Family, Adult & Child Therapies
FACT Family kicked off the upcoming 2018-2019 school year with its annual All-Staff Training. From August 6th to August 10th, FACT came together to learn about what we do, why we do it, and to celebrate our amazing clients, pictured above. Check out more photos from the fun below:
By Linda Andron-Ostrow, LCSW On Friday June 1, I had an incredible experience that I wanted to share. It was my privilege to be present for the final monologues in an introductory theater class at West Los Angeles College. The professor of the course, a longtime friend of FACT Carolina Barcos, is just exceptional. This class is everything that the federal government is hoping for in the HCBS inclusion rule . Students with a range of disabilities are included side by…
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By Zoey Giesberg, MSW Everyone in the FACT Family knows Linda Andron-Ostrow well. Without Linda, FACT wouldn’t exist as a hub for autistic people, families, professionals, self-advocates, and other disabled people for services, support, and more. Many of us have had Linda as an active and nurturing part of our lives for almost two decades. And while it’ll be hard to not see her part of FACT’s everyday life, she leaves a wonderful legacy of love, care, and empowerment to…
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In October 2013, Governor Edmund G. Brown signed Senate Bill 468, authored by Senators Bill Emmerson and Jim Beall and co-authored by Assembly Members Holly Mitchell and Wesley Chesbro, into law. This law, championed by remarkable and determined self-advocates, family members and advocacy organizations, established a statewide Self-Determination Program that adheres to the following principles to ensure those who participate have: Freedom – to exercise the same rights as all citizens; to establish, with freely chosen supporters, family and friends,…
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FACT Family has always committed to providing the best services to our community from therapy to community involvement. In the first ten years of FACT’s commitment to community, we have provided many opportunities for social and recreational activities like social outings and summer camps. But in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, the state of California was forced to cut state funding for many crucial services that included social and recreational activities. Many of the services cut have been…
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The end of 2017 is upon us and with it comes the urge to reflect on what the past twelve months has brought us and the world. There’s no denying that the world has gone through some major changes and it can be stressful to absorb everything that has happened. But even as the world shifts into one I barely recognize, I think it’s good to take the time put 2017 into perspective and focus energy on the good things…
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By Zoey Giesberg, MSW It is a universally acknowledged truth that stress is an inescapable part of life. Stress can come from anywhere at any time, and it’s always a pain. I don’t know anyone who enjoys being stressed out, and anyone who says otherwise is flat-out lying. But what matters when it comes to stress is how you deal with it. You can either let it consume you or you can manage it in whatever way you find best…
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Remember What Got Us Here, May Not Get Us There By Dr. Felita Jones A few days ago, I met with an employee who asked me about change management and what my overall thoughts were about change for the organization and how I would describe myself in relation to leading change in this new leadership role. After some thought, my response was… I am a change agent. I live on “Change Boulevard” and not “Same Old Street.” My goal is…
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The Lesson I Learned from the Incomparable Ms. Debbie Allen By Felita Jones, EdD, MPA Most of us have a defining moment in our lives—a moment that, years later, continues to resonate and inspire. Mine happened during middle school. I was captain of the drill team and was asked to lead my team in a parade that wound through the streets adjacent to the University of California (USC). As I marched through the streets to adoring shouts of praise and…
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By Zoey Giesberg, MSW When I was young and was unaware of my autism diagnosis, I only knew about autism through a Baby-sitters Club book. The book, entitled Kristy and the Secret of Susan, was about one of the titular “baby-sitters” taking on a non-verbal autistic charge and I honestly don’t remember much about it, except that the main character Kristy decides to leave her autistic charge Susan alone after unsuccessfully trying to force her to integrate with other kids. I…
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