Studio By The Tracks

Since most of the adult students do not have a chance to work and earn a living, SBTT provides an invaluable opportunity for public and financial validation. SBTT provides opportunities for our students to showcase and sell their artwork through our annual fundraisers and seasonal gallery shows. Sixty percent of the proceeds of each sale go directly to the artist. Perhaps even more important is the feeling of pride and accomplishment that the artist receives.
While the autistic community has grown recently, the number of programs and services to support this growing group has not kept up with that pace. For many of our adult students, Studio by the Tracks (SBTT) provides a much-needed social avenue for self-expression and growth. The artwork created by these students becomes a tool that allows them not only a creative outlet but also an opportunity to focus on their strengths and interests rather than on their limitations.

In the afternoons, SBTT offers art classes to approximately thirty boys, ages 6-17, who live in residential treatment programs. These boys have been identified by the court system or social services as emotionally conflicted or at-risk for leading destructive lifestyles, often involving violence and drugs. Low self-esteem and a lack of social and academic skills make these young people vulnerable to failure in society. Since its inception, more than 1,000 at-risk children have benefited from SBTT classes.