Creative Identity

Creative Identity's Therapeutic Music and Expressive Arts Program

Creative Identity is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Orange County, CA whose mission is to improve the quality of life and societal perceptions of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) by providing therapeutic and educational interventions that cultivate personal and social responsibilities, pre-vocational skills, independence, and creative potentials. Creative Identity was founded in 1996 by George J. Gilliam, a Registered Music Therapist and a professional jazz guitar recording artist, who felt compelled to give back to the community, especially to adults with IDD who lacked opportunities to develop their musical and artistic abilities, participate in meaningful community inclusion, and be part of the cultural dialogue. Creative Identity’s unwavering dedication to the transformative power of creativity and inclusion has positively impacted the lives of adults with IDD, their families, and the wider community. Due to the systemic marginalization of people with disabilities, many people lack experience with and exposure to adults with IDD. As a result, adults with IDD are often defined by their limitations and regarded as non-productive people. In our communities, adults with IDD face great difficulty transcending these negative societal perceptions and have been denied artistic expression due to being excluded from traditional fine arts education and opportunities to showcase their musical and artistic talents. We focus on serving this unique group of people, specifically adults with mild to severe IDD whose diagnoses include Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and seizure disorder. Creative Identity is committed to raising awareness about what adults with IDD can do when provided with individualized education, promoting accessibility and inclusion, and championing the dignity and rights of individuals with IDD. Our day programs, located in Anaheim and Laguna Beach, provide adults with IDD year-round access to music, art, and pre-vocational skill-building educational classes between 8:00 am - 2:00 pm, Monday - Friday. These classes address a variety of their needs including access to fine arts education, community involvement, freedom to express themselves artistically, and opportunities to share their creative accomplishments with their communities through musical concerts and art exhibitions of their work. We provide fine arts instruction to adults with IDD in an intimate setting with a 4:1 ratio (participants to staff) to ensure that each individual's unique needs are met. Through participating in fine arts skill-building classes, adults with IDD also develop other transferable skills such as the ability to work collaboratively and independently, attention span, hand-eye coordination, coping skills, social skills, and communication skills, all of which enhance their quality of life and are transferable to all areas of their lives. Our visual art department provides diverse options to participants through expressive art mediums including: - Acrylic, silk & watercolor painting - Jewelry - Ceramics - Mixed media An assisted art concept is utilized, which incorporates gentle guidance, such as hand-over-hand assistance, to take each participant beyond what they have been able to do in the past and reach for the highest level of mastery they can attain. Assistance is gradually diminished as individuals increase in independence and become more self-reliant. Participant-created artwork and ceramic ware are sold at community-based events throughout the year where they can earn a commission, which provides them with increased economic opportunities. Our music department staff curates music education classes that build participants' musical skills and self-esteem, including: - Voice - Guitar - Violin & cello ensemble - Dulcimer - Ukulele - Tone chimes - Percussion - Keyboards As performance dates approach, group rehearsals also become an important part of the curriculum and foster the development of attention span, interpersonal skills, and confidence. Music instruction is guided by a therapeutic approach, which involves accommodating individual abilities and providing instruction to participants which, with practice, gradually increases their skill levels. Adaptive methods, such as conducting with alphabet sign language, are implemented when needed to ensure that every participant experiences success. Our programs utilize the natural strengths and skills of adults with IDD to help them achieve independence, community involvement, inclusion, integration, and self-esteem. We measure the effectiveness of our therapeutic interventions and educational programs by developing and tracking individual goals and objectives for each participant. Over time, over 95% of the adults we serve make progress in areas related to pre-vocational, social, and fine arts skills which not only improves their quality of life by increasing overall independence and self-worth but also enhances the lives of their families and those around them who get to witness and experience their transformation. Throughout the year, our program participants eagerly prepare to showcase their fine arts skills, which are developed during our classes, at numerous community-based musical performances and art exhibitions each year. These events are widely anticipated by their families, friends, and community leaders who enthusiastically show support by attending performances and purchasing their hand-made artwork and ceramic ware. These experiences strengthen the fabric of our society and help our program participants develop pride, community connectedness, self-expression, and responsibility as well as experience audience appreciation through their meaningful engagement in the fine arts community.