A core tenet of the Reggio approach believes deeply in the importance of true inclusion of children with Special Rights. And so do I. Valuing, including and accepting a child with Special Rights into our studio improves the practice of our teachers, which in turn, benefits every child. Children will learn empathy and to accept difference in a way that would not be possible without the participation of these children who face unique challenges. There is so much that is possible within these studio walls. For all children.

My dream was to create a magical environment where my 3 children (2 neurotypical daughters and 1 neurodivergent son), could explore, create and dream TOGETHER. My hope is that you and your children, of any ability, will join us too. Christian is our 6 year old son who was born with a rare genetic disease, Dup15Q syndrome, a disease that affects him cognitively and developmentally. It’s because of Christian that I first invested my time in exploring sensory play as a way to balance his needs at home during covid when special services had shut down or turned virtual. I saw first hand how sensory play helped him regulate his body during difficult times of not being able to communicate to us, I noticed how even though he didn’t have any words to communicate, he was making noises and expressive sounds while he played, and I watched his fingers work hard and trying to scoop and pick up the sensory bin materials working on fine motor skills.

Children of all abilities are welcome to any of our Pop Art! Kids programs