Adaptive Art Classes at Stay Studio
Inclusive art classes for children, teens & adults with developmental disabilities
At Stay Studio, artists create, explore, and express themselves in welcoming, small-group classes designed around their individual strengths and interests. Participants explore a variety of materials, techniques, and creative projects with additional support available when needed.
Enrollment & Registration
Adaptive Art classes are $75 per hour, or $112.50 per 90-minute class. All art materials are included. When dedicated 1:1 participation support is required, an additional $50 per hour applies and must be separately authorized.
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Participants who have already been accepted into Stay Arts' Adaptive Art Program do not need to complete another intake form. Returning families receive priority registration information and direct class links through Sawyer.
If you are a returning family and have not received registration information, please call (562) 774-2056.
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All new participants begin with the Adaptive Art Intake Form. For Regional Center participants, the intake should be completed by the participant's Service Coordinator or Independent Facilitator.
1. Explore Classes
Review available classes by age and schedule.2. Submit Intake Form
The Service Coordinator or Independent Facilitator completes the intake so our team can learn about the participant's interests and support needs. Private-pay families may complete the intake directly.3. Review & Placement
Our team reviews the intake and may request additional information before making a placement decision. Submission of an intake does not guarantee acceptance or enrollment.4. Register Through Sawyer
Accepted participants receive a private Sawyer registration link for the recommended class. Regional Center participants must also have the appropriate service authorization in place before attending.
Explore Classes
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Adaptive Art | Ages 16–24
Participants will explore clay, zine-making, tin embossing, painting, watercolor, abstract drawing, mixed media, and more.
Fall Semester: Sept. 14–Dec. 14
Schedule: Mondays | 4:00–5:30pm
Ages: 16–24 -
Adaptive Art | Ages 18+
Participants may attend once or twice per week based on enrollment and approved services.
Fall Semester: Sept. 15–Dec. 17
Schedule: Tuesdays & Thursdays | 2:30–4:00pm
Ages: 18+ -
Adaptive Art | Ages 8–12
Participants will explore printmaking, watercolor, mixed media, music-inspired art, sculpture, and more.
Fall Semester: Sept. 15–Dec. 15
Schedule: Tuesdays | 4:00–5:30pm
Ages: 8–12 -
Adaptive Art | Ages 13–17
Participants will explore still life drawing, acrylic painting, watercolor, printmaking, mixed media, and more.
Fall Semester: Sept. 17–Dec. 17
Schedule: Thursdays | 4:00–5:30pm
Ages: 13–17 -
Adaptive Art | Ages 5–8
Young artists explore drawing, painting, mixed media, and playful hands-on projects in a smaller group setting with additional individualized support.
Fall Semester: Sept. 19–Dec. 19
Schedule: Saturdays | 12:00–1:30pm
Ages: 5–8 -
Looking for Youth Art Classes?
Stay Studio also offers Youth Art Classes for ages 5–16 in drawing & painting, visual art, comics, digital art, and more.
Explore our Youth Art Classes to find additional creative opportunities for your young artist.
Adaptive Art Intake Form
Ready to get started? All new participants begin by completing our Adaptive Art Intake Form.
The intake helps our team learn about the participant’s communication, support needs, interests, and goals so we can recommend the class setting and level of support that may be the best fit.
Regional Center participants: Please ask your Regional Center Service Coordinator or Independent Facilitator to complete the intake form on the participant’s behalf. Once submitted, our team will review the intake and follow up with next steps for placement and enrollment.
Families interested in participating through private pay may also complete the intake directly. Private-pay participants are responsible for the full program tuition.
Adaptive Art is a social-recreational community program with classes limited to 8 participants. Submission of an intake does not guarantee placement. Our team will review each submission and contact the family, Service Coordinator, or Independent Facilitator with next steps.
Program Details
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Adaptive Art is a social-recreational art program designed to create meaningful opportunities for artistic exploration, creative expression, and connection. Classes take place in smaller groups with additional classroom support so teaching artists can respond to participants' individual needs while creating alongside peers.
Our program is non-clinical and focuses on the experience of making art, exploring materials, developing creative interests, and participating in a supportive community environment.
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Our Fall 2026 semester runs from September through December. Classes meet for 90 minutes at Stay Studio. Depending on the class and participant's enrollment, classes may meet once or twice per week.
Projects and materials vary throughout the semester and may include drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, mixed media, photography, and other creative practices.
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Adaptive Art classes are $75 per hour, or $112.50 per 90-minute class.
When a participant requires dedicated 1:1 support, an additional $50 per hour is added. The need for 1:1 support is determined by Stay Arts through the Participant Intake process based on the level of support needed for successful participation in the class environment.
Regional Center participants may use approved Social Recreation funding for eligible services. Private-pay enrollment is also available.
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Stay Arts works with Regional Center participants through approved Social Recreation funding. New participants should have their Service Coordinator or Independent Facilitator complete the Participant Intake Form before registering.
After intake review and acceptance, Stay Arts provides the family with a private Sawyer registration link and the information needed to request service authorization for the recommended class and level of support.
Returning participants do not need to submit another intake unless Stay Arts requests updated information. Returning families receive priority registration information directly through Sawyer and should coordinate any new or updated service authorization with their Regional Center team.
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All art materials and supplies are included with enrollment. Participants have access to a wide range of quality materials selected for each class and project.
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Our goal is to help each participant join the class environment that can best support their experience. Completing an Adaptive Art intake does not automatically mean a participant will be placed in an Adaptive Art class. Depending on age, interests, support needs, and the classroom environment, our team may recommend an Adaptive Art class or one of our Youth Art Classes.
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Please review our Adaptive Art Policies for information about attendance, cancellations, health and safety, student expectations, and enrollment adjustments.
Why Families Love Our Classes
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Our smaller class settings allow teaching artists and support staff to respond to participants' individual communication, learning, sensory, and participation needs. When dedicated 1:1 support is needed, our team will identify that level of support through the intake process.
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Our teaching artists have experience working with people of different ages, backgrounds, abilities, and learning styles. Many are also local artists and creative professionals with active artistic practices. They bring both their experience as artists and educators into the classroom. Our team members are background-checked and CPR-certified.
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Classes take place at Stay Studio, our community art studio, gallery, and creative space in Downey, California. Participants create with quality art materials in an inspiring studio environment surrounded by local artwork.
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Our classes focus on exploration, expression, and meaningful participation rather than perfection. Participants are encouraged to engage with art in ways that reflect their interests, abilities, and individual creative voice.
What Parents Are Saying
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Adaptive Art classes are designed for artists with developmental and intellectual disabilities who may benefit from a smaller group setting and additional individualized support. Classes are organized by age so participants can create alongside peers in an appropriate class environment.
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Yes. All new Adaptive Art participants and Regional Center participants interested in Stay Studio classes should complete our Participant Intake Form before registering. The intake helps our team understand the participant's interests and support needs and determine an appropriate class environment.
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Our team reviews the information provided and may follow up with the family or caregiver if additional information is needed. We then recommend an appropriate class and level of support. Approved participants receive enrollment next steps and, when applicable, information needed for Regional Center service authorization.
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Possibly! Our goal is to help each student participate in the class environment that best supports their experience. After completing the Participant Intake Form, our team will review your student's needs and may recommend an Adaptive Art class or a Youth Art Class based on the level of support and class environment that is the best fit.
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Stay Arts works with Regional Center participants through approved Social Recreation funding. Families interested in using Regional Center funding should complete our Participant Intake Form before registering. Once the participant has been approved and an appropriate class placement has been identified, our team will provide next steps for enrollment and service authorization.
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Adaptive Art is $75 per hour, equivalent to $112.50 for each 90-minute class. If dedicated 1:1 support is required, an additional $50 per hour applies. The need for 1:1 support is determined by Stay Arts through the Participant Intake process.
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Our team reviews each Participant Intake Form to understand the level of support a participant may need to safely and successfully participate in the class environment. When dedicated 1:1 support is recommended, our team will discuss this with the family before enrollment and include it in the participant's recommended support plan and, when applicable, Regional Center service authorization.
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Yes. Private-pay enrollment is available. All participants should complete the Participant Intake process before registering so our team can recommend the appropriate class and level of support.
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No prior art experience is required. Classes welcome participants with a range of artistic experience. Teaching artists introduce materials and techniques while encouraging participants to explore their own interests and creative ideas.
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All art materials and supplies needed for class projects are included with enrollment.
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All classes are held at Stay Studio, our community art studio, gallery, and creative space in Downey, California.
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Classes are led by Stay Arts teaching artists with experience working with people of different ages, backgrounds, abilities, and learning styles. Many of our teaching artists are also local artists and creative professionals with active practices across a variety of artistic fields. Our team brings both artistic experience and experience as educators into the classroom. All teaching artists are background-checked and CPR-certified.