TACCD - Tahoe Area Coordinating Council for the Disabled

Tahoe Area Coordinating Council for the Disable board members and award recipents gather after the TACCD's annual recognition luncheon.

Jim Grant / Tahoe Daily Tribune

( click image to enlarge)

The Tahoe Area Coordinating Council for the Disabled recently held its annual celebratory luncheon at Embassy Suites to recognize and honor the 2009 Distinguished Champions of the Disabled. Recognized and respected as advocates for and supporters of the rights of persons with disabilities, facilitators of low-income housing for seniors and disabled persons, transportation rights and accessibility issues, TACCD sought nominations for recognition of suitable individuals or businesses. At the presentation ceremony, the advocates, supporters and defenders identified this year were presented with a beautiful award by President David Kelly and Secretary John Pillsbury who acknowledged their dedication to ensuring the best possible quality of life for seniors and individuals with disabilities.

The following recipients were named for this distinctive honor:

Cindy Archer, Alta California Regional Center Case Manager, for 31 years of service to the developmentally disabled population of South Lake Tahoe, and for numerous volunteer activities, including being one of the founding members of TACCD.

Carpenters Local 1789 members Paul Moniot and Robert Samorano for developing an annual fundraiser on their member’s own personal time, to raise much needed funds to help TACCD continue to do the good work they do for the seniors and disabled members of our community.

City Council members of the city of South Lake Tahoe for their many years of support and commitment to various projects for the benefit of the senior and disabled members of our town, including housing (Tahoe Senior Plaza, Sky Forest Acres and Kelly Ridge) and transportation; and for their acknowledgment and support of TACCD as an avenue to reach seniors and disabled persons throughout the country in an effort to encourage them to view South Lake Tahoe as a vacation destination.

Carol and Ray Goodenough, for many years of being good and faithful servants to the temporarily and permanently disabled members of our community. They work through their church to assist persons in need, as well as through OPEN (Ordinary People meeting Extraordinary Needs). They go above and beyond their unpaid job descriptions to be available seven days a week, sometimes even late into the night to assist those who have needs for medications, medical equipment, rides to medical appointments, advice, recommendations or referrals, or just being there to listen and offering a prayer and a shoulder to cry on. Even through they face serious medical issues of their own, Carol and Ray have pressed on to keep the level of service at their maximum.

The Kiwanis Club of Lake Tahoe for their continued dedication to funding the TACCD Handicapped Accessible Handbook available online, used annually by thousands of seniors and disabled persons to located accessible lodging, restaurants, businesses, entertainment, etc. available in the South Lake Tahoe area; as well as for their annual contributions to Special Olympics Team Tahoe and to People First.

Carolyn Lyons, a special education teacher at Sierra House School, for going above and beyond the definition of advocate, supporter, concerned instructor and facilitator of all that is necessary for the greatest benefit of her individual students; and for taking the time to educate all the Sierra House classes about disabilities and the appropriate manner in which to interact with and assist her students and other disabled persons in the community.

TRAILS at the Lake (a re-formation of the Supported Employment Division of Substitute Personnel) for the dedication of their staff in their eagerness to think outside the box and go the extra mile for their clients; for their 24/7 availability as necessary to promote and support the success of their clients; and for their commitment to educating the business community about the benefits of hiring dedicated, reliable, hard working, appreciative persons with disabilities for their businesses.

Chris Whalen and Kathy Sharp from the South Tahoe Public Utility District, for their dedication over the past several years in arranging for Christmas gifts for more than 40 persons with mental illness. During the year, they have helped with food and furniture needs for those who — without their help — may have had to go without.

Melissa Wilbourn, an Independent Living Instructor, for her heartwarming dedication. As her client Joseph told us, “Before Melissa, everything was bad. She is always there and always shows up. She is always happy and never in a bad mood. She makes everything easy. Melissa goes beyond. One time I had to go shopping on a day that wasn’t my regular day and she was still there for me. She really cares about me.”

The ceremonies were concluded with the presentation of TACCD’s Community Humanitarian Award. “With pride and enthusiasm,” last year’s recipients, Paul and Judy Bruso, chose Mark and Stacy Romagnolo as this year’s honorees. Among the kudos for the Romagnolos, the Brusos stated that “from coaching kids in sports to leading Odyssey of the Mind teams to cooking for Grad Night to sponsoring students from other countries to sitting on the Board of Education to raising money for every group imaginable, they do it all.” The Brusos continued, “We personally don’t know anyone in Lake Tahoe who has done more for this community than Mark and Stacy, and it’s a privilege to be counted among their many friends.”

TACCD Chairman David Kelly was proud to announce that Kelly Ridge, the new TACCD-sponsored affordable senior housing at Pioneer and Herbert is nearing completion and should be ready for occupancy in early June.

Kelly also expressed the Board’s sincere appreciation of the South Lake Tahoe Rotary Club for sponsoring this year’s very successful event, and expressed his gratitude to the nearly 50 people who attended the celebration to add their appreciation and thanks to the honorees.

Please send donations to enable their continued good work to TACCD, 2572 Lake Tahoe Blvd., Suite 3, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150.