Arc Broward cut the ribbon Thursday night at its new Academy of Arts and Recreation in Oakland Park, opening a dedicated space where teens and young adults with disabilities can build job skills, explore the arts and prepare for life after school. The ceremony celebrated a program the organization first announced in September.
According to WSVN, the celebration took place at the academy's home on North Dixie Highway, where Arc Broward said the new program is geared toward preparing young adults for independence. The site sits at 3421 North Dixie Highway, according to an announcement posted by arcbroward.com back on September 8, when the organization first revealed plans for what it called its eastward expansion.
The academy is designed for young adults with disabilities between the ages of 16 and 26, per that same September announcement. The program splits its approach by age group: participants ages 16 to 21 receive transition support services, while those 22 to 26 continue building independence and workforce skills after aging out of the transition phase, the organization's program page explains.
Arts, Job Skills and Community Learning
Day to day, the academy is built around three pillars — job readiness and early workforce skills, creative expression through visual, digital and performing arts, and community-based learning paired with volunteer opportunities, according to the program description. WSVN's report similarly notes that the academy will help teenagers and young adults develop job readiness skills alongside visual, digital and performing arts activities, plus volunteer and community experiences.
Arc Broward says every participant works from individualized goals and supports tailored to their needs, interests and future plans, rather than a one-size-fits-all curriculum. The organization maintains a staff-to-participant ratio of 1:10, a figure it highlighted in its initial September announcement of the academy.
Weekday Hours and What Comes Next
The academy runs Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., giving families a consistent weekday schedule built around the job-training and arts activities offered on site. Thursday's ribbon-cutting celebrated a program Arc Broward said had recently launched by September 8, with the Oakland Park location serving as a resource aimed squarely at helping young people with disabilities move toward independence.
