Christina’s Story

by Christina Zwitsa Kalafatis

Christina is a new MASS Board member in the Northeast Region. Below is the impressive speech she gave at the MASS conference, when running for the board opening: 

"Good Morning. My name is Christina Zwitsa Kalafatis. I am Greek and I am 26 years old. I have cognitive disabilities. When I was little they said I would probably never speak. But I do speak. I speak English and I speak Greek. I can read Greek, too. And, of course, I can read English.

I live in Danvers in a small residential program for young adults with disabilities named LITEhouse. It stands for Learning Independence Through Experiences. I went to school in Danvers. Then I went to the LABBB in Lexington. Then I went to the Riverview School in East Sandwich. I also went to Cod Community College and learned Animal Care and Retail. Now I go to North Shore Community College. I am in CCAP and I am learning 
Canine and Feline Care. I am learning Animal Breeds & Behavior and Nutrition and Grooming. When I graduate in June, I would like to work with animals. I go horseback riding and I am in Special Olympics Swimming, Basketball, Track and Bowling.

I go to Mass Advocates Standing Strong because I am a self-advocate. I want to be independent and to make my own decisions. I want to decide where I live and how I live. I want to have friends and go places and do things just like my two sisters do. I want to keep going to school and learn new things. I want to work at a job that is fun for me to do. I want to do what every 26 year old girl wants to do. 

I think we need to be self-advocates to tell people that we have disabilities but we have many abilities to live a good life and we can decide what we want to do. I want to be on the board so I can help others become good self- advocates. Thank you. Have a great day!”