PLEASANTON — Della Dixon always felt out of place, as if she didn’t belong. She grew up developmentally disabled in an abusive home, and being in and out of foster care can have that effect on her person.
He became deaf at an early age due to physical abuse.
“I’ve had an incredibly hard life,” Dixon recently said through an American Sign Language interpreter. “But I am a survivor.”
Dixon, 56, lives in her new one-bedroom home in Sunflower Hill, an organization that helps adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities such as autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and other chromosomal differences. , not just alive, but live well. He lives independently at Arvey Ranch in Pleasanton.
Sunflower Hill at Arby Ranch raised $7,500 to help people with intellectual disabilities like Dixon through the East Bay Times’ annual Share the Spirit campaign, which aims to raise funds for the most vulnerable people in their communities. Or want to help adults with developmental disabilities or others outside of Arby Ranch. Acquire skills to live independently.
“She’s a very special woman and she hasn’t had an easy life. Honestly, she’s very inspiring,” said Pamela Zielske, director of promotion for the nonprofit Sunflower Hill. .
Dixon’s face clearly conveys what her muffled words and rudimentary sign language cannot convey. The traces of her pain and struggle she’s been dealing with are often obscured by a big smile that pushes her glasses upwards.
When asked about living in one of the 30 affordable rental units spread over 1.64 acres on Sunflower Hill in Abbey Ranch, she is delighted. “I love you! I love you!” she said through an interpreter. “There is nothing wrong here.”
Dixon’s 496 square feet includes a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and family room.
Unlike other subsidized public housing Dixon has lived in over the years, Arby Ranch offers her a lot. In addition to having a safe environment, she was able to gain close friends. Jennifer Crandall, one of her two other deaf residents, is Dixon’s constant sidekick.
This place also gave her self-esteem. Residents, regardless of disability, can learn about cooking, painting, and even sign language. Dixon specializes in all three of her programs and is committed to sharing her expertise with others.
When Della and her dog aren’t roaming the complex and neighborhood seeking interaction with residents, they can bake cookies, make and share popular soups, or draw and donate professional-quality paintings. I am selling it.
“Dera is a leader and role model for many of them,” said their former residential program manager, Pratimajit Kaur, who said Dixon had grown from an anxious participant to an ardent advocate for others. Added. “She has confidence in herself and uses her confidence to help others.”
Sunflower Hill plans to open two more communities for adults with special needs. Construction of the 38-unit complex in Lafayette He is scheduled for 2023 and is expected to open in 2025. In Dublin he has also proposed a 22-unit site.
The need is great.
Dixon admitted that living in his previous apartments in the Tri Valley area was often an isolating experience. She said there are times when she feels “unwelcome” or unwelcome.
“It was tough because I didn’t know how to communicate well with people,” Dixon said. Dixon, like many deaf people, uses only rudimentary sign language and relies primarily on lip reading. “I think this place is the best place for me. It makes me feel more confident in who I am.”
In many ways, Dixon represents everything possible for a Sunflower Hill resident.
“He always greets you with a smile and is so genuine. I can’t think of a more positive resident at Arby Ranch,” says Sunflower Hill Executive Director Jen Leonard Benson. “She is very grateful to be able to live independently.”
The sense of community at Arby Ranch fostered by movie nights and game nights, as well as rave reviews from residents and their immediate families, make Sunflower Hill a popular destination for others with disabilities seeking a more fulfilling life. has become a destination. Zielske said he now has a waiting list of well over 200 people wanting to live at Sunflower Hill. Residents pay below market rent based on income eligibility.
“Affordable housing communities for adults with developmental disabilities are very rare, so housing for this population is really in demand,” said Zielske.
Raised in Dublin, Dixon was one of the first residents of Irby Ranch when it opened in November 2020, making it Tri-Valley’s first independent residential community for people with disabilities.
“I love this place…it’s the best place,” Dixon said with tears in his eyes. “I feel accepted for who I am here, and that’s great.
“I feel like I am here.”
share the spirit
Sponsored by Bay Area News Group, the Share the Spirit holiday campaign provides relief, hope and opportunity to East Bay residents by helping raise funds for non-profit programs in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.
how to help
Your donation will help Sunflower Hill provide programs and activities at Irby Ranch to help adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities develop skills to support independent living. This program is also available to individuals outside of the Irby Ranch. Goal: $7,500
how to give
Visit www.sharethespiriteastbay.org/donate or print and mail the coupon.
