Able - Artists Breaking Limits & Expectations

TO PROVIDE PERFORMING ARTS EXPERIENCES THROUGH WHICH INDIVIDUALS WITH DOWN SYNDROME AND OTHER INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES BUILD THE CONFIDENCE AND SKILLS TO SHARE WHO THEY ARE AND ALL THEY ARE ABLE TO DO.

ENSEMBLES: ACTORS WITH DISABILITIES COLLABORATE WITH A TEAM OF TEACHING ARTISTS AND VOLUNTEER FACILITATORS TO CREATE THEATRE AND FILM PROJECTS. EACH ENSEMBLE SERVES A MAXIMUM OF 10 ACTORS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AGES 15+. ENSEMBLES MEET FOR 90-MINUTE EACH WEEK OVER THE COURSE OF A SEMESTER. IN THE FY22 SEASON, ABLE HOSTED 4 ENSEMBLES EACH SEMESTER. IN THE FALL, THE ENSEMBLES DEVISED A COLLECTION OF 8 ORIGINAL STORIES ABOUT MYTHICAL CREATURES CALLED THE FORMS OF THINGS UNKNOWN. IN THE SPRING, ABLE RETURNED TO IN-PERSON PROGRAMMING FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE COVID PANDEMIC, AND CREATED A SERIES OF 4 VIDEOS WITH A BEHIND THE SCENES LOOK AT OUR PROCESS. PROGRAM METRICS: -TOTAL VIRTUAL SESSIONS = 75-TOTAL IN-PERSON SESSIONS = 35-TOTAL PROGRAM HOURS = 145.5-TOTAL ENROLLMENT = 70 (38 UNIQUE)-TOTAL LIVE STREAMED PERFORMANCES = 4-AUDIENCE = 700+

OUTREACH: ABLE SHARES OUR METHODOLOGY THROUGH ONE-TIME WORKSHOPS AND LONGER RESIDENCIES FOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE INDIVIDUALS WITH I/DD AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING FOR THOSE WHO SUPPORT THEM. IN FY22, ABLE EXPANDED OUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OFFERINGS, DEVELOPING 6 NEW TRAININGS THOROUGH THE COURSE OF THE YEAR. WE WERE ALSO CONTRACTED BY NSSRA AND PORTOLA VALLEY THEATRE CONSERVATORY TO LEAD SESSIONS FOR THEIR TEAMS, AND CONSULTED THE HOUSE THEATRE AND THE GIFT THEATRE ON AUDIENCE ACCESSIBILITY.-TOTAL SESSIONS = 13-TOTAL PROGRAM HOURS = 19.5-TOTAL ENROLLMENT = 257 (164 UNIQUE) IN FY22, ABLE HIRED A TEAM OF 6 CREATIVE ASSOCIATES - LONGTIME ENSEMBLE MEMBERS WITH DISABILITIES - TO CO-LEAD WORKSHOPS AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS AND SUPPORT ADMINISTRATIVE PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. CREATIVE ASSOCIATES APPLIED IN THE FALL OF 2021 AND A COHORT OF 6 CAS BEGAN TRAINING IN JANUARY 2022.

WORKSHOPS: SPECIALIZED SESSIONS LED BY A.B.L.E. TEACHING ARTISTS AND/OR GUEST ARTISTS TO INTRODUCE PERFORMERS WITH I/DD TO NEW PERFORMANCE SKILLS. IN FY22, ABLE TEACHING ARTISTS OFFERED 9 VIRTUAL AND IN PERSON WORKSHOPS, AND EXPANDED THIS PROGRAM TO OFFER SESSIONS FOR CHILDREN AGES 8-14. -TOTAL SESSIONS = 9-TOTAL PROGRAM HOURS = 13.5-TOTAL ENROLLMENT = 15