Debbie Batucal has been a quiet, stabilizing support within our L.A. Region for the past six and one half years. She is formally known as the Administrative Assistant to the L.A. Operations Director, yet her contributions have exceeded her title. It is because of her continuing dedication to Westview that she is being recognized as Westview’s "Employee for the Summer Quarter - 2010”.
Debbie is not only dependable, professional and cheerful when performing administrative duties, she is efficient in every additional task she takes on or is assigned. Debbie coordinates the region’s meetings and formal events and conducts program audits to help assure regulatory compliance. She creates flyers for regional activities, regularly conducts program safety training, has formed strong working relations with Regional Centers and has recently developed four new volunteer job sites for
L.A. client groups.
There is much more but let us listen to one Senior Coach who has beautifully summed up his regard for Debbie which is shared by fellow employees, "During the years that I have worked with Debbie her demeanor has been beyond reproach. She is people oriented and always willing to assist anyone in the
L.A. region."
Congratulations and thank you Debbie! 
Three Westview Nominees Receive RCOC Spotlight Awards
Westview had three of its nominees selected as recipients of the RCOC Spotlight Awards for 2009. These awards are presented annually to individuals or organizations "who stand out as role models of selfless service and dedicated advocacy in working with people with developmental disabilities…”
Virginia Rangel, a client of Westview’s Supported Employment Program, was honored with the Consumer Award.
Virginia has distinguished herself as an employee of Home Depot in
Huntington Beach since 1992.
Virginia was featured on Fox 11 news on September 1 as a part of its Jobshop series.
Virginia’s accomplishments extend even beyond the setting of Home Depot. She has been instrumental in working through Home Depot’s Community Service Program to provide special projects for different Westview programs. With
Virginia’s help, Home Depot installed a bocce ball court and landscaping at Westview’s Starlyte program in
Westminster and provided garden plants for Westview’s Community Arts program in
Anaheim, Daystar program in
Fullerton, and Starbright program in
Santa Ana.
Virginia helped start a new chapter of People First at a Westview location and is its current president. Through People First, she has been a leader in promoting self-advocacy for people with developmental disabilities and has helped instill within them a sense of community and political awareness. She has also helped grow the organization by making other consumers aware of the possibilities within themselves.
Khanh Troung, coach of the
Garden Grove program, was the recipient of the Frontline Award, which recognizes an "individual whose direct service to people with developmental disabilities has demonstrated exceptional ability to enhance the life of one or more RCOC consumers.” Mr. Troung has consistently demonstrated his readiness to go above and beyond in serving his clients and Westview, including making hospital visits when his clients were ill, helping his clients and their families on his own time during weekends, serving as a Special Olympics volunteer, and mentoring new coaches.
Home Depot was presented with the Employer Award, which recognizes "exceptional leadership and creativity in expanding integrated employment opportunities for people with developmental disabilities.” Home Depot employs fifteen Westview clients at its various stores in
Orange
County and is a forerunner in recognizing that disabilities are not barriers to one’s ability to work productively and conscientiously. Home Depot has also given back to the community by providing plants, landscaping,
and a bocce ball court to various
Westview
Orange
County day programs, significantly enhancing the quality of life of Westview’s clients with more severe disabilities.
Westview is honored to have its nominees selected as recipients of the RCOC Spotlight Awards and congratulates them on receiving these most deserving awards. We thank them for all they do in showing us the meaning of selfless service.