SPecially Adapted Resource Centers - SPARC

11/26/2025

As this season of gratitude arrives, I find myself deeply thankful—for the people who walk alongside us, believe in our work, and show up with generosity of spirit in ways both seen and unseen.

Thanksgiving is a reminder that none of us does meaningful work alone. It is built through trust, shared values, and small acts of care that, together, create something lasting. I am especially grateful for your kindness, your partnership, and your willingness to stand with others when it truly matters.

May this Thanksgiving bring you moments of rest, warmth, and connection with the people you love. May it also leave space for reflection on the ways each of us helps strengthen our communities—simply by caring.

With sincere gratitude and warm wishes for a peaceful Thanksgiving,

11/26/2025

Today at SPARC~ Arlington, we engaged in a relaxing day watching movies and being thankful that we have a place like SPARC to come together and hangout. We had a whole day of activities planned, but the cold weather crept in and the holiday season hullabaloo had us feeling like the weather: Chill

We started our day discussing things that we are grateful for in spirit of Thanksgiving, some of us thankful for food, having a safe space to live and of course FRIENDS! Ellen shouted, “I am thankful for SPARC!! Because it gives me a space to be myself. A place for others like me who aren’t able to work and want to chill with friends” and boy is that something to be grateful for!

Hazem and Adam were all smiles this afternoon while helping Nicky prep for our Friendsgiving party tomorrow. Pounding the stapler with perfection as they helped create the base for our ‘Thankful Pumpkin’ craft.

We ended our day with Thanksgiving Themed trivia and Jess’ jokes for the week! “Why did the Turkey join the band??” Because he already had Drumsticks!!

11/25/2025

We are Thankful for our friends at SPARC ~ McLean!

Today, we had a day full of Thanksgiving-themed activities focused on gratitude. Starting our day with our question of the day: 'What are your favorite family traditions?' Many of us exclaimed that spending time with our families, eating delicious homemade food, and watching or even playing football with our friends are our favorite traditions.

We reviewed our Spanish vocabulary from last week to refresh our brains- Akila and Christiana came prepped with words we haven't even learned yet! Afterwards, we joined Nicky for Art Therapy, where we started our social skills/situations directive! We guided one another using 'I' statements, such as "I feel" and "I am," to learn how to express certain feelings, emotions, and directions when interacting with others.

After lunch, we spent time decorating our Thankful feathers to stick on our SPARC turkey, fanning out feathers in different colors and patterns with things we are grateful for that are unique to us! Augie is grateful for our oversized bean bags that give him a relaxing, sensory, and alternative seating option! Something special we noticed while pasting our feathers, RyGuy wrote that he is Grateful for 'voice.' RyGuy is one of our non-speaking participants, but that has not stopped him from using his voice to make choices at SPARC every day!

Whether your voice is communicated through words, pictures, ASL, or an Augmentative and Alternative Communication device, there is no doubt your voice will ALWAYS be heard at SPARC!

Old Firehouse Center
Dranesville District - Supervisor Jimmy Bierman

11/21/2025

Today SPARC ~ Leesburg went on a social outing designed to support our participants in developing their social skills and building confidence in community settings. Many of our participants do not regularly have opportunities to interact with the public or to dine out with friends, so these experiences are essential for strengthening independence and promoting meaningful social connections.

We had brunch at Anita’s in Leesburg, where our participants practiced real-world communication skills, community building, and teamwork. Each participant ordered their own meal, giving them the opportunity to self-advocate, speak clearly to restaurant staff, and make choices that reflect their personal preferences. These simple interactions—greeting servers, asking questions, and expressing their needs—help reinforce everyday communication skills.

After brunch, we visited Caffè Bottega Italiana to explore the deli and assess the accessibility of the space for our participants. This visit encouraged awareness of community resources, supported decision-making, and allowed participants to engage in conversations about their comfort, needs, and preferences when visiting public spaces.

Overall, today’s outing was an important step in building confidence, communication, and social independence among our participants.

11/20/2025

Thank you HCA Healthcare Virginia for supporting our programs! We are deeply grateful!

HCA Virginia was honored to sponsor SPecially Adapted Resource Centers - SPARC’s inspiring event, An Evening to SPARCle 2025, last weekend.

Our leaders were proud to attend alongside community leaders, advocates, legislators and local officials to support SPARC’s mission of empowering adults with multiple and severe disabilities.

Together, we honored the 2025 SPARC Heroes and celebrated the Lifetime Achievement Award honoree, Phyllis Randall, whose dedication continues to inspire us all.

Congratulations to SPARC and all honorees for making a !

11/20/2025

Today at SPARC ~ Leesburg was all about finding our voices—in art, in music, and even in the kitchen.

This morning, we led a self-directed Art Therapy activity centered on building social skills and strengthening self-advocacy. Participants practiced expressing their preferences for future art themes, materials, and projects, using both verbal and nonverbal communication. Participants and DSPs expressed that they wanted to learn how to communicate that they needed a break, to learn how to work together to do activities, and to learn how to use the choice options/tools that Nicky has created to support them during their days at SPARC. Watching them confidently share what they love—and what they want to try next—was incredibly inspiring.

At 11:00 a.m., we held our second Music Therapy session with our wonderful partners at A Place To Be. Music is always a hit at SPARC and today was no exception. Through rhythm, movement, group connection, and creative expression, participants deepened their communication and social engagement in such joyful ways.

Lunch was another big moment for self-advocacy: after yesterday’s success, our crew insisted we make another pot of Hamburger Soup—so we did! Their enthusiasm and decision-making made the meal even more meaningful.

We wrapped up the afternoon with our now-beloved game of Kings-In-The-Corner, the unofficial (but fiercely defended!) official card game of SPARC ~ Leesburg. These games spark laughter, connection, turn-taking, and confidence—everything we love to see.

Which SPARC activity do you think builds the strongest social skills: art, music, cooking, or games?

11/17/2025

Today at SPARC ~ Leesburg we were delighted to welcome back A Place To Be for another incredible music therapy session! Participants enjoyed an energetic jam session, choosing their own instruments and playing along to different rhythm games that encouraged creativity, self-expression, and teamwork.

After music therapy, we kept the Disney magic going with a fun round of Name That Disney Tune, where participants guessed songs from their favorite movies and showed off their amazing musical memory!

We continued our Disney Day extravaganza by making adorable Mickey Mouse snowmen. Everyone practiced fine-motor skills as they stuffed their socks with polyfill, added accessories, and personalized each snowman with festive Mickey flair.

We wrapped up the afternoon with a few friendly rounds of Kings in the Corner, ending the day with laughter, connection, and plenty of Disney-inspired joy.

11/17/2025

Today at SPARC ~ Alexandria, we wrapped up a lively Beach Moana Day that blended fun, creativity, and skill-building from start to finish. We kicked things off with our morning literacy games, where participants took the lead reading directions, sounding out words, and guiding the group—building confidence and communication along the way.

After that, we headed to the “kitchen” to make tasty ham-and-pineapple skewers, along with seasoned pineapple-only versions for those who don’t eat pork, giving everyone a chance to practice cooking skills and safe food handling.

Creativity took center stage next as we shaped and painted air-dry clay Moana pendants, encouraging fine-motor skills and self-expression.

We then shifted into theater mode to write and rehearse scripts for our upcoming Christmas carol play; participants were so excited about their roles that many chose to take their scripts home to keep practicing.

We finished the day by updating participant progress on their personal goals, celebrating the steps each person is taking toward growth and independence.