One Step Beyond and Former Mayor and Current San Carlos City Council Member Laura Parmer-Lohan Celebrate Grand Re-Opening

(San Carlos, Calif.– June 15, 2022) Team members, participants, and former mayor and current San Carlos City Council member Laura Parmer-Lohan celebrated the grand re-opening of One Step Beyond, Inc. (OSBI)—a leading provider of comprehensive programming and services for adults (18+) who have intellectual disabilities. The re-opening marks the return to full, in-person programming for participants and families who depend on their services.

“COVID-19 forced us to move to virtual programming,” says One Step Beyond CEO Madison Blanton. “While we continued to offer critical in-person care, this re-opening is a declaration that our innovative programming and services are back to where they should be…providing personal touch and support for individuals who rely on it.”

One Step Beyond’s one-of-a-kind educational, recreational, employment, and life skills programming enables participants to achieve independence, self-sufficiency, and employment that enables participants to contribute to and achieve greater social participation in their communities.

• Culinary training programs take place in a commercial kitchen with an emphasis on customer service, healthy dietary planning, food preparation, and proper sanitation skills that equip participants with the necessary skills to seek employment in the food industry.
• Life skills programs help members strengthen independent living skills, with an emphasis on money management, functional literacy, social skills, and safe community access.
• Employment programs provide training and volunteer opportunities for self-reliance that lead to competitive or supported employment. OSBI covers the cost of roundtrip transportation for the member and their job coach to ensure success and a positive experience for the individual and the employer.
• Recreation and fine arts programs provide music, art, dance and fitness with an emphasis on personal wellness. OSBI also has a formal partnership with Special Olympics with more than 300 OSBI athletes participating in year-round sports training and tournaments. The organization is the first and only campus-based day training program that has a special needs hockey team, The One Step Sharks.

“Laura Parmer-Lohan supports access to community resources for all,” adds Blanton. “She has been a friend of OSBI since we came to San Carlos, and she promotes the unique nature of San Carlos and San Mateo County as safe communities for families, seniors, persons with disabilities, teachers, first responders, and civil servants. She works hard to allow everyone’s talents to flourish in welcoming, safe and diverse communities.”

About One Step Beyond, Inc.

One Step Beyond, Inc. (OSBI) is a private, non-profit organization that provides comprehensive programming and services for adults who have intellectual disabilities. One Step Beyond empowers its members to achieve independence, self-sufficiency, and employment through innovative culinary, education, fitness and arts programs as well as strategic partnerships with local businesses that enable participants to contribute to and achieve greater social participation in their communities. One Step Beyond is has locations in San Carlos and Phoenix. For more information about One Step Beyond programs and services visit https://osbi.org/

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