By Lindsey Geiss
These community groups bring people together to provide inclusion, learning and fun through the arts — music, theater, crafts and more. Explore opportunities for individuals of all abilities to nurture and share their gifts with others.
RockAbility
A performance band for musicians with developmental disabilities. (Chesterland)
Too many adults with disabilities lose their creative outlets and enrichment activities upon graduation from high school.
“Life doesn’t have to become drudgery after high school,” says Lori Weber, founder of RockAbility and NPower Services.
The Chagrin Falls mother of four saw this with her own adult daughter, Kira, so she began finding — then creating — opportunities through her nonprofit, NPower Services, which helps adults with developmental disabilities connect with meaningful activities in volunteer work, skill-building and job coaching for employment, fitness (through Geauga County Joggers & Walkers, Adaptive CrossFit and more), and entrepreneurship.
As a veteran pianist and vocalist herself, Weber knew music had to join the mix.
“There were a lot of different things over the years that brought it about,” she recalls, citing one experience in particular. “I heard a young lady at a Special Olympic softball game belt the National Anthem on pitch and on time with confidence and thought, ‘She should be a rocker!’ The world would be a better place if it heard her sing.’’
Sure enough, Jen Gerber had not sung since high school, so with her as lead singer, Weber rounded up other musicians and support from the community. RockAbility was born two and a half years ago, thanks in large part to a Metzenbaum Foundation grant. Weber runs the organization with assistance from Anne Marie Wolfe, owner of Geauga Music Center in Chardon.
The music mentor performance program connects talented adult musicians with developmental disabilities with professional musicians to learn and play together. Composed of 20 people in their 30s through 60s, the band includes two lead vocalists, several backup vocalists, three pianists, guitarists, bassists, and veteran drummer and mentor Carl DeScott.
RockAbility’s goals include increasing confidence and self-advocacy, building community connections, and improving musical skills.
“The skills of being in a band translate into everything else you do,” Weber says. “While doing this, they are getting better at their craft. They all practice on their own and are expected to come prepared for rehearsals.”
Most musicians bring their own instruments. The band rehearses weekly and does small ensemble performances at existing open-mic venues, in addition to large group performances at fully-integrated music shows of various genres.
Not an instructional program run by teachers, the band exists for musicians to bring their existing skills and help elevate their abilities alongside experienced musician mentors who already gig and record.
“Together with bassist Mark Devonshire (father of a percussionist student member Kathrine) we provide the foundation,” DeScott says. “Since I started drumming with them a year and a half ago, I’ve watched them grow music-wise, but the relationships built, and their focus and professionalism are especially impressive.”
Weber says the band has built a repertoire of around 60 songs, and they even shoot videos.
Kira Weber supports the group through her art, creating wooden guitars, selfie stations and other projects.
“Our flute player, Melissa Kapela, is a textbook example of why I started this,” Weber shares.
“School was horrible, but the Hudson band gave me a place to belong,” Kapela says. “I didn’t know I was autistic, and everything was a struggle. I played flute since fifth grade, but I struggled with rhythm and memorizing music. When I got a diagnosis and support, the difference from 9th to 10th grade was night and day. I got help with focus and was finally able to stay in step and could memorize the music. After high school, I putzed around with the flute but hadn’t really picked it up until I met Lori two years ago. I never thought it would be a part of my life almost 30 years later.”
For more information on RockAbility, NPower Services programming, including a calendar of events and waiver/registration form to participate, visit npowerservices.com or email Weber at lori@npowerservices.com.
Stagecrafters Broadway Buddies
Adaptive musical theater program showcases students with special needs ages 16 and older. (Orange)
Students with special needs work alongside theater professionals, licensed staff and high school or college student volunteers. Each “STAR” performer is paired with a one-on-one “Buddy” to assist with activities, and choreography is adapted to individual needs.
Buddies wear all black to keep the focus on STARS who are in full costume with backdrops, lighting, etc. — gaining a true theater experience.
Some STARS are non-verbal or communicate with a device, while others are hearing or visually impaired or use a wheelchair. Paraprofessionals provide support. STAR students who cannot participate independently must be accompanied by a parent or caretaker.
“I want young adults to have an opportunity to open their heart and mind, and work with someone different than they are,” says Wendy Scott-Koeth, Broadway Buddies founder and artistic director.“ They learn to have empathy.”
Scott-Koeth has been producer and coordinator of Stagecrafters for 35 years, and her lifelong passions for both inclusion and theater have helped students fulfill their dreams.
“One of my students, John McGinty, started out as a sign language interpreter, and he is now living his dream as an actor on Broadway,” she shares.
While Stagecrafters celebrates 50 years, Broadway Buddies will soon turn 15.
“In elementary school, when I was 12, working with a student who was nonverbal, I wanted to pursue a career in special needs — I adored Maggie; we became so close,” Scott-Koeth says. “I also had a love for theater. After I went into theater and was teaching, I realized so many of my students had siblings with special needs. In 2010, I finally merged the two worlds after years of talking about it.”
A grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture kickstarted a dream “to give everyone the Broadway experience,” and Broadway Buddies is sustained by continuous grants from the David and Jacqui Clark Family Fund.
Broadway Buddies operates seasonal sessions with week-long musical theater camps in the summer, including a Dream Team sleepover camp.
During the school year, Broadway Buddies Show Choir and culminates in a musical review. The Broadway Buddies LOL Comedy Troupe and Project Dream Role film class on the weekends allows each participant to star in his or her own edited musical scene/video.
For more Broadway Buddies, visit Orange Community Education & Recreation at orangerec.com or contact Claire Connelly at broadwaybuddiesstagecrafters@gmail.com. Funding may be available through the county.
Improvaneers
The world’s first all Down syndrome improvisation troupe performs and trains others through “The Improvaneer Method” to build skills, confidence and joy through laughter. (Medina)
Humor is a gift and guiding force in Rob Snow’s life that he has harnessed to unite and empower others. Four years after their son Henry was born with Down syndrome, Rob and Ellen Snow founded the non-profit Stand Up For Downs to raise funds for the Down syndrome community through comedy to support medical research, local efforts, adoption, sports and camaraderie, new parent outreach, and awareness and advocacy. Since 2013, their events have raised over $500,000.
In 2017, Rob Snow further applied his background in professional standup comedy and improv training to teach others. He suspected improvisation could impart valuable skills to those with developmental disabilities — problem solving, quick thinking, teamwork, listening, and overall communication skills like voice projection and eye contact, as well as building self-confidence — to increase social, workplace and lifetime opportunities. And he was right. Improvement was immediate, and the results have been groundbreaking.
“Assume competence,” Snow says. “Not enough people do. We allow opportunities so as not to pigeonhole individuals.”
What began with a 20+ person audition in April 2018 became a dedicated team of 10 Improvaneers training weekly for a year and a half. Their 2019 “Not Your Average News Team” sketch and improv show put them on the map — playing to over 600 fans in two sold out shows and earning national media attention, leading to the formalization of the process.
Now “The Improvaneer Method” teaches improvisation to over 500 individuals across the country each week, including local, in-person classes in Medina, North Olmsted, Independence, Akron and Canton. A new three-day summer camp for ages 16 and older was offered in partnership with Easter Seals and led by Bowling Green University Student Certified Directors.
There are three levels — improvisor, improvaneer and performer — that each last a year and progressively advance through specific games using the “scaffolding” technique (incrementally building on skills with repetition and mastery over time).
The method can be purchased as a license, workshop, performances, online classes and one-on-one sessions with youth (age 10-15) and adult options.
“No one who participates in this program will ever be forced to do something they don’t want to do, and they will never be told to do something that scares or embarrasses them,” Snow says. “We will work to understand each individual’s abilities and thresholds of discovery and enjoyment of the program to provide the best experience possible.”
From the beginning, founding member Nick Doyle, of Canton, has been instrumental to the Improvaneer Method’s success. As an assistant director and national sales executive, Doyle works closely with Snow, also serving on the board of Stand Up For Downs.
“I’m a master at improv, a leader, a big brother [to Henry and others],” Doyle says.
From Canton to Capitol Hill, Doyle applies these skills honed over the years to flourish as a self-advocate, nationwide keynote speaker, National Down Syndrome Society Ambassador, restaurant host and more.
He continues to perform with the group while also performing his one-man show “Unleashing the Big Dog: My Rollercoaster Journey to Success” about overcoming challenges — including his brother passing away, his mom’s cancer, lost jobs and relationship break-ups — to find success and happiness, while keeping his sense of humor along the way.
“I love to be networking with everyone,” Doyle shares. “My favorite thing is to perform. I am a people person. I want to entertain and make them laugh. I am trying to own my own business. If there’s not a seat at the table, bring your own chair.”
The group seeks “global domination.” If they achieve it, the world will certainly be a better, more understanding — and more joyful — place.
For more information, including upcoming events, purchasing classes and more, visit theimprovaneermethod.com (also on Facebook) and standupfordowns.org.
Project Kindness
Creative arts and social opportunities through community service. (Geauga County and surrounding communities)
Adults with developmental disabilities so often find themselves on the receiving end of services, but this group puts them on the giving side, fostering pride and thinking of others.
Participants meet at libraries, churches, schools and more to contribute to existing service projects or create new ones. Examples of activities include planting flowers and making placemats for the Geauga County Veteran Food Pantry, making bookmarks for library patrons, creating encouraging posters for students, and stuffing stockings for those in need.
For more information on RockAbility, Inside Circle, Project Kindness and other NPower Services programming, including a calendar of events and waiver/registration form to participate, visit npowerservices.com or email Weber at lori@npowerservices.com
Hearts for Music
Musicians from the youngest, age 5 to adults in their 60s, play together in an orchestra of instruments from iPads, cellos to violins. Hearts for Music Special Needs Orchestra provides an opportunity for all ages with special needs to come together to perform music, all types of genres, along with socialize together at any level and age.
“It was not so much about them creating beautiful music, but the music is a result of them bonding and playing together,” says Kitrael Chin, president and artistic director of Hearts for Music.
They partner with local organizations and people who book them to perform for various venues or events.
They will be on the international stage in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City, Rome, Italy for a Jubilee of “Celebration of Persons with Disabilities” where they will join other international performers who have special needs.
For more information on how to get involved, email info@heartsformusic.org
or visit heartsformusic.org.
Friendship Circle
Teen volunteer FriendMakers and children with developmental disabilities engage in social skills, fitness, music, and after school and summer camp programs featuring arts, music, sports and more. (Pepper Pike)
Connecting teen volunteers and children with disabilities for almost 20 years, Friendship Circle (FC) of Cleveland’s mission is to spark friendship, connection and support for children of all abilities, their families and Jewish teens.
Program Director Rabbi Yosef Peysin, PhD, BCBA-D shares the vision of a community elevated by realizing the special soul within each individual.
“We are able to meet a diverse range of disabilities,” Peysin says. “We try to be a place where kids are happier when they feel they have friends and kids are celebrated for who they are.”
Programs in arts, music, sports and superhero fun to after school activities for ages 3-18 and weekly social skills for ages 7-18, with additional offerings for adults and families.
From learning how to play musical instruments in the Friendship Circle (FC) Band to dance to gymnastics to weekly and camp activities that incorporates in-person and some virtual opportunities.
Peysin says “FC Band is a platform for teens with and without disabilities to build community through music. The band gathers at Friendship Circle and community events to play original songs and covers focusing on the theme of friendship. Since its founding in 2022, the band has played multiple shows across Ohio, Los Angeles, and Charlotte, NC to rave reviews. The genre can be described as rock/pop. Currently the band consists of Alan Vaytsman on piano and vocals, Josh Schoenbrun on percussion, Alex Waldbaum on vocals and “hype”, and Yosef Peysin on acoustic guitar and vocals. Kevin Teplitzky is the musical director.”
For more info, program listings, registration, pricing and more, visit friendscleveland.com. If someone would like to join the band, email Yosef@friendscleveland.com
Inside Circle
An informal drum and handheld instrument circle.
(Chardon, Burton, Independence)
This group uses musical therapy techniques to develop rhythm and melody skills, but mostly have fun. Participants bring their own or use the group’s drums, ukuleles or other percussion instruments. Anyone with extraordinary needs is required to bring a provider. Events are held at Chardon or Burton libraries, and the Down Syndrome Association of Northeast Ohio (DSANEO) in Independence. Dedicated, well-practiced participants earn the opportunity to perform onstage with RockAbility during the band’s event(s).
Kapela, who lives in Bainbridge, now participates in most of the events Weber organizes, including Power Ups fitness classes and Inside Circle.
“Until I met Lori, I didn’t get out of the house much except for work (at a riding stable and Hiram Farm),” Kapela adds. “She made me busy. My biggest issue doing stuff was getting to things, and Lori has changed the lives of so many people.” Visit npowerservices.com or email Weber at lori@npowerservices.com
