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Adults aged 18 and older
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Participants of the California Self Determination Program
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Must be eager to learn how to live more independently
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Resident of Orange County, CA
Together, we foster growth, empowerment, and a thriving future.
At our core, we’re committed to your independence. Our tailored independent living services cater to your distinct needs, right within the comfort of your home and community.
Here’s our approach:
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1. Individualized Support: Your journey is unique and so are you. We tailor our services based on your person-centered plan and individual aspirations.
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2. Skills that Matter: While we teach essential skills (like the ones listed below), we’re not about one-size fits all. We work closely with you to prioritize skill development that truly matters to you.
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3. Your Journey, Our Commitment: You’re not just a client; you’re a valued member of our community. We’re dedicated to supporting you every step of the way. Let’s create a roadmap to independence that is uniquely yours.
Household and Money Management
We provide practical instruction in daily living skills, such as cleaning different areas of your home, doing laundry, and keeping your living space organized. We can also teach you how to find simple recipes, shop for groceries, and prepare meals while safely using kitchen appliances.
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Additionally, we offer comprehensive money management training, including counting money, managing bank accounts, understanding needs vs. wants, creating budgets, tracking expenses, and paying bills on time.
Self-Advocacy Training
We empower you to confidently advocate for yourself, reducing the need to rely on parents or caregivers for tasks such as scheduling medical appointments, arranging rides, or managing other important activities. Through our instruction and support, you will develop the skills necessary to manage these responsibilities independently. Self-advocacy is essential in all areas of life, and we are committed to helping you become your own strongest advocate, empowering you to make informed choices and express your needs clearly.
Community Integration
Our services aim to help you feel included and fully participate in your community. To enhance your independence, travel training with the OCTA bus or rideshare services (ex. Uber, Lyft) may be included in your service plan. This training can help you confidently access places such as grocery stores, clothing or other shopping locations, restaurants, recreational activities, and community resources like post-secondary education. As part of your support, we also offer social skills development and safety awareness training as needed.
Safety
Living independently is exciting but can also be daunting. We prioritize teaching safety awareness skills to ensure your well-being and protection, both at home and in the community. This includes learning how to recognize and avoid potential hazards, respond effectively to emergencies, use household appliances safely, navigate public spaces with confidence, and interact appropriately with strangers. We also provide digital safety training, helping you use smartphones, social media, and the internet safely and responsibly. By building these essential skills, you can maintain a higher level of independence and confidence in your daily life.
Hi there! I’m Tracy, the owner and operator of Empowered Living. I hold a Bachelor's degree in Special Education and a Master's degree in Secondary Special Education and Transition. With over 15 years of dedicated experience working with individuals with disabilities, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing incredible growth and resilience.
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My journey began in my hometown, a cozy suburb of Chicago, as a respite care provider and inclusion advocate. I supported an individual in achieving greater independence both at home and within his community. Those early experiences fueled my passion for making a difference.
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Driven by a desire to learn and grow, I pursued higher education and became a licensed special education teacher. My teaching career in the Illinois public school system focused on high school and transition classrooms. There, I specialized in developing functional life skills and vocational abilities for my students.
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In 2018, life took an exciting turn—I made the significant decision to relocate to sunny Orange County, CA. My family had moved there five years prior, and I knew it was the right place for me. In Orange County, for four years, I served as a leader and curriculum developer for a local nonprofit organization dedicated to adults with developmental disabilities. I designed innovative curricula for their five programs, empowering individuals seeking greater independence and those pursuing employment. Training the dedicated staff to implement these programs was incredibly rewarding.
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But my passion for teaching wasn’t satisfied yet. In 2023, I took a leap and founded Empowered Living. Why? Because I yearn to reconnect with my roots and uplift individuals within their homes and communities. My education and experiences have equipped me to impart essential skills that foster independence and self-advocacy. Simply put, I aspire to empower people to lead lives filled with joy, confidence, dignity, and pride. Our primary focus is on clients participating in California’s Self Determination Program (SDP), as I wholeheartedly align with SDP’s mission and person-centered services. I am deeply committed to enriching the lives of those I serve, and I am profoundly grateful for this opportunity.​
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Outside of my business, I wear another hat—I’m an adjunct instructor within the Disability Support Services at a local community college district. When the workday winds down, you’ll find me in my cozy kitchen, whipping up delightful treats, and sharing precious moments with my husband and our beloved dog, Rosie.
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Thanks for joining me on this journey! Together, we’re making a positive impact, one step at a time. 🌟