Able ARTS Work

Able ARTS Work provides therapeutic, vocational, educational art and music services for all people to thrive. We believe music and art are vital tools to liberate and transform lives. Using a range of creative arts therapies, Able ARTS Work uses an evidence-based approach to help adults with developmental disabilities reach their individual social, educational, vocational and developmental goals. Our outreach programs support arts education for youth with and without disabilities and offer opportunities for accessible music and art education to the community at large. Our goal is to enable social change by unifying the community of people with and without disabilities under a common interest: CREATIVITY.

Since 1982, Able ARTS Work has provided adult day services in Long Beach for people with moderate to severe intellectual and developmental disabilities and autism. Adults participating in day services have access to:
1. Daily, long-term music and art therapy to help develop and strengthen personal social and developmental goals.
2. Vocational opportunities to pursue a creative path to financial autonomy.

In recent years, Able ARTS has expanded services to school-aged children, providing standards-based arts education to Long Beach school-aged children in addition to music and art therapy services for at-risk preschool-aged children. Through arts education services in schools, students with and without disabilities have opportunities to:
1. Develop meaningful relationships with peers of all abilities through shared experiences.
2. Cope with feelings and challenging life experiences by developing a social-emotional skillset.

Using music and art therapy to reach non-creative goals, pre-school-aged children have an opportunity to:
1. Overcome individual developmental delays to help them thrive.
2. Encourage self-expression, communication, and motor development.
3. Stimulate cognitive functioning through fun, accessible methods of expression.

Testimonials

ABOUT OUR ADULT DAY PROGRAM: "I am the caregiver for a 40-year-old, young lady, with Down Syndrome. She absolutely loves her time at Able ARTS Work. The staff is dedicated and highly motivated. Renee is being challenged to use her creativity, and love of music, dance, and writing every single day. She is able to focus on what she loves to do.  She has grown in these areas substantially as a result of being part of this program.  She is currently taking Marketing,  Creative Writing, and Chorus. She comes home joyous and motivated to practice what she learned each day. Her behavior has improved due to the nurturing, loving, and caring staff. We are so grateful she is part of this very special program. THANK YOU INSTRUCTORS FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO, EVERYDAY FOR OUR GIRL!!" -Debbie, parent of an Adult Day Program client.

ABOUT OUR ACCESSIBLE ART WORKSHOPS: "This has been a great opportunity for our older adult participants. We don't have the technique or knowledge to provide this in our older adult program. It's an awesome opportunity for our participants to learn and explore, it's fun!"
Cynthia Lara, Recreation Leader for Long Beach Parks and Rec.