Latina intern’s inspiring success story
- Eduardo Alvarado
- 28 mar 2019
- 3 Min. de lectura
By the time Pamela Flores began contemplating internships, she was already enamored by The Whole Person’s “positive environment and what it stands for.” She’d been a volunteer, and she’d benefitted herself from the nonprofit center for independent living’s numerous services.
“Growing up, I had a lot of unanswered questions about living as an adult independently with a disability,” she says. “The Whole Person has classes about how to live independently, and I want to be a part of that.”
Pamela has osteogenesis imperfecta, also known as brittle bone disease, which can cause dwarfism and which prevents her from standing or walking.
“I’m still pretty fragile,” she says, “but I don’t fracture as much as I did as a child.”
The University of Missouri-Kansas City sociology junior began her internship in February, spending Fridays at TWP, helping development and community relations specialist, Lea Klepees. Pamela’s also on hand for special events and daily during spring break.
She just participated in TWP’s Deaf & Hard of Hearing Day. From 9 to noon, Pamela fielded questions from people at Bar K Dog Bar interested in resources for the hearing impaired, including where to find adoptable deaf dogs. Besides publicizing TWP on social media and community calendars and reaching out to sponsors, donors, volunteers and potential consumers, Pamela’s also helping with two upcoming events.
TWP’s annual Expressions of Art Exhibition takes place April 5.
“There’s a little bit everything – music, refreshments, silent auction and live painting by Nicholas Clark,” Pamela says.
TWP’s spring “Planting Independence – One Yard at a Time” scheduled for April 13 is seeking volunteers until April 3. The yard cleanups held spring and fall have helped hundreds of people with disabilities. Most are among the 2,000-plus people TWP serves annually.
“The Whole Person is an important organization; it wouldn’t exist without support from the community,” Pamela says. “People who aren’t familiar with the disability community (might) think they have to know someone with a disability to advocate for people with disabilities, but everyone can advocate. Volunteering at The Whole Person is a great place to start.”
Pamela’s internship ends with the spring semester, but she recognizes the value of her experience and intends to stay involved.
“When I’m working on events and planning and on the day of, seeing everything come together’s very rewarding; so is hands-on helping people with disabilities work toward independence,” she says.
Her own staunchest advocates have been her parents despite the challenges they faced. Immigrants from Chihuahua, Mexico, they didn’t speak English when Pamela was born or know about genetic disease.
“It was very difficult. My parents had a lot of questions, and they had to go through interpreters,” Pamela says. “Having a disability is more challenging for immigrants because of the language barrier and lack of access to care, resources and opportunities.”
She credits her parents for treating her like her three siblings and enrolling her in regular classes. Her only regret is not learning about TWP earlier.
“It would have been great while I was in high school to know about going to college with a disability and living independently,” she says.
Pamela’s living on her own with her companion dog, Mafalda (and the assistance of a personal care attendant, her mom), maintaining a 3.5 GPA as a full-time student and hoping to pursue a master’s degree and get a vehicle with hand controls and wheelchair ramp.
She says, “The Whole Person is really a blessing for the Kansas City area and now in St. Joseph and Kansas.”
Editor’s Note: 2mas2KC used a fictitious surname to protect Pamela’s identity.
