Peter Reclusado has always had a sense of adventure. “He’s kind of like a down-for-anything, ride-or-die kind of dude,” says his mom, Rosalyn Mullins.
Whether it’s a last-minute trip to the mall, a long wait for a movie premiere, or an early morning Black Friday shopping trip, Peter is usually ready to go.
When Rosalyn talks about her son, she doesn’t begin with his challenges. She begins with who he is.
“Peter’s smile,” Rosalyn says immediately. “He’s a very sweet, endearing, kind, generous, just loving… Peter is gonna be the purest man that I will ever know in my life, and I mean that.”
At 28 years old, Peter is an old soul. He loves Disney films, especially classic titles from the 1940s, collects VHS tapes, and loves listening to music from all over the world.
Today, Peter lives in his own apartment with a team of support staff who help him thrive safely and independently. He runs a growing art business, participates in community events, volunteers, and makes decisions about his own schedule and future.
But getting here took time, persistence, and a willingness to imagine something different.
An Artist Hidden in Plain Sight
For years, Peter worked a variety of jobs. While in high school, he worked at a pizza restaurant and participated in agricultural programs through Future Farmers of America (FFA). Later, he worked at a local college helping with recycling efforts around campus.
Then the pandemic changed everything.
When Peter lost his job, Rosalyn encouraged him to try something new.
“I said, ‘I want you to try painting.'”
So he did. His very first painting was a painting of an ape. And the result surprised both of them. It was really, really good.
“After he did it, I said, ‘Oh my God, this is insane. This was inside of you.'”
Peter kept painting. Before long, he had completed fourteen pieces. Rosalyn framed them and entered him in a local community festival.
“He sold all of them in about an hour and a half. Every single painting.”
Since then, Peter’s artwork has appeared in galleries, community events, and local shops. He especially enjoys painting Disney characters, animals, and expressive eyes.
“The number one thing Peter likes to paint is the eyes,” Rosalyn shares. “It’s the first thing he does.”
What began as a creative outlet has grown into a successful microbusiness.
“[It’s] really bloomed his self-confidence.”
And Peter is involved in every aspect of the business.
“He helps me fill the orders. He helps me take inventory. He helps me decide what is going to be bought and how it’s going to be sold.”
For Peter, art is more than a hobby. It has become a source of confidence and purpose.
Discovering Self-Direction
As Peter’s artwork began to flourish, another opportunity was taking shape.
Peter has been connected to Regional Center services since he was three years old. In 2022, after a particularly difficult period in his life, Rosalyn attended a California Self-Determination Program (SDP) orientation recommended by another parent.
At first, she was hesitant.
“The last thing I wanted was another job with paperwork,” she recalls.
Like many parents, she was already balancing support responsibilities, appointments, and endless forms.
“When you’re a mother of someone with a lot of challenges, the paperwork is all-encompassing and can be very, very draining at the end of the day after you’ve already done caregiving all day long.”
Still, with encouragement from Peter’s life coach, who later became their Independent Facilitator, Rosalyn decided to move forward.
“It was the best thing I ever did.”
Through self-direction, Peter and his support team were able to build services around his individual goals rather than fitting him into a one-size-fits-all model.
The flexibility allowed him to focus on what mattered most to him: developing independent living skills, growing his art business, volunteering, and spending more time in the community.
Building a Life of His Own
Peter now lives in his own apartment with support from a dedicated team that helps him maintain the independence he has worked hard to achieve.
What makes Rosalyn happiest isn’t simply where Peter lives. It’s how much ownership he has over his own life.
“He picks his own schedule. He picks the days that he wants to go to his day program. He picks the days that he would like to volunteer. He picks the places that he would like to go.”
Then she sums it up perfectly: “He picks his life, and they help him live it.”
Peter’s growing independence shows up in everyday moments, too.
One milestone that stands out to Rosalyn is his communication.
“He texts and answers his own phone now, which I never thought. He writes very well.”
Today, Peter sends grocery lists, communicates with family and supporters, and continues finding new ways to express himself.
Watching Peter grow into adulthood has been one of the greatest joys of Rosalyn’s life.
“He is growing and maturing into an adult man.”
Dream Trips and Big Goals
When Peter sells artwork, he doesn’t spend the money right away. Instead, he carefully saves it for what he calls his “dream trips.”
Right now, he’s working toward a trip to Big Bear so he can enjoy something he loves: snow.
Actually, Peter loves all forms of water.
“He loves water. He loves, loves, loves, loves the water,” Rosalyn says. “He loves to drink it. He loves to play [with] water. He loves to be in water, whether it’s rain, whether it’s snow, whether it’s swimming.”
His love for the outdoors and adventure has always been part of who he is. Over the years he has surfed, explored Southern California beaches, volunteered, traveled, and participated in countless community activities.
And through it all, he continues to surprise people.
From a Mother’s Perspective
Looking back, Rosalyn says it was one of the best decisions she ever made for her son.
Today, when other families ask Rosalyn about SDP, she is honest about the process. She often encourages them to be patient.
“First, I’m gonna tell you, it wasn’t easy,” she says. “It’s gonna be a little bit of a long process.”
But she also shares what comes next.
“Once it all starts flowing, and you start getting all the needs met for your person and everything, it’s the best thing that ever happened to my son.”
Looking Ahead
Peter has already made a name for himself in his local art community, but Rosalyn believes this is only the beginning.
She hopes to see his artwork displayed in even more places, including the Oceanside Museum and the San Diego Zoo gift shop. She also hopes he’ll continue finding meaningful opportunities to work, volunteer, and share his talents with others.
For now, though, she’s simply enjoying watching him become the person he was always meant to be.
For Rosalyn, the future looks bright. When asked what she would tell Peter five years from now, her answer comes immediately.
“That I’m proud of him.”
And judging by everything Peter has already accomplished, there’s every reason to believe he’ll keep giving people new reasons to be proud.