DIALOGUE A Quarterly Publication of the Regional Center of Orange County VOLUME 36 NO.3 • FALL 2022
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Angel Romero WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT IN BOWLING A “PERFECT” GAME IS A SCORE OF 300, most of us would probably be pretty happy to even get close to a score of 100. But not Angel Romero. An avid bowler, who plays almost every day, his average score is 190 which makes him a lot more skilled than the average player and a valuable member of his local bowling league. Angel started bowling at the age of 18 through a program with Project Independence. In fact, since 2013 (except for last year, due to COVID) he’s joined his bowling friends for an annual two-day road trip to bowl together in Las Vegas. A 40-year-old who has a mild intellectual disability, Angel started bowling at the age of 18 through a program with Project Independence, the service provider that now works with him on Independent Living Services (ILS) and job coaching. Over the years, he’s earned several bowling trophies and now has his own locker at his local bowling alley, where he keeps his bowling ball, shoes and shirt. While bowling is his main recreational activity, his participation with Project Independence as a teen exposed him to lots of different activities, including downhill skiing, volleyball, soccer and basketball. In 1996, he was the youngest Special Olympics athlete in his skiing events.
Angel (left) and his RCOC Service Coordinator Jesus Vasquez. He also likes to play baseball, video games and watch action movies like the Fast & Furious series. He’s such a fan, he owns two cases filled with his favorite DVDs. Angel is an outstanding role model for other adults who want to live independently. According to his RCOC Service Coordinator Jesus Vazquez and others, Angel is an Cont. on Page 7
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