at a local pizza parlor on time.  

But it's not all work and no play for Michael.  A lifelong sports enthusiast, he has organized several parties at LAAP so that all the residents could view the Super Bowl, Rose Bowl, and World Series together.  You're welcome to join Michael as he watches his beloved San Francisco Giants, but only if you're willing to listen to him rattle off player statistics and box scores.  If baseball's not your thing, Michael is also a fan of Huey Lewis and would be willing to play you a CD or show you one of the many photographs he has taken with the singer. However he is spending his time, Michael is a great addition to the LAAP community!