welcome
Using Music and Arts to Transform Lives
ARTS FOR ALL ABILITIES
METHODS
Inventive and person-first oriented, we incorporate a student’s choices and then instruct use adaptive language and creative ways to help immerse and engage our students in their art form so they can be playing an instrument, painting, or dancing within minutes of their first lesson.
ADAPTIVE ARTS
help us help students become the artists that they wish to be! Adaptive Arts is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Tuition covers 70% of our operating costs, and philanthropic dollars make up the rest, including scholarships for students who need assistance.
oUR vISION, oUR VALUES
Our Vision
Adaptive Arts believes in the power of artists and community working together. Our special needs community is critically underrepresented in the performing arts: identifying this, Adaptive Art’s solution is to build an inclusive performing arts school in the greater South Bend area that caters to a performer’s ability.
Our Values
We believe in relationship-based education – the emphasis is placed on getting to know our students as individuals before we jump into the curriculum. Our favorite question to ask – how can I teach you if I do not know you?
Our Mission, Our Vision, Our Values
Our Mission
Adaptive Arts believes in helping students of ALL ABILITIES find their performance and artistic expression through traditional and adaptive means.
Our Vision
Adaptive Arts believes in the power of artists and community working together. Our special needs community is critically underrepresented in the performing arts: identifying this, Adaptive Art’s solution is to build an inclusive performing arts school in the greater South Bend area that caters to a performer’s ability.
Our Values
We believe in relationship-based education – the emphasis is placed on getting to know our students as individuals before we jump into the curriculum. Our favorite question to ask – how can I teach you if I do not know you?
A Word
From Our Founder, Jetta Cruse
“MPAAAC opened its doors in November 2017 with a mission to help students of any ability find their performance and artistic expression through traditional and adaptive means. It’s not only a beautiful thing, it’s a necessary thing. Artists come in all shapes, sizes and abilities.”
“As a performing artist in the community, performing and doing shows and traveling, I would meet people with different abilities, and we’d become friends over the years. They raised my awareness. I realized musical education opportunities were lacking for individuals with “different abilities.”
“We don’t hire special educators and teach them how to play guitar. The reason is because I don’t need them to know the person’s disability. I need them to get to know the person. One of the school’s pillars is relationship-based education, because, ‘How can I teach you if I don’t know you?‘”
– Jetta Cruse
Adaptive Arts introduces, Mr. Patrick Sweeney, our new Director of Curriculum. WELCOME PATRICK!
Already immersed in the benefits of adaptive music education, Patrick uses those skill daily, as a Spanish and Music teacher at Edison Lakes Montessori.
His quality and standards in teaching are in alignment with our core value of relationships-based education. His sensitive and compassionate spirit fits our mission perfectly; the proof is on the smiles of his students.
Patrick is helping expand our program offerings, so look for new classes to roll out in Session 1, January 4th, 2021.
– Jetta Cruse

Calendar
Our Upcoming Curricular Events & Activities
01
May
May PTA Meeting
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Event Info
12
May
Parent Teach Conferences
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Event Info
14
May
National Holiday – No School
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Event Info
22
May
Staff Appreciation Week
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Event Info
29
May
State Testing Begins
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Event Info
04
June
6th Grade Graduation
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Event Info
Our School
What Is Adaptive Arts?
Live Performances
Students interested in taking their art to the stage are encouraged to do so in our annual student showcases. RockABILITY and SHINE ON! benefit concerts have frown so large we can’t fit into the smaller venues -we hope to grow so large that we have to move to the area’s larger performing art theatres. These concerts currently have a cast of 75 with over 600 guests in attendance. They are our best way to show our mission in action and are our main source of fundraising for our art and scholarship programs. The students take stage and are backed up by region’s best musicians, affectionately known as, the Chopped Liver Orchestra (CLO).
Adaptive Devices "Adaptives"
Adaptive Arts works with community members to create adaptive devices to help individuals play traditional instruments more comfortably, by adapting the instrument to their cognitive or physical challenge.
Instrument Adoptions
Adaptive Arts receives working, donated instruments and adopts them out to students who need them.
Scholarships
We currently provide 3000 lessons a year. With COVID-19’s impact on our community, we have an ever growing need to reach out to more students with a sense of community connection, one of the added benefits of our small group lessons. Isolation and interrupted routines add additional stress to us all, but even more so for individuals with special needs. One silver-lining in this pandemic? We are now able to teach anywhere the internet goes. It has erased our borders. Adaptive Arts is seizing the opportunity to reach out to more students needing art education, training, and social engagement. We have a goal to provide 4000 Lessons for students who have a desire to connect with friends, play music, create art, dance, and have a fabulous time. All of this combined with learning, training, celebrating and a huge showcase finale for friends, family, and the community-proves that the arts are for all abilities!
Blog
Our News & Announcements
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jerzee
I have yet to see a child that doesn't respond to her way of communicating with them. They all love and want her attention and love in return.
luke
This is a phenomenal class! Jetta is amazing. Her love of music and love of her students is touching.
jacob
This is nothing short of top shelf, as my son is making progress in Jetta's class. Thank you so much for your time and hard work.
Students
After School programs
Faculty
Years Established
Get In Touch
Location: 1243 Divi St., San Francisco, CA 92421
Telephone: (435) 123-3566
Email: hello@divi.edu
School Hours: M-F: 8am – 3pm
Non-Discrimination Policy
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