STEPS TO INDEPENDENCE CANOGA PARK MAN AMBASSADOR FOR PROGRAM THAT HELPED HIM.Byline: MARK KELLAM Valley News Writer When hundreds of people take their first steps in the ``Walk With Me'' fundraiser for the Easter Seals Easter Seals is an international charitable organization devoted to providing opportunities for children with physical disabilities. See
William Rayber, 35, is serving as this year's honorary ambassador for the event, which will be held in Buena Park Buena Park (bwā`nə), city (1990 pop. 68,784), Orange co., S Calif.; inc. 1953. Food processing, the manufacture of aircraft, and tourism are important to the city's economy. . Easter Seals provides programs and services for local people with disabilities such as Down syndrome Down syndrome, congenital disorder characterized by mild to severe mental retardation, slow physical development, and characteristic physical features. Down syndrome affects about 1 in every 730 live births and occurs in all populations equally. , cerebral palsy cerebral palsy (sərē`brəl pôl`zē), disability caused by brain damage before or during birth or in the first years, resulting in a loss of voluntary muscular control and coordination. and autism autism (ô`tĭzəm), developmental disability resulting from a neurological disorder that affects the normal functioning of the brain. It is characterized by the abnormal development of communication skills, social skills, and reasoning. . Rayber, who has cerebral palsy, said he knows how valuable Easter Seals' services can be. He came to Easter Seals in 1999 after living in a group home for six years. He had moved into the group home after his parents became too elderly to care for him. He had become frustrated with the rigid routine at the group home and sought out assistance from the Easter Seals' supported living Supported living is the term given by local authorities in the UK to encompass a range of services designed to help disabled citizens retain their independence in their local community. Previously, housing and support were usually provided by a charity or local council. program. ``We had to go to bed every night at 9 p.m.,'' Rayber said, adding he wanted to stay up later but wasn't allowed. He said the strict rules may have benefited the other group home residents, but he didn't need -- or want -- to live in such a heavily supervised environment. Rayber has lived on his own for almost seven years. ``I feel independent because I get to make my own rules,'' Rayber said. ``Thanks to Easter Seals, I can be a good, positive role model for others.'' Easter Seals helped Rayber get a grant so he could purchase a house and make the needed changes to make it accessible for him. They also lined him up with a coach, who lives in part of the house. The coach is with him five days a week. On Sundays and Wednesdays, Rayber is on his own and sometimes does chores around the house, such as laundry. On Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, Rayber works at the Ability First Workshop in Woodland Hills. He's worked there for about two years and had worked at New Horizons in North Hills prior to that. The Easter Seals' ``Walk With Me'' fundraiser will be held at 9 a.m. Sunday, at Knott's Soak City Knott's Soak City is a chain of three water parks, located in Southern California. The chain is owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Co. The first park opened in Buena Park, California, as an addition to Knott's Berry Farm. in Buena Park. Registration is free. Walkers are encouraged to raise $150 each through pledges. Registration begins at 7:45 a.m. the day of the event. To preregister pre·reg·is·ter v. pre·reg·is·tered, pre·reg·is·ter·ing, pre·reg·is·ters v.intr. To take part in preregistration. v.tr. To enroll (a student) during a period of preregistration. , visit www.walkwithme.org or call Valene Corcoran at (714) 834-1111. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: William Rayber, 35, of Canoga Park is this year's honorary ambassador for the Easter Seals' ``Walk With Me'' fundraiser, to be held Sunday in Buena Park. Casey Roland/Special to the Valley News |
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