Working Toward Independence

Life in the real world is hard enough. But for the 150,000 or so people born in the U.S. every year with some form of developmental disability, simple tasks such as riding the bus, shopping for dinner or sewing on a shirt button can be confusing, even frightening.

For the 260 students enrolled at the nonprofit Tierra Del Sol Foundation, mastering such skills is the first step toward living on their own and taking control of their lives.

Clients of the foundation--which runs campuses in Sunland, Van Nuys and Claremont--participate in a variety of educational programs ranging from job training and basic academics to leisure skills and fine arts.

They learn to plot bus routes and to read food labels. They learn to appreciate the beauty and grace of dance as well as the occasional drudgery of holding down a job.

And they discover the individual joys of reaping the rewards of their work--from the indulgence of a professional nail polish to the necessity of buying a can of beans.

Through flexible weekday programs, students learn reading, writing and elementary mathematics as well as household skills such as cooking, housekeeping and hygiene. Many learn skills such as horticulture, sewing and clerical work to prepare them for full-time, real-world jobs.

Tierra Del Sol clients face a range of emotional, physical and behavioral challenges stemming from a range of disabilities that include mental retardation, autism, epilepsy and cerebral palsy.

Skills for independent living benefit more than just the student. Tierra Del Sol estimates the cost of supporting someone in a state hospital at $85,000 per year. Supporting their efforts to become independent costs about a quarter as much.

Tierra Del Sol was founded in 1970 by parents of developmentally disabled children in cooperation with the Eddie Cantor Foundation and the School Sisters of Notre Dame.