PASSION DRIVES SELF-ADVOCATE

Fran Capponi learned how to advocate by watching her mother. Her mother always made sure that Capponi’s teacher knew about her autism diagnosis and ensured she had access to accommodations to succeed.

Now as a staff member with The Arc of Spokane’s Transition and Young Adult Program (TYAP), Capponi has made it her mission to mentor students drawing from her own experiences. Throughout the winter of 2021-22, she helped participants in the Business Opportunity School for Success (BOSS) program.

TYAP Manager Kyla Parkins says that it’s been a wonderful thing to see Capponi apply her lived experiences to help others hone in on their interests.

“Fran is passionate about preventing isolation for folks with disabilities and wants to help others like herself. She worked with our BOSS program at Mead High School, which ended up being really helpful because Fran is a former Panther! Because she knew a lot of people at the school already, she was able to help the BOSS students network and sell their products,” Parkins said.

Capponi wants other to consider the impact of the way we treat others rather than just having good intentions. Awareness is merely a starting point.

“We need help, but we don’t want to be babied,” Capponi said.

She admires other self-advocates such as Temple Grandin, who refused to be held back by the stereotypes that society perceived as being true of people with disabilities. If she can help or inspire others to become self-advocates, then she will consider her efforts an accomplishment.

“My experience helping others with IDD at The Arc has helped me develop a passion in becoming an advocate for individuals with disabilities of all kinds. I feel that there needs to be more people out in society in helping and supporting these individuals as they should be given a chance to mature and become successful,” Capponi said.