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This page provides information on past questions posted on the Medical Home LISTSERV. Responses are provided by physicians, allied health professionals and parents of children with special needs.

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Posted June 13, 2006

Request: I am developing a breakfast presentation on community programs for children with disabilities that involve participation in the Arts (music, theater, dance, art, etc) for the upcoming annual meeting of the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine.  I have developed a community theater program for children with disabilities that will be included in the presentation, and am looking for other programs to participate. I also hope to develop a Resource List of programs around the country to share at the presentation. Please let me know if you are aware of any such programs in your area, and provide any available contact information so I can communicate directly with them.

From: Andrew Morgan, MD, FAAP
The Penguin Project: Providing access to community theater for young artists with disabilities

Responses

1. Berkshire Hills Music Academy: http://www.berkshirehills.org/ 
   Berkshire Hills Music Academy is a private post-secondary school providing young adults who have learning or developmental disabilities the opportunity to live in a collegiate setting and acquire independent living skills while developing their musical potential. The Academy emphasizes students' aptitudes and abilities rather than their deficits. Its unique strength-based, music-infused curriculum is designed to promote gains in self-efficacy and job readiness, as well as to cultivate abilities in the performing arts.
   
   
2. Check out the web sites below. They may have the type of information this person is looking for about theater and arts programs.
   
   Partners for Youth with Disabilities: Access to Theater Programwww.pyd.org/mentoring_programs/access_to_theatre.htm
   
   VSA Arts: www.vsaarts.org/
   Vision of an inclusive community
   Strength through shared resources
   Artistic expression that unites us all
   
   VSA arts showcases the accomplishments of artists with disabilities and promotes increased access to the arts for people with disabilities.  Each year millions of people participate in VSA arts programs through a nationwide network of affiliates and in more than 60 countries around the world.  VSA arts is an affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
   
   Real World Theater: www.realworldtheater.com
   
   
3. There is a National Theater Workshop for the Handicapped in NYC begun by Brother Rick Curry…it is funded in part by the soup and bread that he makes at the Belfast, Maine campus.  Brother Curry is handicapped himself.
   www.ntwh.org
   
   E-mail Contact List
   Student information - admissions@ntwh.org
   President's Office - rcurrysj@aol.com
   Executive Assistant to the President - yahvey@ntwh.org
   Dean's Office - jspalla@ntwh.org
   The NTWH Store - ntwhstore@yahoo.com
   
   
4. There are some summer camp programs listed on our web site in the directory of summer camps: www.cshcn.org/resources/campcalendar.cfm?intro=yes
   
   
5. I coordinate a program called Upper Valley Connection, which provides recreation and social opportunities for young people with developmental disabilities who live in North Central Washington State.  We started with baseball in 2001 and have been adding activities since then.
   
   Last summer we introduced our Theater Camp, called the Icicle Players.  We met for one week and then put on "Peter Pan" for a standing-room only crowd of family, friends and community supporters, estimated at about 350.  We had 56 participants, 12 of whom had special needs.  The rest were community volunteers.
   
   We will be holding our second Theater Camp the last week of June, and will be doing 2 performances this year.  We have 57 people signed up so far, 13 of whom have special needs.  Our plan is to have a week-long, overnight regional Arts Camp, with emphasis on performing arts, in place by 2010.
   
   Thank you,
   Terry Anderman
   509-548-2168
   anderman1@nwi.net
   
   
6. There is a wonderful organization in Houston, Texas called "The River" which fits perfectly with your presentation.  I have attached a Word document with their information.
   
   Sincerely,
   Windy Wiedemann
   Office of Charlotte Stelly-Seitz, M.D
   pedirehab@sbcglobal.net

Last Updated March 14, 2007