What prompted the founder to start My Possibilities - our children!
David LeoGrande
My name is David Randall LeoGrande. I am 20 years old and at Plano West Senior High School. I have Down syndrome. I live with Mom and Dad. My brother, Joel, goes to college in Atlanta.
I'm in Special Olympics. I like to play volley ball and basketball. I like bowling and tennis. At school I like to read, write, and add money. At school we practice learning how to work by going to job sites. At YMCA I learned to do laundry and fold towels. At the hospital, I learned to sort papers, shred papers and deliver mail.
I do a lot of work at home, I wash my clothes, unload the dishwasher, mop the floor, clean my bathroom sink, and other things. I like to travel, go to movies and have McDonald's lunch on Saturdays.
Sometimes people don't understand me. My speech teacher taught me to not get frustrated when people don't understand. It just takes a little time. I just repeat what I said. Once they hear me, they learn I am funny and a good friend. I want everyone to be happy and not fight. I also have a colostomy. It's no big deal. It helps me stay healthy and grow.
I want to have a job where I can help people and make money to buy video games, DVDs and gifts for my family. I want to live in an apartment, get married and choose the color to paint the walls. I want to invite my friends to visit.
Kyle Robus
I am 23 years old- and I live in Plano with my parents. I enjoy going to school, learning and hanging out with my friends. I like going to job site, and learning how to work and take care of myself. I have been to a number of work places like the YMCA, Target, Home Depot and Tinseltown. I am attending My Possibilities to continue learning, volunteering, hanging out with my friends and in the future I hope to get a job and live on my own. I enjoy singing, and attending many of the Plano Parks and Recreation activities, and attending church/my bible study at Prestonwood, with my family.
From A Parents Perspective
As Kyle reaches his end of his school career at Plano West – The future of what Kyle is going to do post high school is of great concern to me. As a parent I do not want my son at home alone watching Television 24/7, and having no purpose or anything meaningful to do every day . Having looked around I have come to see and understand that there are very limited opportunities for adults with disabilities post high school in Collin County. Quality programs are very limited, and in most cases have extensive waiting lists. Quality Residential facilities are far away in other cities, and require that Adults with disabilities be sent away from home, distanced from their loved ones, and removed from their family support systems. As a parent I want to continue having a relationship with my son, go to meals together, attend church, and for him to continue to be an active and valuable member of my family, however I also want Kyle to have purpose and passion and an opportunity to continue to grow and become self sufficient. I am very excited about the opportunity that Kyle will have through my possibilities to continue to grow and become independent.
How can you make a difference?
Founder Stories
July 19th, 2010 | 
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