As we celebrate Disability Pride Month, we highlight Juan Graciano, a friendly and gregarious young man who goes by Johnny and is served through Lanterman Regional Center.
Johnny’s aunt and parent share their heartfelt appreciation for the support they have received through Lanterman. They express that Johnny’s service coordinator, Eliana Flores-Munis, is highly dedicated, consistently making strong efforts to follow through and ensure that Johnny’s needs are met. From supporting the family with the school district to assisting in the search for employment opportunities, Eliana remains communicative, involved and genuinely committed to helping the family feel supported and cared for.
Johnny’s aunt, his mother’s twin sister, plays an active role in advocating for her nephew. She also attended the Lanterman Adult Transition Resource Fair held on March 10, 2026 – an event that, for her, captured exactly what Disability Pride Month is about: community coming together to celebrate and support people with disabilities.
She described the experience as an incredibly joyful and touching day, and it was deeply meaningful for her to see so many individuals and organizations who care about supporting people like Johnny. She expressed sincere gratitude for the wealth of information and resources made available to families. She shared that without Lanterman and its strong partnerships with various agencies, many families might feel lost, whereas these opportunities instead bring hope – especially to those who may not know how to access support on their own.
She added, “I don’t know if the Regional Center and its staff realize how much they do for families. You are truly a blessing to this community.”
This month and always, we celebrate Johnny – not just the services that support him, but who he is: a friendly, gregarious young man surrounded by a family and community that show up for him.