New Year brings renewed hope and opportunities for those UCPLA supports
With a smile that could make you forget the worries of 2020, Paulo’s warm personality radiates through a photograph. Now, he is looking to be the one behind the camera.
“I have discovered an interest in photography and am in the process of planning how to practice photography in our new COVID-19 environment,” Paulo said.
Paulo, who has lived at UCPLA’s Amestoy House for eight years, is never short on ideas and his hunger to learn new skills is constant.
Though COVID-19 has limited us in terms of travel and exploration outside our homes, Paulo is spending this time developing new interests and finding ways to improve the group home.
“I would like to make some changes to our house menu,” Paulo joked.
Knowing that his input and ideas on improving his living situation at the UCPLA group home means a lot to Paulo, who now enjoys a life of increased access and support since being introduced to the agency in 2012.
Up until then, Paulo was unaware of UCPLA’s services when he received a phone call informing him about an opening at the group home in Granada Hills.
“I toured the facility, I liked it very much and I accepted my spot here with UCPLA very quickly and moved in shortly after,” Paulo said.
Once he moved in, Paulo would go on outings to Long Beach and the Santa Monica Pier to enjoy the beautiful ocean views that LA has to offer.
But that was before California’s COVID-19 restrictions. The endless opportunities of eating at restaurants, going to movies, and visiting parks dried up once the pandemic took hold. Like many LA County residents, Paulo now spends his time at home, where “we do our best to socially distance ourselves but still have fun together.”
Despite the challenges, Paulo says there are plenty of positives to come from an otherwise gloomy year.
“My room has been repainted and we are working toward upgrading it with some new technology,” Paulo said.
Paulo says he is close with his housemates and UCPLA’s Direct Support Professionals. The open communication has given him the confidence to share with the agency ways his living space could be refined.
He says he would like to see ideas for a movie theater come to life at the home with a video projector, speakers, and a screen.
“We could do outdoor movie nights complete with popcorn and sodas and candy at least monthly,” Paulo says.
At UCPLA, we work to keep the people we support not only safe but socially engaged in fun activities that improve quality of life. If you would like to help in that mission, click learn more on how you can donate.