Category: Newsletters

August Bulletin

8/2/2021

Contents:
Inclusive Theater Companies
NEW Support Services
September Social Club
Studio Art Gallery
Virtual Info Session

35 days until our first rehearsal!

We're back!! Our Inclusive Theater season kicks off in September for Barrier-Free's BEST SEASON YET!! We will be creating ALL-NEW, ORIGINAL musicals!

Join your favorite Theater Leaders - Britt, Emma, Gary, Jen, Lauren, Mike E., & Music Mike for a season jam-packed with fun, creativity, and positive energy!

We will once again be performing onstage, for a live audience in March 2022!

Inclusive Theater Company A is for adults 18+ with intellectual/developmental disabilities.

Inclusive Theater Company B is for adults 18+ with autism.

Theater season starts on Monday, Sept. 13 for Co. A and Wednesday, Sept. 15 for Co. B and runs for 23 weeks!

Rehearsals will be held at the Westminster Community Center.

Click Here to Register for Co. A

Click Here to Register for Co. B

NEW Individual Support Services

In addition to our group Studio Sessions, we will now be offering a variety of add-on services to support neurodiverse individuals in becoming their best-selves.

Add-on services include academic coaching, individual life & social skill coaching, dating & relationship coaching, job coaching, and DDA self-direct support brokering.

Click Here to Learn More

September Social Club

Join us for our next Social Club on Saturday, September 25th, for a Backyard Bonfire at Emily's Wachter's home!

We will have hot dogs, chili, and make-your-own s'mores as well as an assortment of backyard games, music, and good times with friends.

All Barrier-Free social clubs are staffed to ensure a safe and fun atmosphere with friends.

Click Here to Register for the Backyard Bonfire

Studio Art Gallery

Barrier-Free's Studio members invite you to our first-ever Studio Art Gallery Open House on Friday, September 10 from 6 - 8pm or Saturday, September 11 from 1 - 4pm!

Our Studio members have been hard at work creating art, poetry, and photographs that will be available for viewing and purchase.

We look forward to welcoming the community to The Life Skills & Social Studio for this event!

Click Here for More Details

Join us on Zoom!

Seeking to learn more about all of the programs Barrier-Free offers for the neurodiverse community? Know a friend who may be interested in Barrier-Free?

Join us on Zoom Tuesday, August 17th at 7 pm for a Virtual Webinar Info Session to hear how Barrier-Free helps individuals create, express, and achieve.

Registration for this event is REQUIRED to receive the Zoom link.

Click Here to Register

Thank you for your continued support!

Pictured above: Barrier-Free"ers" Mikey & Mike at The Life Skills & Social Studio.

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July Bulletin

7/1/2021

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Contents:
NEW Classes
August Social Club
Westminster Pride Festival
Silly Songs with Music Mike
Summer Improv Showcase

Are you registered?

Building friendships and sharing special moments with a bestie is amazing...but what happens when we want something more? How do we go about doing this? How do we even know what we want? How do we go about this safely?

Join us for an 8-week class for neurodiverse adults ages 18+ where we talk about it all! We'll cover everything from the social nuances of dating and navigating relationships to sexual education, consent, and appropriate ways to communicate. This will be a judgment-free zone where neurodiverse individuals can share their anxieties and fears while asking the questions some have been too embarrassed to ask.

Class meets on Wednesdays July 14 - September 1 from 6:30 - 8:00pm at The Life Skills & Social Studio.

Click Here to Register for Dating Class

We're back!! Our Inclusive Theater season kicks off in September for Barrier-Free's BEST SEASON YET!! We will be creating ALL-NEW, ORIGINAL musicals!

Join your favorite Theater Leaders - Britt, Emma, Gary, Jen, Lauren, Mike E., & Music Mike for a season jam-packed with fun, creativity, and positive energy!

We will once again be performing onstage, for a live audience in March 2022!

Inclusive Theater Company A is for adults 18+ with intellectual/developmental disabilities.

Inclusive Theater Company B is for adults 18+ with autism.

Theater season starts on Monday, Sept. 13 for Co. A and Wednesday, Sept. 15 for Co. B and runs for 22 weeks!

Rehearsals will be held at the Westminster Community Center.

Click Here to Register for Co. A

Click Here to Register for Co. B

Stratosphere Social!

Join us for an ALL-INCLUSIVE Social Club to Stratosphere Social in Eldersburg, MD!

The $60 event fee covers:

Pizza dinner & fountain drinks
1 hour of unlimited Bowling & shoe rental OR 1 hour of trampoline park
1 hour of unlimited arcade gameplay
1 hour of unlimited axe-throwing

Barrier-Free provides staffing for all social club events to ensure participants are having a fun and safe experience.

Click Here to Register

Westminster Pride Festival

Westminster's Pride Festival returns this year on Saturday, July 10th from 12 - 6pm.

The festival will be held on E Main St in Westminster in front of Birdie's Cafe.

Barrier-Free is proud to be a vendor at this year's festival and will have a table at the event all day, sharing about our mission and programs.

We invite any interested Barrier-Free"ers" to join us at our table for the event or to stop by, check out the festival, get your FREE Barrier-Free button, and say hi!

Click Here for More About the Westminster Pride Festival

MORE Silly Songs with Music Mike!

Calling all Silly Songs fans!!

Music Mike, our talented Music Director has compiled a collection of wonderful Inclusive Theater songs for ALL to enjoy!

Check out lyric videos for "Salty Seas," "Snack Troll" and many other silly songs on Music Mike's new Youtube channel at:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7tx-TzjSh6h7e5rp4-ISOg

More Barrier-Free show favorites will be coming soon!

Songs can also be streamed on Apple Music, Amazon and Spotify-
https://music.apple.com/us/album/silly-songs/1572030476
https://www.amazon.com/Silly.../dp/B0973LBDFZ/ref=sr_1_5...
https://open.spotify.com/album/5DlJeNGFJV2YKOXAkgiPYO

Summer Improv Showcase

Our Summer Improv actors cordially invite you to attend their final Showcase on Monday, July 26th!

The Summer Improv Showcase is a small, informal event for family, friends, and Barrier-Free supporters to see the improv fun in action.

Mark your calendars!
Westminster Community Center
25 Union St Westminster, MD 21157

Thank you for your continued support!

Pictured above: Barrier-Free"ers" Alexander, Britt, Rosemary, Owen, Mike V. &, Mike E. enjoying "Directing & Design" at The Life Skills & Social Studio.

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June Bulletin

6/1/2021

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Contents:
Maryland Arts Summit
Life Skills & Social Studio Opening
Summer Improv
July Social Club
Support Barrier-Free

Catch Barrier-Free at The Maryland Arts Summit

Barrier-Free is THRILLED to be a Virtual Performer at this year's Maryland Arts Summit!

This event is FREE and available to the public but you must register by end of day TODAY, Wednesday, June 2nd in order to view the performance live.

Barrier-Free's performance will air during the closing ceremony, at approximately 1:30pm on Friday, June 4th.

Click Here to Register for The Summit

Life Skills & Social Studio Now Open

Barrier-Free's Life Skills & Social Studio opened its doors for the first session, yesterday June 1st!

Participants made new friendship connections, explored Downtown Sykesville, played an assortment of instruments during “Rhythm & Beats,” had social time, and MUCH more!

Want to be a part of the fun? Start your New Member Intake process now on our website. ALL new members receive TWO FREE sessions.

Click Here For More Details About The Studio

Summer Improv - Last Call!

Barrier-Free's beloved summer class is back for ANOTHER round of acting fun! During the course of this 8-week class, participants will learn and engage in the basics of character-based improv and sketch comedy.

New this summer, join us Mondays IN-PERSON, Wednesdays on ZOOM, or BOTH!

Click Here for Details & Registration

July Social Club

Join us for a day trip to Washington D.C. on Saturday, June 17th!

$50 covers the cost of your dinner and staffing. Please bring additional money for lunch, snacks, and souvenirs.

Carpooling is available for this event or meet us in DC. If you are interested in carpooling there will be two pickup spots. See event registration for details.

There are 8 carpool spots available for this social club and allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please indicate your transportation preference when registering.

Click Here for Details & Registration

Support Barrier-Free

Barrier-Free is need of supplies to support our programs.

Consider browsing our wishlist and adding something to your cart today to support Barrier-Free. Items automatically ship to our home office address in Clarksburg, MD.

Click Here to Browse our Wishlist

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May Bulletin

5/1/2021

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Contents:
THE BIG NEWS - Life Skills & Social Studio
Summer Improv is Back
Hershey Park, Here We Come!
New - Actor Spotlight
Maryland Arts Summit
Facebook Fundraisers

The Big News!!

Barrier-Free proudly presents, The Life Skills & Social Studio, opening in June 2021!

The mission of Barrier-Free's Studio is to support the development of life skills and social skills through an integrated-arts model with a focus on interpersonal interaction, authentic practice, and group collaboration.

The Studio, located in Historic Downtown Sykesville, is an expansion on our current programming that will allow us to offer Barrier-Free opportunities EVERY DAY.

The Life Skills & Social Studio will serve neurodiverse adults 18+ with no age cap, including those with intellectual/developmental disabilities and autism.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR OUR OPEN HOUSES!

Join us Sunday, May 16 from 1 - 3pm or Tuesday, May 18 from 4 - 6pm, to get a first look at The Life Skills & Social Studio.

Click Here For More Details About The Studio

Summer Improv is Back!

Click Here for Details & Registration

Hershey Park Here We Come!

Join us for a day trip to Hershey Park on Saturday, June 5th!

Carpooling is available for this event. There are 8 carpool spots available for this social club and allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please indicate your transportation preference when registering.

Click the link below for all the details about this awesome social club!

Click Here for Details & Registration

Jared Parrish Actor Spotlight

Jared Parrish is an all-star Barrier-Free"er" who participates in our Inclusive Theater Company B, social clubs, and numerous classes.

Recently, Jared played Robert in "I Do, I Think," Co. B's original show that premiered live on Youtube in March 2021.

In addition to Barrier-Free, Jared attends post-secondary school, rides horses, participates in Special Olympics, and more!

Thank you Jared for being willing to be a spotlighted Barrier-Free actor!

Click Here to Check Out the Full Spotlight

Maryland Arts Summit Performance

Barrier-Free is thrilled to share that we have been invited to perform at the virtual Maryland Arts Summit on June 3 & 4!

Our performance will be prerecorded and will include an introduction to Barrier-Free, an overview of our inclusive theater model, and a scene from "Salty Seas."

The Maryland Arts Summit is a FREE event and open to all!

We will be sure to share our exact date and performance time as soon as the Summit schedule is finalized.

Happy Birthday!

Facebook Birthday Fundraisers raised $986 in donations in the month of April!

THANK YOU to everyone who generously shared their birthday with Barrier-Free!

Don't Forget!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR OUR STUDIO OPEN HOUSES!

Join us Sunday, May 16 from 1 - 3pm or Tuesday, May 18 from 4 - 6pm, to get a first look at The Life Skills & Social Studio.

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April Bulletin

4/26/2021

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Contents:
Final Update - Purple Bucket Campaign
April Social Clubs
Spring Programming
Bravo Actors
Staying Connected

The Final Amount!

It's official, 56 unique donors helped raise $8530 for Barrier-Free this month.

Thank you to the families, supporters, and friends who contributed.

These funds will help Barrier-Free expand our programming while remaining affordable and accessible for all families.

April Social Clubs

Join us Friday, April 10th for our next in-person social club - Backyard Bonfire!

We'll have outdoor games, pizza, smores, and more!

This is a small-group size event to ensure social distancing can be followed.

Only 2 spots remaining!

Click Here for Details & Registration

Join us for a Spring Zoom Hangout on Friday, April 23rd!
⁣
Zoom Social Clubs are FREE and available to participants of all abilities - new and returning.⁣

Click Here for Registration

Last Call - Spring Social Series!

Spring Social Series begins Wednesday, April 7th at the Westminster Community Center!

We are excited to begin safely offering in-person programming again.

There is 1 spot remaining for this class and is open to participants of all abilities. Sign up today!

Click Here for Registration

Missed the Live Premiere?

Bravo to all of the Art of Performing actors on the premiere of their incredible shows "Abracadabra, Your Honor ?" and "I Do, I Think! "

Missed the premiere? Catch the full shows on Barrier-Free's Youtube Channel.

Staying Connected

Are you connected with us on social media?

Barrier-Free has lots of exciting news on the horizon this Spring & Summer.

Make sure you're following us to be the first-to-know.

Thank You!

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