The CACTI Blog: My Experience at ArtWorks - Building Meaningful Connections in the IDD Community
By Sophia Westphal, 2024-2025 Undergraduate Certificate in Developmental Disabilities
During the 2024-2025 school year, I had the wonderful opportunity to participate as a trainee working to complete the Undergraduate Certificate in Developmental Disabilities through the Sonoran Center. The program requirements encouraged me to take a deep dive into the disability community, and to fully immerse myself in all aspects of it. One of the requirements was to complete a 20-hour internship in the community. As someone who is not from Tucson, this was intimidating for me, as I am not entirely familiar with the area. Luckily, at the end of winter break, trainees participated in a volunteer day at a program on the University of Arizona campus called ArtWorks. Led by Dr. Yumi Shirai, ArtWorks is an art studio and gallery that offers an inclusive environment for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, promoting self-expression, creativity, independence, and inclusion. We spent the morning working with some of the artists to create a mosaic sign outside the building. I left feeling uplifted and full of gratitude. As someone who does not have an ounce of artistic ability, I was blown away. I had the pleasure of meeting people who were big-hearted, genuine, and shamelessly themselves. Shortly after, I decided that ArtWorks was the kind of environment in which I wanted to dedicate more of my time, so I made the decision to begin my internship there.
During my first few visits, my goal was to find my role and to get to know the artists better. At first, I did a lot of observing. I sat against the walls and watched the different interactions happening around me. When I could, I would chime into conversations and ask questions, taking any chance I could to learn new information. I did small tasks around the studio and made a conscious effort to become familiar with the personalities of the artists. After my first handful of visits, I found my footing and started recognizing, and being recognized, by the artists. I noticed myself having more meaningful conversations and realized that I had a lot more in common with some of them than I had previously thought.
One of my favorite aspects of the ArtWorks program is the way that it fosters an inclusive community and encourages independence. Many of the artists have their own roles, and they practice skills daily that they can apply to other aspects of their lives. I attended ArtWorks on Friday mornings, which is when everyone gathers to talk about a previously decided prompt, boosting communication skills and practicing conversation. Personally, it challenged me to learn new ways of communication. Some of the artists are easier to understand than others, and for some, using simpler vocabulary makes conversing easier. I also noticed that asking specific questions goes a long way. Tweaking my own communication strategies to the needs of others was not a strong skill that I had, so it was beneficial to learn how to do so.
Perhaps my biggest takeaway from my time spent at ArtWorks this semester is the sense of empowerment and belonging that I have been given. From the moment that I stepped in the door, I was met with nothing but kindness and positive energy. I was given the opportunity to gain experiences alongside the disability community, and my expectations were exceeded. Moving forward, I will take all the things that I have learned and apply them to aspects of my own life, practicing inclusion and kindness in every situation, and not being so quick to judge. I will continue to the next part of my own personal journey, and I will carry ArtWorks in my pocket with me.
The CACTI Blog features the voices of our interdisciplinary trainees and Community Advisory Council members as they highlight diverse images of people with disabilities and provide community information and advocacy on disability issues. Check Out The CACTI Blog