Tara has been volunteering here at The Arc Alliance since 2014, but her success and accomplishments don’t start there. For 23 years, Tara worked as a merchandise processor at Strawbridge and Clothier, which later became Macy’s. She then worked at TJ Maxx for some time before obtaining her current job at a Home Health Aid company. Tara also occasionally dog sits for a friend when they are away. When she isn’t working, volunteering, or caring for her cat Ellie, Tara enjoys spending her free time coloring, watching TV, cooking, and knitting. Tara has knitted prayer shawls, scarves, and baby blankets for friends and family members. Learning to cook is one of Tara’s goals and she hopes to be a guest on the Rachel Ray show one day to show the world that people with disabilities can cook delicious meals too. Some of Tara’s favorite meals to make are meatloaf, chicken salad, and hamburger soup.

In March of 2016, Tara won the Personal Achievement Award from the Montgomery County Office of Developmental Disabilities. She was not expecting to win this award, and it came as a total surprise. Accompanying Tara to the award ceremony were her mom, sister, brother, close friend, and habilitation worker. At first she was nervous to go in front of the crowd to accept the award, but found the courage to thank her friends and family for their support. She also enjoyed seeing everyone else win awards at the ceremony. Tara’s believes her biggest accomplishment so far is living independently, which she’s been doing since 2006.

Congratulations to Tara for everything she’s accomplished in her life so far and for being an inspiration to others.