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(Sharon) We believe that the people that we serve are very very important
and everything around them reflects how important we think they are.
(Dalmas) It got to the point where
we were at our wits end
um...we just didn't know what to do
we didn't know where to turn but i knew there had to be answer.
and it turned out St. Coletta was the answer.
(Sharon) Everything here is about them, they are not a add-on
or adjunt to what we do.They are what we do. They are our complete focus.
(Thomas) There's a sobering moment as a parent
where you really realized that
your child can only do
so much
and that's ok
it's perfectly fine
(Dalmas)Jason was in Prince Georges County Public Schools.
Quite frankly I think they did the best they could with what they had
and what they knew at that time
it wasn't enough for Jason.
Jason has significant challenges.
First of all jason is non-verbal.
Everyday was a struggle,everyday just getting out of the house, getting him out of the house
That really puts severe limitations on you as a family
when you can't go out into the community.
People should be included
but we believe they should be included based on their strengths
rather than their weaknesses.
They can go to the movies. They can go to a restaurant. They can be part of the
life of the community
(Jane) The nice thing about St. Colettas, it helps them work out where they can best develop
I think that gives me a little bit of comfort
that we can go with the flow and
adjust to her needs as she grows up.
(Sharon)It was really really important for us not only to have a place for kids to play
but have a place where people could learn to grow things.
To grow their own food.To see how things go from the garden to the table.
This is sort of how we teach science.
(Thomas) It goes back to the St. Coletta training
she gets up, she prepares breakfast
she prepares my coffee
(Leah) I'm working
(Thomas) St. Coletta's was willing to hire her
(Rahel) Oh my goodness, you can't imagine the delight when she comes in
"I got paid today"
and this check, I cannot even take it away from her.
She is so proud of it.
(Dalmas) Now we can stop at the store. we can run errands
and it seems like it's something small, but it's really big,
because in the whoe scheme of things we are just like everybody else.
(Ed) We know this is the right place for us so we have made decisions based on our work
and our housing and everything so we can make sure
that we are here for many years
and Lydia can be part of the St. Coletta community.
(Dalmus) From the time that Jason came to] St. Coletta at aged nine
not been able to sit still
to where he is today
where he graduated last year
he's in the adult program in supported employment
and he's actually going out on job sites.
(Rahale) Leaha is so proud about her school and St. Coletta. What more could parents ask for from life.
Your child is happy, they have a job and she likes the people that she works with
She likes her school, she belongs here,
so we've just absolutely delighted.
People are willing to help
and if they have a glimpse of this I'm sure that anybody would want this school to grow.
I think their money will be very well spend here
helping the children.