Our Story: A Calling That Found Me

My name is Debra Howard, and I am the owner and founder of LOL – Life of Liberty Adult Day Program in Oceanside, California. My path to this field is not traditional, and it certainly wasn’t planned—but it has been profoundly purposeful.

I spent many years working in law enforcement and public safety. With a master’s degree in criminal justice, I served as an EMT and later as the Chief Deputy Coroner. For most of my life, I believed that would be my career path. But life has a way of placing us exactly where we’re meant to be, even when we don’t expect it.

A Moment That Changed Everything

Years ago, while working as Chief Deputy Coroner in Georgia, I responded to a call that would forever shift the direction of my life. A neighbor was concerned about the wellbeing of an elderly man next door. Upon entering the home, I found that the father had passed away several days earlier.

Sitting beside him was his adult son—alive, nonverbal, dehydrated, and developmentally disabled.

He had food, water, and a telephone available in the home. But he did not have the skills to use them. He had never been taught to feed himself, pour water, or dial 911. That reality broke my heart. It also opened my eyes.

In that moment, I realized how critical it is to teach individuals with developmental disabilities the basic life skills that promote safety and independence. A simple phone call might have entirely changed the outcome of that situation.

That experience stayed with me. It planted a seed I didn’t yet understand.

A Calling Realized

Years later, after moving to California, I worked in the juvenile court system with Severely emotionally disturbed teens (SED). Through a series of unexpected conversations and opportunities, I found myself stepping into the role of Program Director at an adult day program located in San Marcus California. Though I had no background in the field at the time, I quickly fell in love with the purpose of the work and the individuals we served.

When that program eventually changed ownership, I returned to my original field—but my heart had already shifted. Within a few months, I knew I wanted to create my own program, one built on dignity, education, compassion, and true independence. One built to believe that disability does not equate to inability.

I submitted a program design to the State of California, and when it was approved, Life of Liberty was born.

Today: Seventeen Years of Purpose

Seventeen years later, we are proud to continue to serve individuals with developmental disabilities in our 18,000-square-foot facility, where our mission is simple:

To empower every individual with the skills, confidence, and independence they deserve.

I believe this work is bigger than me and bigger than a career path. I believe it’s a calling—one that began years ago in a small Georgia home and has grown into a space where lives are changed every day.

At Life of Liberty, we promote successful independence because every person deserves the opportunity to live with dignity, purpose, and freedom.

Debra Howard

CEO/President/Owner