SPecially Adapted Resource Centers - SPARC

SPecially Adapted Resource Centers - SPARC SPARC is a therapeutic recreational day program serving adults in Northern Virginia with multiple and severe disabilities and their families.

For more info head to www.sparcsolutions.org.

09/04/2026

This week, participants used the Makey Makeys, setting up the technology themselves. There were two highlights this week. The first was at SPARC Reston, where Taku---a participant who often does not engage with art activities---pressed the Makey Makey button with the support of his staff, Tika. Once they pressed the button, the app began to play music, with Taku as its DJ. Taku smiled widely both when he was pressing the button, and then again later when Tika continued DJing with him nearby. The second highlight was with Christiana who used the Makey Makey to play soccer! It took her a few tries to learn the game, but once she did, her DSP, Tori, took a step back and Christiana played on her own. She scored goal after goal, exclaiming: "It was easy!" and "Thanks, Nicky." Participants are getting excited for the upcoming weeks where we'll begin to build and code our final arcade games!

Things got a little WILD at SPARC~ McLean today! In honor of National Wildlife Day, our participants traded McLean for t...
09/04/2026

Things got a little WILD at SPARC~ McLean today!

In honor of National Wildlife Day, our participants traded McLean for the wilds of the SPARC safari and put their best scouting skills to the test!

First things first: no respectable explorer heads out without the proper gear. Participants created their own binoculars, then set off on an expedition to find some cleverly hidden wildlife.

And apparently, our “wildlife” was feeling a little mischievous. Some of the animals moved throughout the day, which meant our explorers had to rely on sharp eyes, good memories, and a healthy dose of “Wait…wasn’t that over THERE before?!”

Once we had thoroughly searched the SPARC wilderness, it was time for Safari Jeopardy! Our crew put their wildlife knowledge to the test, proving that learning is a whole lot more fun when there might be a lion hiding around the corner.

And if today’s safari has you feeling a little wild too, the adventure is just beginning!

Join us on November 14 for An Evening to SPARCle, our safari-themed annual gala! Come celebrate the incredible people who make SPARC such a joyful, adventurous community while helping make many more days like this possible.

Grab your ticket, put on your safari best, and join the SPARC herd for a wildly wonderful evening!

https://www.facebook.com/events/washington-dulles-airport-marriott/evening-to-sparcle/1044067221959016/

Things got VERY serious at SPARC Arlington today. And by serious, we mean team shirts, secret lunchtime practice session...
09/03/2026

Things got VERY serious at SPARC Arlington today. And by serious, we mean team shirts, secret lunchtime practice sessions, strategic ramp adjustments, and a whole lot of cheering.

Before the great SPARC Bowling Showdown could begin, our teams had important business to handle: decorating their team shirts and choosing names worthy of bowling glory.

Then came lunch…or, as a few particularly determined competitors apparently saw it, an opportunity for a covert practice session. A little ramp positioning here. A little aim adjustment there. Clearly, people had their eyes on the prize!

Once competition began, Arlington was ROCKING. Strikes! Spares! Cheers! Helpful tips! Participants and DSPs celebrated great rolls and helped each other figure out what might work even better on the next one.

And when the final pins had fallen, Christiana claimed the crown! She had been on a roll since our morning games and carried that momentum straight through the competition!

But our favorite part wasn’t the winning score. It was watching a room full of competitors become one giant cheering section for each other.

Because at SPARC, you can absolutely want to win…

and still want everyone around you to do their very best.

Now THAT is how we roll.

OKAY… WHO NEEDS A VACATION?!Because this is a BIG one for the Evening to SPARCle auction!How does SEVEN NIGHTS in a luxu...
09/02/2026

OKAY… WHO NEEDS A VACATION?!

Because this is a BIG one for the Evening to SPARCle auction!

How does SEVEN NIGHTS in a luxury oceanfront condo in Myrtle Beach sound?

One lucky bidder can enjoy a two bedroom, two bathroom oceanfront suite at Ocean Enclave by Hilton Grand Vacations, complete with a private balcony, full kitchen, living room and room for up to SIX people. And this incredible getaway is valued at up to $7,500!

Even better? The winner can choose a week in Fall 2026 or any available week in 2027. And if Myrtle Beach isn't calling your name, there may be other destinations available, including Hawaii, Sint Maarten, Sedona, Orlando, Las Vegas, Williamsburg and more!

So start thinking…

👯 Girls’ getaway?
❤️ Romantic escape?
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family vacation?
🌴 Seven glorious days of doing absolutely nothing?

Whatever your vacation style, THIS is an auction item worth fighting for!

And the very best part? While you’re bidding on an amazing vacation, you’re helping SPARC create friendship, connection, adventure and belonging for adults with disabilities.

Vacation for you. More SPARC for them. That sounds like a win win to us.

09/02/2026

No bowling ramp? No problem. We’ll make one.

Today at SPARC, somebody had an idea.

We wanted to bowl. We had participants who use wheelchairs. We didn’t have an adapted bowling ramp.

We DID have a materials closet.

So, naturally, we raided it.

A little experimenting, a little problem solving, and probably a few “What if we try THIS?” moments later… BOOM. Bowling ramp.

And then came the best part: bowling!

This is what we love about SPARC. When something gets in the way, we don’t assume the person needs to change. Sometimes the ramp does. Sometimes the rules do. Sometimes you just need some random stuff from the closet and people willing to figure it out together.

The goal isn’t to help someone watch the fun. It’s to make sure they can be right in the middle of it.

And today, they were.

From Gunston Hall to SPARC Reston! 🌱Look what’s growing at our Reston Center! On a recent SPARC outing to historic Gunst...
09/01/2026

From Gunston Hall to SPARC Reston! 🌱

Look what’s growing at our Reston Center!

On a recent SPARC outing to historic Gunston Hall, our participants didn’t just bring home great memories. They brought home seeds! Those seeds are now becoming green onions in our very own little SPARC garden.

And that makes this tiny garden extra fun. Gunston Hall’s restored Riverside Garden grows flowers, herbs, fruits and vegetables inspired by plants that would have been familiar in 18th century Virginia. Today, its gardeners grow historic varieties of produce, and the property is even restoring orchards with peaches, plums, pears, apples, cherries, grapes and more.

So our little green onions have some pretty impressive garden roots!

Today the crafting table became the heart of SPARC ~ Reston, with the entire group gathered around it together for an af...
09/01/2026

Today the crafting table became the heart of SPARC ~ Reston, with the entire group gathered around it together for an afternoon of ocean-themed sand art, homemade wind chimes, and miniature boats built step by step from multi-part instructions. The boats in particular tested patience and focus, with participants working through each stage carefully before proudly displaying their finished vessels. But the real highlight wasn’t any single craft, it was the shared table itself. Instead of splitting off into smaller activities, everyone stayed together, trading ideas, comparing designs, and keeping up a steady stream of conversation as the projects came together. It was a reminder that sometimes the best programming isn’t about what’s being made, but about who’s making it side by side.

Today’s sparkle of magic happened as we gathered together at SPARC~Arlington to welcome back one of our absolute favorit...
09/01/2026

Today’s sparkle of magic happened as we gathered together at SPARC~Arlington to welcome back one of our absolute favorite guests; our amazing Zumba instructor, Line! Let’s face it, following along with a screen just isn’t quite the same as having Line in the room, bringing her energy, encouragement, and all of our favorite songs to life!

Zumba has always been a SPARC favorite because it’s about so much more than exercise. Adaptive fitness programs give everyone the opportunity to get moving in ways that work for their individual abilities while building confidence, supporting physical wellness, encouraging communication, and creating meaningful connections with friends.

There’s something truly special about seeing a room come alive through music and movement, singing along, dancing together, cheering one another on, and simply enjoying the moment. Having access to inclusive and adaptive exercise opportunities like Zumba helps ensure that everyone has the chance to experience the joy, community, and empowerment that comes from moving their bodies and having FUN while doing it!

Welcome back, Line! We missed you, and we can’t wait to groove with you again!

At SPARC ~ McLean, our Day of Music turned into something bigger than a playlist — it became a lesson in how simple laye...
08/31/2026

At SPARC ~ McLean, our Day of Music turned into something bigger than a playlist — it became a lesson in how simple layers can build into something real. Using a looper pedal, participants built jingles from the ground up, starting with a single chord progression on keyboard, then adding rhythm, then guitar, then voices through the mic, until a room full of small contributions turned into a full song with a dozen or more layers stacked on top of each other. But the real highlight of the day was one of our newest participants, who has struggled to engage since he arrived and has spent most of his time so far pacing the room. Today, the tambourine and drums pulled him in. He sat down, played along, and heard his own sound get folded into the song the group was building together. For a few minutes, he wasn’t pacing, he was part of something, and that shift is exactly the kind of moment we hope for.

Address

1775 Tysons Boulevard Fifth Floor
Tysons Corner, VA
22102

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 2pm
Tuesday 10am - 2pm

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