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Barrier-Free Blog

January Social Club - Meltdown DIY Studio

2/26/2020

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“Get those creative juices pumping!” said Lisa Feltz, owner and operator of Meltdown DiY Art Studio, as she welcomed each social clubber into her shop.
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Mike, Timmy, and Josh with smiles all around!

​Prior to starting her own business, Lisa was a special educator in the school system for many years.  And her experience shows!  One-by-one she greeted each participant with a smile and engaged in a conversation that was  seamless and unique to them—guiding them in choosing the best colors that fit their style.
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​Then, we stepped right up for a brief introduction to pottery glazing 101! “No lights on darks.  Darks on lights.” Got it. “Glaze is not paint. It will dry differently.” Understood.
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​We were led back to our table and we glazed our bowls, plates, and mugs. Besides Lisa offering her continued expertise and support throughout the glazing process, the best part of the night was simply sitting, painting, and talking.
That is the purpose of social club, right?! Conversations are scary sometimes. What do I say?  How do I start? What do we even talk about? Sometimes connections are hard to make. Luckily, activities bring us together and help bridge that gap!
​
“What are you painting?!”
“Hey! That looks cool!”
“Can I borrow that color?”
“You’re making a superman symbol?! I love superman!”
Social clubs, quite literally, give us something to talk about! From there, we can use these skills and apply them to the real world. Plus, it’s fun!
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Before you know it, the room is filled with chatter and laughter—with companionship and
camaraderie.
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Britt, Ian, and Mike having a great time!
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Jared & Lauren designing their bowls.

​The only sad part of all of this was that it had to end! Plus, we had to practice our patience
waiting to see our finished product after they were heated in the kiln!

All in all, an amazing social club!

Barrier-Free highly recommends Meltdown DiY Art Studio in Eldersburg!
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Thank you, Lisa, for a great experience!
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Click here to see more about Meltdown DIY Studio.

Written by Britt Burr

Britt serves as Barrier-Free's Creative Director.  As Creative Director she fulfills countless duties, one of which is contributing to the Barrier-Free blog.

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February Newsletter

2/22/2020

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*|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*
View this email in your browser
February Newsletter
Inclusive theater shows
Social club
Talent Showcase
Upcoming parent/counselor meeting
Intern spotlight
Purple bucket campaign
Cosmic Crime & Island Mayhem
Barrier-Free Company A & B actors have been working for 6 months to create and rehearse their original one-act musicals. 

We invite you to see our upcoming shows on March 14th and 15th at McDaniel Alumni Hall Theater!

Tickets can be purchased online or at the door for $5.

We hope to see you there!

 
Click Here to Reserve Your Tickets Online
We are seeking your input!
Please take a moment to give us your input about Barrier-Free merchandise. 

No personal information requested.

 
Click Here to Give Us Your Input
Social Clubs
Barrier-Free Social Clubbers recently enjoyed two awesome Social Clubs to Meltdown DIY Studio in January and Dave & Buster's in February!

Social Club is a Barrier-Free program for adults 18+ with disabilities to share in a monthly outing with friends.  Social Club promotes friendship, social skills, and independence in society. 

Many thanks to our awesome staff Evan Darr, Laura Stall, & Grace Thompson for helping to staff these events.

Visit our Social Club Gallery to see all the highlights!
Want in on the Social Club fun?
Join us for Hibachi Hangout!  Cost to register is $10 as this is a staffed event.

Please bring cash or card payment to cover your meal.

7 of 24 spots remaining!

 
Click Here to Register
Talent Showcase Now Enrolling!
Ready to hone your performances skills cabaret-style to create performance pieces to share in our talent showcase?
Have a talent you're ready to show to the world?  Ready to work in a duet, trio, or group to perform?
This is your time to shine!  No specific talents required!

We will spend 7 weeks rehearsing, polishing, and preparing our talents to share.  The Talent Showcase class will culminate with a performance on the 8th week to share our hard work with friends, family, and community members.

 
Click Here to Register
Are you a parent or counselor of an Inclusive Theater Company actor?

Join us at our upcoming updates meeting for next season!
Intern Spotlight - Jasmine White
Jasmine is a junior and psychology major at McDaniel College.  In her downtime, Jasmine enjoys spending time with her family and friends.  She looks forward every week to working with such an awesome group of people and is grateful for the opportunity to work with Barrier-Free.
Purple Bucket Campaign Kicks Off March 1st
Beginning March 1st Barrier-Free's direct donation campaign kicks off!

Our campaign goal is $2000. 

We are campaigning to keep our programs high-quality, affordable, and accessible for years to come.

Did you know our Inclusive Theater Companies and Classes cost less than $10 per class/rehearsal? 

Tuition for companies and classes cover only a small portion of Barrier-Free's operational costs.  We are largely sustained through generous donations and community partnerships. 

We appreciate your contributions and support to spread the word about our campaign.

Why the purple bucket?  Read our story to find out!

Uploaded by Lauren Burr

Lauren serves as Barrier-Free's Director of Operations.  As part of her position, she manages Barrier-Free email campaigns which she shares and preserves on Barrier-Free's blog.

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    About our Blog

    The Barrier-Free blog exists as a space to share Barrier-Free news, helpful information, and a creative sharing space.

    ​Enjoy!

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Website Design by Lauren Burr
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 7520 Main Street #103 Sykesville, MD 21784   |   Email: info@barrierfreemd.com    |   Phone: 301-799-8669 (text preferred)   |   EIN: 84-2964880
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We are proud to be funded in part by a Community Arts Development Grant from the Carroll County Arts Council and the Maryland State Arts Council
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We are proud to be funded in part by a Safeway Foundation Grant
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Barrier-Free is committed to providing access to our web pages for individuals with disabilities. The content of this site has been tested for usability and accessibility using a combination of standards-based, automated procedures and accepted heuristic methods. We make every effort to comply with the requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. Compliance is an ongoing process and we encourage notification when information on our website is inaccessible. If for any reason you are having difficulty accessing any of our resources please contact  Lauren Burr, Executive Director at laurenburr@barrierfreemd.com.

  • Home
  • About
    • Mission & Vision
    • Our Story & Core Values
    • Meet the Team
    • Booking Barrier-Free
    • Calendar
    • Stay Connected
  • Programs
    • Inclusive Theater Companies
    • Life Skills & Social Studio >
      • Intake for New Members
      • Weekly Registration
      • Studio FAQ
    • Individual Skill Coaching
    • Expressive Arts Programs
    • Music Studio >
      • Music Studio New Members
      • Weekly Registration
    • OUT Loud
    • Social Club
  • Get Involved
    • Enroll
    • Attend an Event
    • Internships
    • Volunteer
    • Jobs
  • Media
  • Blog
  • Store
  • Donate
    • Sponsorship Levels