The Advisory Committee for Persons with Disabilities is excited to recognize individuals in the community who make a difference. Meet Fountain Valley resident, Rachel Osterbach. Rachel enjoys watching movies, doing jigsaw puzzles, and listening to music. Check out the Fountain Valley Advisory Committee for Persons with Disabilities Instagram and Facebook pages to view Rachel’s video introduction!
Rachel is an advocate for individuals in Fountain Valley who have disabilities and has increased and raised awareness by speaking at "Concerts in the Park" championing the Special Olympics and presented before the Fountain Valley Community Foundation Executive Board seeking funding for a bowling program for individuals with disabilities. She’s also spoken on behalf of the Fountain Valley Host Town Committee for the 2015 International Special Olympics World Games to raise funds to house the delegation from the Netherlands and to "Turn Fountain Valley Orange."
Her favorite thing about the Fountain Valley community is the dances that are put on by the City of Fountain Valley Advisory Committee for Persons with Disabilities. Rachel is proud of becoming independent and moving into her own apartment. She is also proud of being a main cast member on the Emmy-Award winning show, “Born This Way.” She is an inspirational speaker and advocate for individuals with disabilities.
She has had a full-time office job for more than 15 years, and was inducted into her high school’s Hall of Fame. She has also been a Special Olympics athlete for 30 years! As if that weren’t enough, Rachel makes an impact in her community by helping people with disabilities be accepted and included into the community and society in general. She is also a Governor's appointee to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Orange County Chapter, where she has served for more than six years as a self-advocate for the rights of individuals with developmental disabilities.