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Dear Friends of AbilityFirst,

As we approach the end of 2023, I am deeply grateful to each of you who have played a pivotal role in supporting AbilityFirst through this remarkable year. Your generosity towards AbilityFirst has touched the lives of our program participants and been a catalyst for everyone’s personal growth and autonomy. Grounded in our commitment to fostering a sense of belonging and value, AbilityFirst continues to connect children and adults with developmental disabilities to resources within their own communities.

Our vision for a world where every person can participate fully in their communities has driven us to take significant steps forward. We are proud of our efforts to embrace diversity in all its forms, including establishing an advocacy support group for Spanish-speaking parents, a participant advisory council that guides our Board of Directors, a new adult program in East Los Angeles, and other workplace inclusion initiatives.

Jose first joined the AbilityFirst East Los Angeles Center when he was six years old and participated in the Afterschool program. At the time, he was reserved and shy and didn’t use words to communicate. Thanks to the love and support he received from staff, Jose continued to attend the program and participate in various activities at the center. Jose gradually gained confidence and began to socialize and make friends. He developed his communication skills and learned how to self-advocate.

And today, we are excited to share that Jose is gearing up for his first year of college!

While there are still many obstacles that people with disabilities face in our community, we are determined to uphold our mission to break down barriers and open pathways for growth and belonging for individuals just like Jose! The strides we’ve made this year are just the beginning, and we are excited about the continued journey ahead. On behalf of our program participants and their families, we extend our heartfelt thanks for considering another investment in AbilityFirst and its programs.

Thanks to a generous donor, when you make your year-end gift today, you will DOUBLE your impact up to a maximum of $5000.00!  Please visit abilityfirst.org/donate.

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