SPecially Adapted Resource Centers - SPARC

03/31/2026

Stay Stay Stay all day at SPARC~Arlington as we wrapped up Women’s History Month celebrating one of the most influential women of our time… Taylor Swift! A true music legend and cultural icon, Taylor has broken records and barriers while inspiring generations through her creativity, resilience, and voice.

In true Eras Tour fashion, our day was filled with fun, friendship, and creativity. Participants designed meaningful friendship bracelets, strengthening fine motor and sequencing skills while sharing kind messages with one another. We also explored sensory-based crafting by sewing “Lavender Haze” hand warmers using fabric, rice, and essential oils, creating calming tools that support relaxation and self-regulation.

The fun continued outdoors as we soaked up the sunshine with interactive color scavenger hunts. These activities encouraged creative thinking, observation, and imagination. When prompted to find “something blue that makes you happy,” Ellen looked up, smiled, and said, “the sky!”

It truly was The Best Day at SPARC~ Arlington: our own little Wonderland filled with joy, connection, and creativity

03/31/2026

Our SPARC ~ Reston crew had a full and joyful day from start to finish! We kicked things off with our favorite New York Times games, taking on an extra-tricky round of Connections and celebrating our success together. Jeopardy brought the energy as always, with David shining as our champion—and he carried that focus straight into our no-bake cookie project, carefully measuring ingredients and confidently following each step.

In the Cathy Hudgins Community Center at Southgate's kitchen, teamwork was in full swing as everyone helped mix and boil the recipe. The cookies turned out delicious—so much so that we shared them with the rec center staff, who loved them just as much as David and Taku did!

We wrapped up the day with a sunny walk, spotting blooming dogwoods along the trail, and spent the afternoon exploring 3-D printed sensory toys from our Alexandria location. Taku especially lit up with excitement—smiling, vocalizing, and fully engaged with the sounds and textures—sharing his joy with us all: “Aaaah! Ooohh!”

03/31/2026

Today we were “Outside” with SPARC ~ Leesburg at South Street Under Café and Restaurant, and it was a beautiful day to be out in the community. We spent our time outside talking, laughing, and playing UNO and Kings-in-the-Corner, which are always great for practicing communication, turn-taking, strategy, and good sportsmanship. Participants made choices about what games to play, who to sit with, and what to order, all while practicing real-world social and life skills in a natural community setting.

We also had a VIP guest, Debi Alexander, who joined us and played a quick (but very competitive) hand of Kings-in-the-Corner. She was early for a meeting with the Last Tuesday Club of Leesburg.

We had some really great conversations, and Maghfoor was especially happy to be out and about in the community, which is what these outings are all about — building confidence, independence, and a sense of belonging in the world around us.

More importantly, the staff at the restaurant was incredibly helpful and accommodating to both our staff and participants. They allowed us to occupy space comfortably and even came outside to learn more about SPARC and the work we do. That’s what true community looks like — people taking the time to learn about each other, make space for each other, and connect.

Overall, it was a day full of communication, community, choices, laughter, and a lot of card game strategy. And as always, UNO continues to end more friendships than it creates… but luckily at SPARC, we believe in forgiveness and rematches.

03/31/2026

03/31/2026

From Elvis to elbow grease — our SPARC ~ Leesburg crew did it all today!

Today at SPARC ~ Leesburg, we shared an uplifting program with our wonderful partners from A Place To Be. Together, we explored music from a variety of genres — with plenty of country favorites and some early Elvis Presley classics in the mix. Through music therapy, participants found meaningful ways to communicate — not just through singing, but through rhythm, movement, and expression. It was inspiring to see everyone making song choices, requesting favorites, and connecting through music. The session reminded us how powerfully music can bring people together, even when words aren’t required.

In the spirit of collaboration, our group project today was an early Spring Cleaning in preparation for Passover. In partnership with Sha're Shalom Congregation, we learned about the tradition of deep cleaning before the holiday and worked as a team to tidy and refresh the shared spaces we use together. The effort wasn’t just about cleaning — it was about teamwork, responsibility, and shared purpose. There were plenty of conversations, laughter, and even a few spirited debates about the “best” way to clean a table — all part of the fun (and learning) that comes from working together.

The day was a beautiful reflection of what makes SPARC thrive: strong partnerships, meaningful teamwork, and a shared commitment to learning and community. Whether through a song or a shared task, we continue to grow together — building independence, communication skills, and connection one experience at a time.

03/30/2026

Some days are just meant for good company, lots of laughs, great music, and time to unwind; today was exactly that at SPARC~McLean as we kicked off the week with SPARC Comedy Hour.

Highlighting many female comedians as we come to an end of Women’s History Month, we shared fun facts about Betty White, whose TV reign lasted 70 years, Christianas favorite artist and comedian Bette Midler, as well as Melissa McCarthy, Lucille Ball, and Tina Fey! We took turns performing our own stand-up routines, and even revisited some of our resident comedian Jess’ best jokes from this year.

Throughout the afternoon, we relaxed with friends, catching up on weekend adventures, friendships, relationships, and family time; covering just about everything! We also tapped into some nostalgia, singing and dancing to favorites like Fruit Salad, Dancing Queen, Hot Potato, and I Got a Feeling by the Black Eyed Peas. Augie stole the show as he perfectly guessed the letters to help us solve our Wordle puzzle for the day, continuing our win streak!

We kept the creativity going by working on our final fashion show piece, with Augie and Amanda sewing sleeves onto our jacket.

Overall, we spent the day doing what we do best, enjoying time together with our friends at SPARC~McLean!

03/27/2026

It was a picture‑perfect day at SPARC ~ Reston! Participants began the morning with a calming sensory activity, exploring the soothing scents of essential oils and crafting their own aromatherapy bags—a simple but meaningful way to practice choice‑making and fine‑motor skills.

With sunshine calling, the group hit the trails for a walk filled with fresh air, laughter, and connection. Midday brought a fun surprise from the staff at the Cathy Hudgins Community Center at Southgate: an unexpected spread of breads and bagels that turned snack time into another chance to explore new flavors and make independent choices.

Back inside, everyone got creative finishing and painting their clay art—each piece as unique as its artist. One moment stood out most: “Tammy said she had fun today,” a huge and heartwarming victory that reminded us how powerful shared joy and belonging can be.

What’s your favorite way to unwind and reconnect—with nature, creativity, or community?

03/24/2026

Monday at SPARC ~ Leesburg was smoothie-making day, and it was a berry good time from start to finish! We mixed blueberries, cherries, and strawberries—creating a delicious blend that was only slightly less messy than expected (which, honestly, is a big win).

Participants used their gross motor skills while pouring, scooping, and blending, and we also focused on communication skills, especially for our non-speaking participants. Through gestures, devices, and good old-fashioned determination, everyone played a role in crafting the perfect smoothie. It turns out, great teamwork pairs nicely with great taste.

Our goal is always to build community and strengthen communication, and today really delivered. There’s something special about working together toward a shared goal—especially when you get to drink it afterward.

Monday is always a highlight because of music therapy with A Place To Be, and Tony and Brandy did not disappoint. They were engaging, entertaining, and kept the energy high. Let’s just say there may have been some dancing… and possibly some smoothie-fueled enthusiasm on full display.

All in all, it was a smooth start to the week!

03/24/2026

And the forecast at SPARC~McLean? Sunny with a high chance of smiles!

We kicked off our week with some meteorological mayhem as participants rotated through hands-on stations, creating, learning, and exploring the fascinating world of weather.

Did you know there are over 10 types of clouds in the sky? 🌥️ In honor of Women’s History Month, we spotlighted meteorologist Joanne Simpson, who developed the first cloud model. Inspired by her work, participants created dreamy cloudscape paintings using cotton balls and shaving cream puffy paint for a textured, fun, sensory twist!

Our love for STEM was in full forecast as we simulated rain clouds using shaving cream and food coloring; watching “rain” fall right before our eyes and bringing science to life!

Keeping the sunshine going, we made more progress on our community engagement project by decorating the outside of our sunshine boxes. Each participant added their own creative magic, spreading joy one box at a time.

We’re starting the week the SPARC~McLean way, with sunshine, smiles, and celebrating our dear friend Cathy for her birthday!

03/23/2026

All who would benefit are invited to Rambunctious Theatre Company’s sensory-friendly performance of Legally Blonde on Thursday, April 30th at 6:30PM in Russell Theater at Robinson Secondary School! Our sensory-friendly productions are modified versions of our show, made to accommodate those with sensory concerns (such as autism or epilepsy). Our production will feature modified sound and lighting levels, a variety of fidgets, a quiet/calm space, personalized seating arrangements, and a cast meet and greet at the end of the show! Fill out this RSVP form if you plan to attend. This information will help us figure out how many people plan to attend and what seating arrangement would work best for you! Walk-ins are also allowed and welcomed. A variety of seating options will be available to walk-in patrons.

03/22/2026

SPARC ~ Leesburg welcomed the start of spring with a fun and engaging mix of creativity, collaboration, and fresh air. Participants rotated through stations where they crafted beautiful paper flower bouquets, worked on their pieces for our fashion show with Nicky, and got competitive during an intense game of Kings in the Corner. After lunch, we took advantage of the gorgeous spring weather with a refreshing walk outside, soaking in the sunshine and enjoying time together as a community.

03/20/2026

Creativity, Teamwork, and Cheer at SPARC ~ Alexandria!

What a day of energy, laughter, and connection! We kicked things off with our favorite New York Times games, teaming up to think our way through Connections and Wordle. The creativity carried over into our activity stations, where Kyle got inventive with magnetic blocks, and Matthew transformed the space into a full‑on kickball arena—his kicks were so strong they reached the rafters, earning him plenty of cheers from the group.

After all that action, we slowed things down for a calming, sensory‑filled soap‑making session led by our amazing intern, Emily. Everyone explored soothing scents and textures—lavender, rose petals, essential oils—and created their own colorful soaps to take home.

We ended the day with a lively Uno game that had everyone laughing and cheering. One of the best moments came when Matthew encouraged each player with a big smile and said, “Great job at Uno today—you did a fantastic job at Uno today!” It captured the warmth and support that made the whole day so special.

Days like this remind us that creativity and kindness are the perfect pair.

What’s your favorite way to show encouragement to the people around you?