14 June 2015

As French artist Edgar Degas once said, "Art is not what you see, but what you make others see." Art is a great equalizer among humans, especially those who have trouble communicating or expressing their emotions the way the rest of the world does.

 

That's why The Salvation Army of Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware's Deve lopmental Disabilities Program offers art as a method of therapy and expression, and why its Creative HeARTs program has been such an outstanding success in the past several years in making program participants feel fulfilled, understood and proud.

 

The Salvation Army's Developmental Disabilities Program (DDP) has been supporting people with disabilities since 1980. Today, DDP provides residential support to nearly 100 people in Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware and has assisted hundreds in finding meaningful work and a sense of belonging in their community. The Salvation Army DDP staff are highly trained and experienced in providing support to individuals with a variety of needs in diverse, community-based settings.

 

Through support and special programming, DDP enables those with disabilities to live as citizens in their local communities in an atmosphere of dignity and respect. The Creative HeARTs program is one such program which recognizes the uniqueness and strengths that each individual brings to the table.

 

Through bi-weekly art classes, about fifteen participants seek inspiration for their next masterpiece and create original paintings that they later sell at special DDP art shows, including an annual event with the Millsboro Art League. Some of their paintings are turned into greeting cards, the proceeds from which go straight back to funding the program. This year marks their sixth anniversary of partnering with their community art league for shows benefitting The Salvation Army.

 

"Some of the DDP participants live and breathe our art program. Others will join us when they're in the mood," said Cristy Cugno, DDP program director. "We never force it on them. What we're most proud of is that our program is so individualized - we allow participants to choose how they spend their day."

 

The DDP's Creative HeARTs segment is run by a fantastic art teacher, Barbara Buford, who has been a driving force for the art component of the program and gets to know all of her students personally to share her creativity. It also affords students art instruction from nearby Millsboro and Rehoboth Art Leagues.

 

"When people purchase our students' art, it truly is a priceless moment for them," Cugno said. "The community's support and involvement is the whole motivation for our students to participate in this program. We feel this really proves that people should never discount those living with developmental disabilities; they're so thirsty to learn."

 

To learn more about the Developmental Disabilities Program, visit www.saphilly.org.