ARTreach “Within my Reach” Vocational Art Training Program for children and adults with special needs (DARS Pilot 2010)

ARTreach partnered with DARS (Disability and Rehabilitation Services) to pilot an 18-week Vocational Art Training Program to aid in the transition of high school graduates with autism. DARS identified graduate Abid Syed to participate in the pilot based on his high level of interest in the arts and teacher recommendations. The program goal would be to ascertain Abid’s ability to follow instructions independently, and access his own creative processes to create and reproduce individual art works that could be sold. Abid’s training included a variety of drawing techniques and art making processes that resulted in artwork for public exhibition. Examples of his finished work of art were reproduced as sets of note cards to present a cohesive, professional product for DARs review of vocational objectives.
Abid’s cards were sold within the 6 days after being displayed in the lobby of local banks. His cards met with positive response from multiple viewers and prove to be able to generate income for the student. It is important to note that these customers have no knowledge of Abid’s autism and are purchasing the cards for their aesthetic appeal.

Thank you DARS for supporting Abid Syed’s ARTreach vocational training and artistic development. This pilot was also made possible through the community support of many and a grant from the Fort Bend Junior Service League supporting ARTreach “Within My Reach” program development and exhibitions for special needs children and adults through vocational art and entrepreneurial training.

This is a unique ARTreach Program called “Within My Reach” featuring professional musician and touring artist Dan Egger-Belandria of Austin, Texas. ARTreach has been enriching the lives of our children and adults with developmental and physical disabilities since 2004- we offer vocational art training programs, life skills, PPCD workshops, cultural arts and educational support, staff development and community involvement projects.

Please mark your calendar and plan to attend this exciting ARTreach event in the Brookwood Community to be held on Friday, May 21st. Come for lunch in the Brookwood Café, and stay for the show at 2:00 PM, meet the citizens and take a tour of this incredible community. This event is sponsored by ARTreach for the Brookwood Community and made possible thanks to grants and donations to ARTreach. Exchange Club Members, Rotary Club Volunteers, National Charity League Mothers and Daughters, National Honor Society, Chamber volunteers, VIPS, Best Buddies Field Trips, Compassionate Friends, Arc Members, Downs Syndrome Association families and new-to-Katy, Fort Bend and Waller County volunteers are invited to attend this special event. Visit www.brookwoodcommunity.org for directions.

For more information about this event contact Terri Bieber at 281-392-5341. Visit www.artreachonline.org to learn more about ARTreach or to make a donation today!

Michael Averitt is a sophomore at Mayde Creek High School. He is the first student to be selected to participate in a new ARTreach training program being offered to high school students. The program supports students seeking extra-curricular art enrichment, and who are interested in training to be a student teacher available to assist in ARTreach programs. Michael is interested in clay animation. He is learning stop action film making techniques, and once he has acquired the skills, he will be given the opportunity to practice teaching what he has learned to others in ARTreach outreach programs. ARTreach is currently training volunteers and student teachers to support expanding programs. Volunteers can be trained and certified in a variety of ARTreach teaching methods. Training Courses are six weeks and cost $390 to include supplies. Students are sponsored by ARTreach. Art Volunteers can be trained to teach clay animation, sculpting, illustration and painting techniques, and a variety of mixed media teaching methods. If you interested in training to become a teaching artist certified to work in ARTreach Programs or would like to nominate a student for the program, contact ARTreach info@artreachonline.org