Program Name: C.A.R Creative Recreative
Focus: Socialization, recreation and education
Sponsor: Community Association for Rehabilitation
Director: Misty Blair
Address:
Palo Alto Site:
3864 Middlefield Road
Palo Alto, CA 94306
San Jose Site
4250 Latimer Avenue
San Jose, CA
District: Palo Alto Unified
County: San Mateo
Phone Number: 650-618-3353
Fax Number: 650-855-9710
Email: info@c-a-r.org
Website: www.c-a-r.org
Type: After school program for children with developmental disabilities
Schedule: 2:30 pm - 6 pm school year/9 am - 6 pm summer camp
Ages: 5-22 years
Capacity: 20
Membership/Pricing: Regional center funding or private pay
Setting: On site classroom and outdoor recreation area.
Community outings within walking distance or via the agency van
History: .A.R was founded in 1963 for children with mental retardation. The services expanded to include the Creative Recreation afterschool program to serve children with developmental disabilities in general.
Support: Respite Services, Swim and Adapted Swim, Computers
Notes: Creative Recreation is an after-school recreation and community-integration program that provides developmentally disabled children and young adults, age 5 to 22 years old, the opportunity to socialize while learning the daily skills needed for future independent community living. Located in Palo Alto and San Jose, CA, the program primary focus is on socialization and peer interaction so participants can develop the skills necessary to transition into integrated community recreation programs.
Slogan: Discover the Abilities in Disabilities

The programs provide safe and structured environments where clients can:

Develop social skills to make and maintain friendships with peers

Learn independence and gain new experiences through community outings

Implement strategies to increase social skills and desirable behaviors

Adaptive physical education to develop motor skills, coordination, and cooperative play. Typical recreation activities, sports and games are modified to enhance participation. Swim and water safety lessons are held at the Betty Wright Swim Center Adaptive Cooking lessons teach food preparation using measurement utensils and cooking equipment as well as proper clean up and storage of food stuffs.

Art sessions encourage creative expression using various materials including paper, paint, clay, pencils, crayons, chalk, balloons, fabric, etc

Reading sessions provide the opportunity for peers to read to the group while others listen so they learn both presentation and concentration skills

Sensory Activities generate diverse experience with a variety of textures and smells including play dough, shaving cream, bubbles, etc

Community outings are age appropriate and provide opportunities to generalize trainings to a wide-range of community settings such as restaurants, stores, movie theaters, museums, libraries, amusement parks, and malls.