The Founder
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ABOUT THE FOUNDER
Sierra Anway is a certified Special Education Teacher with over 8 years of experience working with individuals with special needs. In her work with young adults with intellectual exceptionalities, she quickly saw the opportunities that were lacking in their lives. While working at the high school level, she worked relentlessly to develop and run programs that encompassed community integration, peer-mentorship, independence, socialization, independent living, and vocational skills. Across the board, these were the areas where her students were significantly lacking skills and also the areas that would be meaningful for them in their lives after high school, a short time away for many.
As she watched many incredible transformations take place, she wondered what would happen next for her students? Time researching and observing programs and supports for adults with special needs left her in despair. She witnessed most programs having low expectations and significantly lacking in quality. In her research of families with an exceptional family member, she came to learn a common outcome: many families resort to having their exceptional family member live at home their entire life without a job, friends, or any purpose.
The outcomes Sierra saw in front of her were heart-wrenching. After years in the school system, she saw there was only so much she could do in that setting. She wanted to do so much more and her quest to open this organization began.
A WORD FROM THE FOUNDER
I feel incredibly blessed and honored that this life's journey has led me here, working with such remarkable human beings. It's easy for me to see the the ability and the potential. There are worlds of possibility just waiting to be explored. And I would have to say, what has brought me the absolute most joy in my career, is watching those doors start to open for my students and their families.
I see many exceptional people who do not have access to new experiences and to the plentiful opportunities that life has to offer. And I see little community integration happening in our society. There are barriers, but my mindset is always about breaking those barriers down so opportunities can be created.
Being in the community involves a lot of NEW: new places. new activities, new environments, new skills, new foods, NEW WORLDS OF OPPORTUNITY. Through these new experiences, courage and confidence are built like nothing else. I like to think of it as a boot camp for self-esteem and personal growth.
In my career, I have seen the most incredible breakthrough moments during our community learning and real world experiences. It was very clear to me early on, that this was where the real learning was taking place. What I witness in these experiences, is growth and evolution. I watch these incredible humans step into independence and start seeing themselves as belonging and as capable. I see them step into more and more of their full potential every outing. I watch them find meaning, purpose, and joy in their lives. And that has been my biggest inspiration in creating this organization.
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