 | | | Las Trampas residential buildings for children prior to 1970. Photo courtesy Las Trampas | | | | | | Orinda Mayor Amy Worth was delighted to present a proclamation recognizing the 60th anniversary of Las Trampas School at the city council meeting April 10. Mayor Worth called the school "one of the treasures of our community." The school was honored for its efforts on behalf of the developmentally disabled. The proclamation states that 60 years ago a group of committed parents and neighbors founded the Las Trampas School in Lafayette to provide a safe and nurturing place for their children with developmental disabilities. Currently intellectual and developmental disabilities affect more than 3,500 adults in Contra Costa County. Since its inception, the school has changed its focus to developmentally disabled adults.
The proclamation was accepted by Daniel Hoag, executive director, and Cathy Merchant, who has been involved with Las Trampas over many years. Hoag said that he could not be more pleased to be part of an organization that was here since well before the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act of 1968, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1975, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
Hoag said that the purpose of the school is to serve and to provide dignity and inclusion for people with developmental disabilities. "It was this area of California" he said, "that was instrumental in moving people out of institutional settings and into the community."
Looking to the next 60 years, Hoag plans to be working toward people with disabilities being fully included in every aspect of the community.
Hoag thanked Inga Miller, who served on the Las Trampas board right before she was elected to the City Council. Miller said she learned how many Orinda residents were involved in the founding of Las Trampas, which was for their children. It is, she said, "a very, very special place, a really lovely organization."
Worth agreed that it really is true that Las Trampas preceded all the state and federal legislation on disabilities and that Contra Costa County still has a tremendous challenge to provide housing for adults with disabilities. She thanked Las Trampas for their fine work in making it happen.
Las Trampas' big fundraiser, "What's in Our Hat?" will be held at the Lafayette Park Hotel and Spa from 3 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday, April 29. Champagne, cocktails, premium wines, appetizers and a themed buffet will be served. Tickets are $125 and can be purchased at www.lastrampas.org. There will be a raffle and a silent auction, and entertainment will be provided by Generations in Jazz Combo.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA