[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 8 (Wednesday, February 6, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E101]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PARCA--CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF GOLDEN OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH 
                       DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 6, 2002

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me today in 
paying tribute to Parca, a private, nonprofit organization serving 
people with developmental disabilities, on the occasion of its 50th 
anniversary. Since 1952, Parca has enriched the lives of these special 
people while strengthening our community through its devoted services. 
Parca's impact on those with developmental disabilities, as well as on 
their friends and family, is recognized with great appreciation by many 
in our community.
  Mr. Speaker, in 1952, people with developmental disabilities and 
their families were often unable to find programs and support to help 
meet their special needs. Flo Nelsen organized a group of concerned 
parents and established Parca to provide support for individuals and 
families with developmental disabilities such as Down's Syndrome, 
autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and other neurological disorders. Flo 
Nelsen believed that every developmentally disabled person had the 
right to resources and support to help them reach their highest 
potential and become actively and productively involved in the 
community. Families and individuals with developmental disabilities can 
turn to Parca for advocacy, information, counseling, support, and, most 
important, fun.
  Over the past fifty years, Parca has expanded to provide a variety of 
services and programs for different age levels, and it has expanded 
into Marin County, Silicon Valley, and the East Bay. Parca's 
Recreational Experience for All Children (REACH) program provides child 
care services for children with or without developmental disabilities, 
giving children an opportunity to appreciate and learn from one 
another. The recreational activities of REACH help children appreciate 
their differences and identify their similarities. Another great 
benefit of this program is the child to staff ratio is 6 to 1, and in 
some cases, 3 to 1, depending on the needs of the children. The result 
is a better learning experience because individualized attention is 
geared toward their pace of learning. Parca provides numerous 
recreational and social opportunities for families and individuals with 
developmental disabilities.
  Mr. Speaker, one of Parca's important and unique contributions is the 
Raji House--a unique program that allows out-of-home weekend service 
for children and teens with developmental disabilities. As you know, 
Mr. Speaker, one of the many difficult challenges of raising such a 
child is getting a break, and this service provides parents with a 
respite care service. At the same time, it gives the children a chance 
to learn and grow as they spend a weekend in a rich home environment 
with the opportunity to go on fun, exciting, and educational field 
trips. Both parents and children have the opportunity to become 
rejuvenated through Raji House.
  Parca also offers an adult service program that trains adults with 
the skills needed for self-reliance and independence. Among many of 
Parca's accomplishments is a collaboration with housing developers to 
provide affordable housing to individuals and their families, 
furthering Parca's efforts to promote independence. Independent Living 
Skills Counselors live on-site with residents to ensure their safety, 
and counselors help them learn the basic skills needed to live on their 
own, including balancing a checkbook, cooking meals, doing laundry, and 
planning grocery lists. These skills are something many take for 
granted, but for those with developmental disabilities these skills are 
the key to greater freedom and independence and a sense of pride and 
accomplishment.
  Sarah Hurlbut, a young woman who is currently a resident in Parca's 
Page Mill Court Apartments in Palo Alto, has made extraordinary 
progress since she moved into the apartments in 1998. With the help of 
Parca she has been able to live on her own for the first time. Sarah is 
no longer a shy young woman--through Parca's help she has become more 
assertive and is becoming a leader among her peers. As Sarah's 
experience has demonstrated, this program has been critical in our 
effort to help those with developmental disabilities become an integral 
part of our community.
  Parca's excellent family and counseling services provide families 
with information regarding individualized education, program planning, 
and counseling on a variety of issues. The ``Speaker Series'' provides 
information to those interested in learning about important issues such 
as child care, education, independent living, and wills. Parca's People 
First chapter teaches adults with developmental disabilities on how to 
advocate for themselves. The group has also organized trips to our 
state capital in Sacramento and to our national capital here in 
Washington, DC, to provide families and individuals with developmental 
disabilities an opportunity to advocate their positions on issues 
directly affecting their community.
  On February 9, 2002, Mr. Speaker, Parca will be holding its ``Hearts 
of Gold Anniversary Celebration'' to mark 50 years of golden 
opportunities to individuals with developmental disabilities and their 
families. As Parca celebrates this historic milestone, I invite my 
colleagues to join me in recognizing and commending the entire Parca 
family for the time, effort, and invaluable contributions that have 
been made to help individuals with developmental disabilities achieve 
their highest potential. We celebrate the vision and the success of 
Parca and wish continued future success.

                          ____________________