Day Service for adults with disabilities that want to learn transition skills in a fun and entertaining format. We teach all of the basics skills for living harmoniously in the community, including important jobs skills. We do it in an unconventional and motivating way by allowing them to discover their talents through the hard work, discipline, and commitment required to pull together a performance. Our Mission Statement ... A.R.T.S. Academy utilizes participation in both performing and visual arts to reinforce old and introduce new skills to people with developmental disabilities, that bring greater independence and inclusion in the community, while creating marketable skills and products. Through participation in the arts, our students strengthen communication skills, gain confidence, and improve self-esteem, ensuring greater success in the community and in the workplace. While A.R.T.S. Academy Day Services has a performing arts theme that draws everyone together working on like projects, it serves to individualize the experience for each person and to respect their abilities and desired outcomes. They are presented with opportunities and choices throughout the learning and living process. We implement person-centered planning through personal futures planning, “placing emphasis on interdependence among people. When people join together as a group, individual strengths and talents are multiplied, and weaknesses become less significant.” (from the Institute on Human Development document on Person-Centered Planning) What is Person-Centered Planning and how will we implement it? According to the Institute on Human Development on Person-Centered Planning: All people have the right to plan lives for themselves that are personally meaningful and satisfying. All people have talents and strengths that they have the responsibility to develop. The reason they would come to the A.R.T.S. Academy is that they have an interest in pursuing participation in the arts for social, educational, and job related activities that enrich lives and make it “personally meaningful and satisfying”. PROGRAM: A.R.T.S. Academy Day Services partners with the award-winning B.E.S.T. Network Performing Arts Program to bring experience, expertise and quality to this unique approach to learning and retaining the necessary skills to manage a quality life in the greater community. OBJECTIVES: To utilize participation in the arts to reinforce old and introduce new skills for people with disabilities To develop social opportunities that bring people with and without disabilities together To develop partnerships in the community that will lead to employment opportunities To instill confidence and self-esteem, improve communication skills, and help people reach their full potential To enable people with disabilities to have a greater presence in the community FACILITATION: We facilitate the programs through a variety of methods, classes, and experiences such as: Workshops facilitated by professional choreographers, actors, and public speakers Classes in dancing, music, singing, sign language, acting, puppetry, mime, etc. Regular opportunities to work in the community through community service projects Participation in performances and presentations throughout the community to promote diversity awareness and education LEARNING NEW AND REINFORCING OLD SKILLS SUCH AS: Work ethics and job skills - stressing the nine attributes of: commitment, leadership, perseverance, teamwork, respect, integrity, responsibility, self-control, & compassion Money management - concessions and products sales, paying for their own food etc. on outings Communication - public speaking, writing in journals, social interaction, script writing Food preparation - for concessions and lunches Hospitality training - learn appropriate ways to interact while performing hospitality duties Technology - operate computers, lighting, sound equipment, video and photography for presentations Creativity - write original scripts, work on set design, props, costuming Exercise - dance and movement Production and marketing - make products for concessions and to sell in the community INCLUSION OPPORTUNITIES: Community service projects Performances Inclusive social activities such as dances and karaoke Exploring the arts tours OUTCOMES: Improved self-esteem and self-confidence Improved job skills Improved communication skills Improved life skills Improved inclusion in the community Improved self-expression