Louise Medrano
lmedrano@greateropp.org
(408) 248-4464 ext. 130
When I was 10, my neighbor was a nurse at Agnew State Hospital. I volunteered for the summer and helped with elderly patients with dementia and Alzheimer's. I continued each summer until I was 14, assisting in different departments, sometimes with patients with severe developmental issues, a couple of months with children who were non-responsive due to trauma, and also with adults deemed criminally insane. It struck me then how people without a voice were left behind, not given a chance to grow or experience life outside those institutional walls.
I was introduced to Greater Opportunities by a friend who was an SLS provider. She would occasionally invite me to join her with her client when they went out. She noticed how I spoke to him, included him in our conversations, and suggested I apply.
Now, three years later, I love our clients and being a part of their growth. I love knowing that now, people with special needs can thrive by having jobs, their own homes, relationships, and even having families of their own.
After working as an Electrician for 12 years, and an Electrical Instructor for the last 9 years, I am changing it up and devoting myself to this wonderful company. My dream is to make a lasting difference and give people with special needs, like my grandson, a voice that the previous generations never had.
