SPecially Adapted Resource Centers - SPARC

02/14/2026

Love Was in the Air at SPARC – From Alexandria to Leesburg!

This week, SPARC celebrated Valentine’s Day in true SPARC style — with creativity, community, laughter, and a whole lot of heart.

In Alexandria, we hosted our very first SPARC Valentine’s Party — and we pulled out all the stops! The day kicked off with intro games and icebreaker questions before participants rotated through activity stations that included Pac-Man, mega chess, painting, cupcake decorating, photo booths, and our 3D printing workshop — which was a HUGE hit! Everyone designed and printed their own creations to take home.

We shared a feast of pizza, patties, mac and cheese, and more brownies than we knew what to do with (a very good “problem” to have!). After lunch, we gathered for group photos to thank our incredible SPARC supporters, worked on our podcast jingle, played Valentine’s Bingo, and welcomed friends from the community center — even popping into Wish to share the celebration. It was a joyful, high-energy day filled with innovation and inclusion.

Meanwhile in Leesburg, our annual Valentine’s Day Lunch and Party reminded us that love at SPARC is about acceptance, appreciation, teamwork, and applause for everyone. The day began with a spirited morning stretch — two days in a row! — full of laughter and encouragement as everyone participated in their own way.

Creativity filled the room with shadow art and bright Valentine heart paintings. Participants passed supplies, offered ideas, and celebrated each other’s work — teamwork in action. Our dynamic photo booth captured smiles and silly poses, with friends helping each other get the “perfect shot.”

Lunch was a true community potluck: cupcakes, hot dogs, tater tots, and Maghfoor’s mother’s now-famous vegetable rice (which disappeared almost instantly!). We even shared the love beyond our walls by donating cupcakes to the preschool we share the building with and taking cheerful photos with the Rabbi — a beautiful reminder that SPARC is part of a larger, connected community.

At SPARC, Valentine’s Day isn’t just about hearts and decorations. It’s about belonging. It’s about dignity. It’s about adults with severe and multiple disabilities experiencing friendship, creativity, technology, laughter, and meaningful community engagement.

From Alexandria to Leesburg, love showed up — and it looked like inclusion.

02/12/2026

Today was another highly engaging and joyful day at SPARC ~ Leesburg! We started the morning together with an energetic group stretch, getting everyone moving and setting a positive tone for the day. It was a great example of teamwork in action, with participants encouraging one another and working at their own pace in a supportive environment designed for individuals with special needs.

Afterward, we shifted into planning mode for the SPARC Fashion Show this spring. Everyone worked cooperatively to choose fabrics, share ideas, and help each other make creative decisions. The excitement in the room was contagious, and it was wonderful to see so much collaboration and self-expression.

We also painted large hearts to decorate for our upcoming Valentine’s Day party. This activity brought out great teamwork, as participants helped pass supplies, offered suggestions, and celebrated each other’s creations. The room was full of color, laughter, and a strong sense of community.

Later, we enjoyed Music Therapy with our partners at A Place To Be. As part of our routine, we played Musical Jeopardy, which brought plenty of laughs. Ryland, Maghfoor, and Chris had everyone smiling as they tried to dance their way to the smart board, proving that sometimes the journey is just as entertaining as the answer! Moments like these highlight the joy, cooperation, and connection that make SPARC such a special place for our participants.

02/11/2026

Today at SPARC ~ McLean we had an exciting time celebrating National Inventors Day! We kicked off the morning by planting seeds while reflecting on our featured inventor, George Washington Carver, an inspiring agricultural scientist. Participants carefully planted their seeds to take home and watch grow, practicing mindfulness, patience, and responsibility.

The creativity continued as everyone began making Valentine’s Day gifts, designing friendship bracelets and heartfelt cards for friends. This activity helped strengthen fine motor skills, creativity, and social connection as participants worked together and shared ideas.

We also tested out our new exercise sticks, which quickly became a favorite, giving us a fun way to build coordination, movement, and teamwork skills. After lunch, the fun kept going with a lively round of Rock & Roll Bingo, where participants practiced attention, listening skills, and friendly competition while enjoying great music.

It was a joyful day full of creativity, movement, learning, and connection — we love celebrating, inventing, and growing together at SPARC ~ McLean!

02/11/2026

SPARC~ Arlington had an action-packed and heart-filled day! The morning kicked off with learning all about the history of the Olympics and different Winter Olympic sports while playing a Winter Olympics–themed Jeopardy game and fun Winter Olympic themed Mad-Libs; It was a great way to build knowledge, encourage teamwork, and spark lots of laughs along the way.

Creativity was in full swing as we made “love”ly works of art with LOVE shadow painting. Participants worked on fine motor skills, dexterity, creativity, and visual skills while carefully choosing just the right colors. Hazem was absolutely beaming with pride after finishing his sweet Valentine! Victoria and Mo showed us how the same end result can be achieved in different ways: using handheld sponge stamps or colorful bingo dotters. Highlighting our love for accessibility, choice, and inclusion!

The afternoon got delightfully silly with Valentine’s Day shaving cream art, where Mo practiced fine motor skills to get every last drop onto the trays (with some goofy sensory fun mixed in!). We wrapped up the day with a quieter moment, crafting Valentines for friends and loved ones while continuing to learn about Winter Olympic sports and cheering on replays of Team USA winning gold in figure skating. A perfect blend of learning, creativity, and pride!

02/07/2026

Fashion Show magic starts at the thrift store!

SPARC ~McLean hit Unique near the Mosaic District on a mission—and it was a runway-worthy success! Roberto took the wheel (literally), rolling our cart through the aisles and holding up pieces as the group voted yay or nay. Democracy, but make it fashion.

We found everything we needed for the show… and then some. Surprise favorites popped up, creativity flowed, and now everyone is counting down to sewing sessions in the coming weeks. Needles ready!

Fuel stop next! Participants practiced independent choice by picking exactly what they wanted around Mosaic before reconvening at Shake Shack to eat together. Choice, confidence, and fries—chef’s kiss.

And yes, winter tried to keep us on our toes —but with teamwork and problem-solving, we navigated the snowy paths and had a blast doing it.

Thrifted. Chosen. Designed. The Fashion Show glow-up has officially begun!

02/07/2026

ReelAbilities is coming up soon! Check out the schedule by visiting:

ReelAbilities Film Festival: Greater Washington is dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories and artistic expressions of people with disabilities. Each year, this dynamic festival, powered by the Pozez JCC, presents both domestic and international award-winning films pa...

02/07/2026

We are at the Loudoun County Public Schools “When the bus stops coming” event. Stop by and say hi!

02/05/2026

If you are interested in welcoming the Monks who are walking for peace, they will be here on Sunday!

📌 How to Track the Walk for Peace Journey - In a Nutshell
We have three ways to help you follow our journey:

1. Overview Map
- Shows the full 2,300-mile route from Fort Worth, TX to Washington, D.C.
- Map legends: Green line = estimated direction | Orange icon = our current location
- Note: This map shows estimated direction and estimated arrival dates only, not the actual route. The actual route and planned stops are only in the Daily Live Map and nightly update posts.

2. Daily Live Map
- Tracks today’s route in near real-time
- Map legends: Blue line = today’s route | Green icon = lunch stop | Black icon = night rest | Purple icon = click for exact address
- Visiting Hours: Lunch (10:30 AM–1:00 PM) | Night (6:00 PM–9:00 PM)

3. Nightly Update Posts ⭐
- Posted each evening on our page with confirmed locations for the next day
- The Daily Live Map and nightly update posts reflect each other and are the most accurate way to track the journey today
- Always check these for the latest information!

Find the maps: Both map links are pinned at the top of our page and posted in comments below.

Important: Routes and plans can change due to weather and logistics. We update posts and maps quickly when changes occur.

We warmly invite everyone to visit us at our stops!
May you and all beings be well, happy and at peace. 🙏

02/05/2026

SPARC ~ McLean National Homemade Soup Day by making delicious tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches! Participants were hands-on throughout the process, helping with preparation and teamwork while practicing daily living skills, following directions, and kitchen safety. We also got creative by designing our own special medals to honor Flo Jo for our Black History Month highlight of the day, which supported self-expression, fine motor skills, and learning about influential figures.

To keep Fitness February moving, we danced along to the Cha Cha Slide and Cupid Shuffle, working on coordination, endurance, and social engagement in a fun, high-energy way. After lunch, participants relaxed and collaborated with magnet tiles, building problem-solving and spatial skills, and we wrapped up the day by singing Happy Birthday to our special volunteer, Numi — a perfect way to celebrate community and connection.

02/04/2026

SPARC ~ Leesburg jumped into a series of spirited games that challenged both hand-eye coordination and teamwork. We threw a football across the room, played catch with a soft Nerf baseball, and used an accessible baseball glove—proving that fun should always come with options. Maghfoor and Ryland especially enjoyed the physical activity, with the accessible Nerf catch game being a clear favorite. Sometimes all it takes is the right equipment to turn movement into pure joy.

We also spent time creating Valentine’s Day cards for our donors, combining creativity with meaningful connection. Adding to the spirit of community, Leah’s mother and father surprised us by volunteering at the site. Leah’s mother jumped right in, helping design heartfelt cards for our donors and reminding us that SPARC is a place where families, participants, and supporters truly come together.

From movement to art, today was a wonderful example of how communication, collaboration, and inclusion can take many forms—and how every activity is better when shared.