We had the good fortune of connecting with Robin LeoGrande and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Robin, how does your business help the community?

By standing up for the most vulnerable in North Texas, we are using our organization for positive change. COMMUNITY FOR PERMANENT SUPPORTED HOUSING (txcpsh.org) is inspiring citizens to address the lack of safe, affordable housing and services to support people with disabilities in achieving their best lives.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

In my mid-teens a bike accident left me in a coma for several days. It was a long rehabilitation, mostly years of headaches and problems with recalling information and memories. During my junior year in high school, I heard about a new class about programming computers. I went to the teacher and asked what that meant. He said “writing what you think and the computer gives you the result.” That was my “ah ha” moment. I was fascinated by the way I could tell a computer to do certain things by giving it instructions. I thought my career in computer science and programing began, there was one road block. I had to go to college and get a degree. Back in those days a college degree was required to get a job in information technology. Impatient to start my career, I graduated early. I also met Jim, whom I later married.

Texas Instruments hired me out of college and I headed to Texas as a computer engineer. I would be living in a warm climate (did I mention I’m from Buffalo, New York. Brrrrrr!). I’d spend my entire career at TI, working on IT and semiconductor product development in leadership and management positions until I retired after 32 years.

TI was looking at new ways to improve productivity and quality in product development. I volunteered to be on a team to determine how that could be accomplished. We wrote down all the steps that engineers take to build a product and looked at how those steps could be changed to improve productivity and quality. I saw a lot of similarities between process engineering and programming. I pursued assignments where I could use process engineering to assist teams of engineers in building better products.

Then my second son, David, was born with Down syndrome. He has an extra chromosome, an intellectual disability, and medical challenges. As I learned how to be a mom to him, I had to be patient. He needs each skill he learns broken down by steps. Each step has to be practiced many times before it’s mastered. Sometimes the steps need to be changed so he can understand them. Who knew that my years of experience would help me guild David to achieve so much independence? One of his favorite activities is tidying up. This skill developed from learning to fold clothing, recycling trash, and cleaning. It’s worth the many years it took to see him thrive.

About 11 years ago I began thinking about where David might want to live as he ages. I found very few housing options for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities in North Texas where they could make decisions about their lives. My solution along with a fellow mom Irene Niemotka was to create COMMUNITY FOR PERMANENT SUPPORTED HOUSING (CPSH).

I’m proud to say CPSH is recognized in Texas as an expert in safe, affordable, community-housing options for people with disabilities. We have defined a process to help people with disabilities and their families live independently with support services. This year CPSH was awarded the role of vender for Texas Workforce Commission to help students with disabilities and their families plan for their futures.

The North Texas community needs CPSH and CPSH needs you. Are you a marketing expert? Are you a real estate developer? Do you want to make the North Texas community welcoming for all? People with disabilities need you on the CPSH Board of Directors to continue our mission. Come join us! It’s so rewarding. Feel free to contact me at 214-632-115, rleogrande@txcpsh.org).

And it all started with a bike.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

My ideal week in Dallas: Meals
Breakfast – Norma’s Cafe, Eddie’s Diner
Lunch – Newt’s, Keller’s Drive-In
Drinks – Saint Ann’s
Dinner – Grimaldi’s Pizza, Sullivan’s Steakhouse
Dallas Farmers Market

Entertainment/Education
Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden
Majestic Theater
Arbor Hills Nature Preserve
Reunion Tower
Perot Museum of Nature and Science
Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum
African American Museum
Bass Hall
Any sporting event

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

A shoutout to people with disabilities who are have achieved or are striving for more independence. You are role models for so many. It is a joy assisting you in achieving your goals.

A shoutout to parents of children with disabilities. Everyday you do a great job. You are creating new ways to guide and let go. Thank you for embracing our advocacy and participating in CPSH activities.

A shoutout to the executive leaders at CPSH: Jill Burt, Jocelyn Chafouleas, Jane Drake, Brooke Hinson, ,Irene Neimotka, Kimberly Rogers, Jacky Sylvie and Kelly Thompson. Thank you for your vision and dedication to the CPSH mission,

A shoutout to Donna Almeida, Amanda Coffey, Cathy McCowan, Bibi Morgan, Lucy Phillips for using your entrepreneurial talents to create unique, needed services for people with disabilities.

And lastly, a shoutout to my family Jim LeoGrande, Joel LeoGrande, Robin Alexander, and David LeoGrande for your love and support, to follow my passion of assisting people with disabilities in leading their best lives.

Website: https://www.txcpsh.org

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinleogrande/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TxCpsh

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TxCPSH/

Youtube: https://www.txpsh.org/cpshyoutube

Other: https://www.linkedin.com/company/txcpsh

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutDFW is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.