SPecially Adapted Resource Centers - SPARC

02/28/2026

Friday at SPARC ~ Leesburg, we enjoyed a fun and meaningful community outing! Participants visited a local thrift store where everyone picked out clothing items that will be creatively transformed during our upcoming Art Therapy project. Along the way, there were plenty of smiles, laughter, and even some fashion fun as everyone tried on different styles.

Afterward, we headed out to lunch at a local restaurant, where participants practiced important social skills such as ordering, communication, and dining etiquette while strengthening friendships and connections. It was a wonderful day of creativity, community engagement, and shared experiences together.

02/26/2026

SPARC ~ Alexandria had a day packed with creativity, community, and delicious food!

Morning Connections:

We kicked things off with our usual games and daily prompt. Today’s question — “What was a great or terrible memory from a celebration you had?” — helped us warm up for our next podcast theme: Celebrations. The stories were heartfelt, funny, and a perfect way to start the day.

Shadow Art With Emily:

Emily led a fantastic shadow‑painting activity using a mix of materials to create textured artwork. Our participants loved experimenting and seeing their pieces come to life.

Fashion Show Prep With Nicky:

Our fashion show team kept working hard on sewing and detailing our dress designs. In the middle of all the creativity, we got a surprise visit from Supervisor Rodney Lusk, who stopped by to see what SPARC was buzzing about. He got a sneak peek at our designs and said he wants to attend the fashion show in April!

Potluck Lunch:

Today was also our long‑awaited potluck — and it did not disappoint. We enjoyed lasagna, chicken, sweet potatoes, catfish, and more. The star of the meal? Emily’s lemon bars, which were an instant hit.

A Sensory Surprise:

After lunch, Kat Rader visited and brought a brand‑new sensory fan for our space. Our participants were thrilled. As Kyleigh put it: “The inside is sensory heaven.” We are so grateful to U.S. Senator Tim Kaine and Senator Mark Warner for the funds to purchase this vital tool.

Giving Back & Wrapping Up:

To end the day, we split into groups: some headed out in the van, others continued artwork with Emily, and one group joined me to share food with neighbors in our community center. It was a beautiful way to close out a day full of surprises, creativity, and connection.

SPARC ~ Alexandria is grateful for every moment — and today gave us so many to celebrate.

02/25/2026

SPARC ~ McLean had an unforgettable adventure today at the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture! Our participants explored powerful exhibits, learned new stories, and celebrated in the most meaningful way.

One of the best parts was spotting familiar faces we’ve talked about in our lessons — Langston Hughes, Florence Griffith‑Joyner, James Baldwin, and more. Seeing their stories come to life right in front of us made the experience even more inspiring.

And of course… the food! Tom’s highlight of the day was definitely our stop at the Sweet Home Cafe, where we enjoyed incredible soul food that wrapped the whole trip in warmth and flavor.

From learning to laughing to sharing a great meal together, it was a day filled with connection, discovery, and pure joy. SPARC adventures never disappoint.

02/25/2026

It was a quieter day at SPARC with just two participants, but even a “slow” day here turns into something special. With a smaller group, it quickly became an official Maghfoor and Kim Takeover Day — and they absolutely delivered.

We spent time on communication activities, including using our trusty “translating earbuds” to better connect with Maghfoor. Technology is impressive… but not nearly as impressive as his sense of humor. Out of nowhere, he’ll look at Alonzo Patterson and call him “Dad” or “Father” in Urdu — then crack up like he just dropped the best punchline of the year. His comedic timing is flawless. We’re still waiting on that Netflix contract.

Kim, usually our lead conversationalist and social director, took center stage in the art room. She created a full‑on masterpiece using paint, glitter (because there is no such thing as too much glitter at SPARC), and — yes — a fly swatter. Who needs fancy brushes when you have creativity and courage? The result was bold, colorful, sparkly, and completely Kim.

Cold weather or not, SPARC days are always about connection, creativity, laughter, and making sure every participant feels seen, heard, and celebrated. And if we leave covered in glitter, that just means it was a great day.

02/25/2026

Tuesday at SPARC~ Arlington, creativity was stitched into every moment of our day! We rolled up our sleeves and got to work designing beautiful clothing and accessories. Some by hand and some with the hum of a sewing machine bringing our fashion show pieces to life. We kicked off the morning by putting our “generational expertise” to the test with 90s-themed trivia… and let’s just say, it was wicked hard! With iconic 90s hits playing in the background, participants took turns operating the sewing machine while using a foot pedal thoughtfully placed on the table for accessibility. This setup not only supported our friends who use wheelchairs, but also encouraged focus and control as everyone experimented with adjusting speed and pressure like true designers in the making.

When we weren’t sewing, we were busy crafting bold, multicolored accessories: bandanas and bracelets that were as unique as their creators. Tie-dye time brought out fine motor skills and dexterity as we folded, scrunched, and wrapped rubber bands with care. Participants explored color theory and self-expression while choosing from a vibrant array of dyes, making each piece a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. Meanwhile, Hazem struck gold when he discovered a box of 90s toys and trinkets. The stretchy hand quickly became his favorite, doubling as a fun way to work on gross motor skills and flexibility as he waved it side to side with a huge grin.

To wrap up our fabulous day, we celebrated our friend Sandy in the sweetest way possible! Smiles filled the room as we sang “Happy Birthday” and enjoyed delicious cupcakes, wishing him a year full of health and happiness. While no two days are ever the same at SPARC~ Arlington, one thing is always guaranteed, fun is always in fashion!

02/25/2026

What a joyful (and delicious!) day at SPARC ~ Alexandria!

This morning started with the sweetest teamwork during our pancake breakfast. Cinnamon was mixed into the batter, pancakes were flipped to perfection, and turkey bacon and sausage were sizzling on the griddle. Kat and Annabel were a dream team — one flipping pancakes while the other prepped and passed ingredients like pros!

Meanwhile, Medj and Ellen sparked a very important debate: blueberries or chocolate chips? (We’re still not sure there’s a wrong answer!)

After plating up and enjoying our feast, we jumped into morning games. Annabel gave us a fantastic head start on Wordle with two perfectly placed letters right away! Connections took a few tries, but Chris kept spirits high with hilarious jokes shared on his AAC device — laughter truly is the best strategy. We pulled off the win with a few tries to spare!

Before lunch, we squeezed in a round of Happy Dinosaurs, where Ellen quietly swooped in for the victory while the rest of us were busy strategizing how to avoid those disaster cards.

The afternoon brought a friendly (but competitive!) game of UNO and some finishing touches on our Monopoly project.

Days like this are what SPARC is all about — teamwork, laughter, great food, and meaningful connection

02/24/2026

Big News from SPARC!

We are thrilled to announce that SPARC now has a Mobile Exploration Lab — bringing innovation, creativity, and sensory experiences directly to all of our centers!

Our new mobile unit includes:

🔹 A fully equipped sensory room
🔹 A 3D print lab to spark creativity and hands-on learning
🔹 A convertible office nook to support programming and outreach

This incredible addition allows us to expand opportunities, enhance engagement, and ensure that every participant has access to meaningful, inspiring experiences — no matter which SPARC center they attend.

We are deeply grateful that this project was made possible through a Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) award from Senator Mark Warner and U.S. Senator Tim Kaine. Their support helps us continue creating community and inspiring ability across the Commonwealth. This same CDS enabled SPARC to open centers in Alexandria at Hybla Valley and Sterling (we now operate in Leesburg due to space availability).

Thank you to everyone who believes in SPARC’s mission. We can’t wait to bring the Mobile Exploration Lab to a center near you!

Loudoun County Government
Fairfax County Government
Arlington County Virginia – Government

02/20/2026

Wednesday at SPARC ~ Alexandria was packed with creativity, connection, and skill-building! We started the morning by writing heartfelt letters to loved ones, practicing communication skills and thoughtful self-expression.

From there, participants collaborated on ideas for our upcoming podcast and discussed plans for our hydroponic garden, strengthening teamwork, planning, and problem-solving skills.

Our art therapist, Nicky, kept a sewing station open throughout the day where participants learned how to safely operate a sewing machine and work together to create a beautiful quilt. A standout moment was when Erik, one of our higher-needs participants who is nonverbal and often has difficulty following single-step instructions, independently pressed the sewing machine switch and helped sew part of the quilt. He was fully engaged and proud of his contribution, making the finished quilt even more special.

We also celebrated Elena and Brooke’s birthdays with cake, songs, and lots of laughter, fostering community and social connection.

We wrapped up the day by putting the finishing touches on our nearly completed Pokémon project and enjoying Kahoot and our favorite New York Times games, reinforcing cognitive skills, friendly competition, and teamwork.

We ended the day with our daily question: If you could only have movies, music, or video games, which would you choose? Chris and Kyleigh proudly chose video games, sharing their enthusiasm as big fans. The rest of the group selected music. It sparked a meaningful conversation about how music connects our SPARC community. Despite our wide range of abilities, music is something everyone relates to—it’s a shared joy that brings energy, comfort, and unity to our program each day.

02/20/2026

Yesterday at SPARC~ McLean, the energy was contagious as we kicked off a day packed with celebration, honoring Lunar New Year and partying our way into Mardi Gras fun! We began with our morning meeting, where we catch up on weekend highlights, share announcements, and warm up our brains with questions, jokes, and a word of the day. In celebration of Presidents’ Day, we asked: What would YOU do if you were president? The answers sparked thoughtful and hilarious conversations: everything from mandatory music in all public spaces to ensuring free, delicious food for those in need. Ellen shared that her first order of business would be making mental health resources more accessible for people with disabilities…now that’s leadership in action!

Our creativity truly shined during our Mardi Gras festivities as we designed intricate masquerade masks adorned with feathers, gems, glitter, and bold colors. Fine motor skills, artistic expression, and decision-making were all on full display!

As we celebrated Lunar New Year, participants researched the animal representing their birth year in the Chinese zodiac and discovered the personality traits connected to each one. The room filled with laughter as we compared characteristics and debated just how accurate they were. Cathy couldn’t stop smiling when she read that those born in the Year of the Monkey are known for being funny, lively, and social, and if you know Cathy, you know that description couldn’t be more perfect!

Looking ahead, 2026 is the Year of the Horse in the Chinese zodiac, symbolizing progress, perseverance, and success. That theme couldn’t align more perfectly with the work we do each day at SPARC. Today we focused on strengthening skills we’ve already mastered while continuing to build on the goals we’re actively working toward. With celebration, creativity, and determination leading the way, we are charging into the year together, ready to grow, achieve, and make 2026 our best yet!

02/20/2026

SPARC is the featured non-profit! Come mingle with two great chambers and learn more about our programs! There is also a pre-game event at Pinot's Palette. We will be there also! Come join in on all of the fun and networking!

It’s time to mix and mingle with our friends at the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce at our upcoming monthly Network Night!

Grab your business cards and join us next Tuesday, February 24th, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at Ornery Beer Company in Herndon for our joint networking mixer, filling the room with some of Northern VA’s leading professionals. Register now to secure your spot: https://tinyurl.com/3dasw4k6

02/20/2026

SPARC ~ Leesburg was on fire with a high-energy, movement-filled day — and yes, we meant movement! Our goal was to intentionally target fine motor development and mobility, because let’s face it: many of our participants spend a lot of time sitting — sitting at home, sitting in the community, sitting with parents and caregivers. Today, we decided to gently (and joyfully) interrupt the sitting cycle.

Our partners from A Place To Be kicked things off with a full-on dance party for music therapy. Our spins, claps, rhythmic stepping, and a few enthusiastic freestyle moves that deserve their own spotlight. Movement builds strength, coordination, balance, and confidence — and it just happens to be a lot more fun when there’s music involved.

Next came the parachute — a first experience for several of our newer participants. The room quickly filled with laughter as we lifted, shook, and collaborated to keep the parachute in motion. Parachute play supports upper-body strength, timing, visual tracking, and cooperative engagement — all disguised as “just having fun.”

During Art Therapy, we shifted our focus to preparing for the SPARC Fashion Show. Participants worked on selecting materials and sewing patterns for the outfits they will wear. Sewing is more than stitching fabric — it strengthens fine motor coordination, bilateral hand use, concentration, and most importantly, independence. Participants practiced making choices about colors, textures, and design elements, reinforcing self-advocacy and personal expression. Fashion with a purpose!

After lunch, we had another fun filled dance party with Ryland requesting music by PINK!

It was a day filled with movement, choice-making, skill development, and laughter — exactly the kind of active, empowering programming that helps our participants grow stronger in body, voice, and community.