Studio 84 aims to connect people with disabilities with community
By Heather Ruenz
Studio 84 in Whitewater has found a unique way to help people with disabilities express themselves, through art, after all, as Deb Blackwell, studio director said: “Everybody’s got a gift and should use that for the betterment of the world.”
Seeing the success of its core programming, the studio is now set to take it a step further with plans to offer an 8-week program that will combine art and theater along with a path for students to become more involved in the community.
“We’re setting a future standard for people with disabilities,” Blackwell said. “What they accomplish here is amazing and if we can teach them additional skills that will enable them to become part of the community, that will take our work here to a new level.”
The studio has had great success in increasing the independent and creative thinking of its students through art classes and some exposure to theater-related offerings. The 8-week, intensive program will enhance on those key pieces.
“Tasks here will include getting supplies out, taking care of them, using them and putting them away,” Blackwell said – important things for the students to learn in preparation for bigger opportunities.
The studio plans to sell artwork created by students in a Visual Voices Art Store. Some of the students in the Community Connections program will ultimately work at the store, through paid positions and volunteer opportunities.
“We’ll be tapping into their creativity through art but also create things to sell,” Blackwell said. “One example would be to take a piece of their artwork and use silk screening to create cards or shirts.”
Julie Witt, who began working with kids with disabilities when she was 16 years old, and has three kids including two she adopted who have Down’s Syndrome, will be spearheading the job skills portion of the program – a key to providing a connection for participants to people and businesses in the community.
“We’ll set goals in everyday life, communicate about staying on task and teach them to learn to ask for help when needed,” Witt said.
The focus on skills, according to Witt and Blackwell, will eventually lead to small groups of students being taken into the community – through job and/or volunteer opportunities – where they can apply the skills learned in the program to real-world situations.
“We’ll go out in the community in advance and see what businesses will be willing to work with us,” Witt said, adding that she can foresee several types of positions they will be capable of taking on.
“It most likely won’t lead to huge financial gains for them – and that may not be the goal for many of them – but it’s important to be part of the community and give back to the community that supports them,” Witt added.
Blackwell said providing a path to bigger things will be “similar to what we do here now… let them make decisions but also give them tools to grow.”
The theater portion of the program will offer students a variety of decision-making skills and improve their ability to interact with others in a variety of settings.
“Using costumes, for example, what would you wear in a variety of weather conditions or for different jobs,” Blackwell said. “For us, decisions such as what to wear are not even thought about so teaching those who may not have that concept will go far in improving their lives and giving them more independence.”
The program is set to begin in April and will include 11 hours a week – split into two days, Wednesdays and Fridays – for eight weeks. Below is the preliminary schedule:
Wednesday – 10 a.m. to noon, two sessions of theater, noon to 12:30 p.m., lunch (students bring their own,) 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., three sessions of art and/or volunteering opportunities.
Friday – 10 a.m. to noon, two sessions of art, noon to 12:30 p.m., lunch (students bring their own,) 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., three sessions of art and/or volunteer opportunities.
During the afternoons students will be volunteering in the Whitewater community or working in the studio on individual art development. There may be small, additional fees if transportation is required for trips in the community.
“We won’t force anyone into things they don’t want to do but will encourage growth and branching out,” Witt said.
The cost for the eight-week session is $1,320 per student. Studio 84 will invoice IRIS or other financial resources as needed.
In addition to participants, the studio is seeking companies and individuals to sponsor scholarships for students that want to attend the Community Connections Services program but cannot afford to do so. Scholarships for less than the total cost are welcome and will be applied as needed to lower costs for participants.
Studio 84 is located at 121 W. Center St. in Whitewater. For more information stop in, call (262) 473-9845 or email info@studio84inc.org.
