Daniel C. began his journey with Anthesis in 2000 as part of the Work Activity Program and later joined the Adult Development Center program in February of 2011. At first, Daniel had difficulty communicating with staff because he was very shy and timid. Daniel struggled with clear communication, avoided interactions with others, and spoke only when someone asked him a question. As time went on, Daniel started coming out of his shell and felt more comfortable socializing with his peers. With the help and dedication of the staff at Anthesis’ Adult Development Center (ADC) program, Daniel was given the opportunity and space to learn social skills and how to advocate for himself. ADC is a day program that offers unique person-centered services, life skills training, and community integration opportunities. Through ADC, adults with disabilities can participate in valuable opportunities, like volunteering in the community. Daniel was excited to explore his community with his peers! Anthesis staff are dedicated to supporting Daniel as he learns to set personal goals, improve his communication, and grow his support network.
When Daniel is home, he enjoys following all LA sport teams, watching movies, and playing Pokémon Go. His parents are his strongest supporters – they want Daniel to have the best experiences possible and to grow as a person. Attending Anthesis programs is very important to Daniel, so his supportive family makes it a priority for Daniel to regularly participate in activities.
Daniel enjoys interacting with his friends during program and is a valuable team player when a peer is in need of a helping hand. Through daily socialization, Daniel has greatly improved his social skills! Now, he is comfortable actively engaging in conversations. Compared to his introverted behavior in 2011, Daniel has gone through drastic transformation and growth as an individual. Now, Daniel communicates when he wants to go to baseball games and volunteer at the YMCA. He enjoys volunteering so he can improve his vocational and teamwork skills; while Daniel is at the YMCA, he loves playing basketball.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Daniel received frequent phone call check ins from his instructor, which was not be enough for him. Daniel was not used to being stuck at home and missed social interactions with staff and his friends at ADC. Daniel continued to participate in remote services at home and even asked for more activities. Once in-person meetings were deemed safe, Daniel was thrilled to leave the house with an instructor to shoot hoops at the park.
Anthesis supports Daniel to be the best he can be by empowering him to advocate for himself, engage with his community, and pursue his interests. Daniel likes to help with recycling, dance, play bingo, and work on puzzles with his friends. With the right support, patience, and an inclusive community, Daniel now easily advocates for himself, interacts with others, and continues to flourish.