FAR Therapeutic Arts and Recreation

History
Back in 1951 public schools did not provide any services at all for children with special needs. That’s when parents and friends of people with special needs formed FAR in order to improve their quality of life through creative arts and recreation. FAR provided a safe and positive environment where they could fit in, have fun, and learn academic and daily-living skills. When public schools added special education classes to address the academic needs of these children, FAR focused its services on therapeutic, cultural, emotional, and social development.

Today, FAR provides creative arts therapies and recreational services to over 1,200 clients and actively promotes public understanding of their passion and potential.

Mission and Goals:
FAR promotes understanding and provides education for children and adults with special needs through therapeutic opportunities in recreation, leisure and the arts that enrich its clients, their families and the greater community.

Our goal is to provide an atmosphere where every individual, regardless of ability, can learn to express their creative talents and develop intellectually, emotionally, culturally and socially.

Description of current programs and accomplishments:
Our largest program, Music Therapy, is available in both individual and group settings. A FAR music therapist evaluates each client and refers them to a therapist who uses their interest in music to help achieve specific goals and stimulate progress while having fun. We have been very successful in setting and achieving their individual goals. However, we have found that individual therapy does not always help our clients to develop the life skills and social skills that they need to successfully integrate into the general community and lead a fulfilling life. FAR’s group music programs address these issues. We use the skills learned in individual therapy sessions to create group settings that will enhance the skill, teach socialization and give the client a lifetime leisure activity. As these skills develop, clients are directed into one of our band, drum, chime or inclusion musical theater groups. These experiences with their peers will enable them to go on to their school band, church choir, or local theater group. Many of them have done that, while others have just enjoyed the chance for social interchange in additions to the developing lifelong friendships. We at FAR are told by our families that we are the only place their child has the opportunity to socialize and grow. In addition, we are able to provide performance opportunities. Recently, our percussion group, Phat Beats, was invited to perform in front of over 400 people at the Autism Walk of Oakland County. Flutes, Friends and Fa-La-La, FAR's signature fundraising event, enables us to raise money for scholarship assistance while showcasing the talents of our clients. It is our intent to demonstrate to the public the abilities and potential of persons with special needs. Not all of our clients seek performance as a goal, but for those that do, we provide opportunities.

Success- “When I think about what FAR has done for my son Alexander, it has simply changed his life. Music is such a big part of who he is now, and without the work of the therapists at FAR, he would not have been able to realize his full potential. Music is one of the few areas where he can stand toe to toe with his typical peers…”
-Alex's mom

Art Therapy dates back as far as the 1930’s and is an established mental health profession that uses art and art materials as a form of communication to improve the physical, mental and emotional well-being of all ages. As the African Proverb says, “It takes a village to raise a child”. We can see how our special needs clients need many caring and talented people to show them support and enrich their lives. By incorporating art therapy into daily living it can spark creativity, imagination blossoms, and a new sense of self can be formed. We have had a great influx of clients on the autism spectrum and many of them cannot speak. Our art program is successful in providing them with another means of self expression

Success- "Olivia has attended FAR for more than two years now. In that time, she has come to understand what many of her facial expressions and vocalizations indicate, although the full extent of her communication is much greater than that. Olivia is non-verbal, but through her art, she is able to express herself".
-Lisa, Olivia's Art Therapist

Dance is available in both individual and group settings. This department continues to grow. We have a dance instructor who is very responsive to the needs of our community. Obesity is a problem among many teenager but for clients with special needs, obesity is an increasing issue. Their families are looking for ways to get them off the couch and away from the television and video games. While they do enjoy our traditional offerings of ballet, tap and jazz, many of them want to do some of the more contemporary movements that they see among their typical peers. We are accommodating their requests with instruction in Latin, hip hop and yoga.

We hear from our families that the clients involved in these programs often use what they have learned here at home or at school dances. It is becoming one of our most popular programs.

Success- "Amber has been doing ballet through FAR for the past three years and she loves it! She first started ballet at a local dance studio, but the pace moved too quickly for her. At FAR, she was able to learn at her own pace, and she made some great friends as well!”
-Amber's dad

Theater at FAR has changed and has continued to grow. Musical theater is growing in popularity and it has evolved into a wonderful inclusion experience. Music Therapists and dancers work with our clients and their typical developing peers to produce musical performances. It is very exciting to see teenage volunteers spending time in production with our clients and including them in other social experiences outside their involvement at FAR. This group is one of our biggest success stories. It gives our clients confidence and self esteem as well as the courage to try to do something that they love in the general community.

Success- Laura has the confidence to perform. Laura’s family found FAR through an Autism support group. She began her journey when she enrolled in private music sessions and our inclusion musical theater group, which have instilled confidence in Laura. When her school held auditions for a talent show, many students tried out, as did Laura. Thanks to FAR, she had the courage to perform alongside her typically-developing peers before a packed house—and rocked it. FAR is supporting and inspiring Laura to reach beyond her diagnosis.
-Shared by Laura’s mom

Performing Arts Camp Workshops- Young people with special needs are used to the routine that school provides. When summer arrives and that programming ends, our clients and their families seek out organized summer activities and camp opportunities.

Due to the growing success of our inclusion musical theater program, last year we added a new camp opportunity, Camp Sing out. Using musical theater as a platform, Camp Sing out enhances social skills and increases self-esteem. Campers and peer mentors work along with FAR Therapists to bring characters to life through music and movement. A uniquely effective component to FAR’s theater workshop is the “Peer Mentor Program.” This program consists of mentors who are typically developing youth ranging in age. Mentors are matched one-on-one with clients attending the theatre workshop. The mentors volunteer their time to attend the workshop with their “theater buddy” and are onstage with them during the final performance which is followed by a cast party for family and friends to celebrate performers’ accomplishments. A local professional photographer with Hour Magazine, volunteers her time on the first day of the workshop to provide professional head shots to each of our special performers. The camp was filled to capacity last year and we already have a waiting list for this summer.

Camp FAR Out accepts 40 clients ranging in age from 3 to 16. They are grouped according to age and ability and rotate among music, art, movement and yoga experiences. All sessions are geared toward a performance which takes place at the end of the two week camp. Clients return to this camp year after year. We receive a grant for this program which allows our clients to attend at a very nominal cost.

FAR also plays role in the education process of special needs children. We have contracts with eight school districts who utilize our therapeutic staff to provide music, art and recreation programs to their special needs students in over 15 different schools. General education teachers do not have the training to work with this population and our staff is very successful in adding the cultural experience to the curriculum. In addition to participating in the education process with local schools, our staff also provides art and music therapy to patients with traumatic brain injury at a local rehab center. These clients experience greater redevelopment than patients who are not involved in these therapies.

FAR is a unique organization that has been providing programs in the arts to the Special needs population for over 60 years. We serve Southeastern Michigan and particularly the area surrounding Metropolitan Detroit. Families with a special needs child take their children for many different therapies and services and they truly appreciate having a place where they can come for art, music, dance and theater.