Walnut Creek Presents Spring Camps, 1st-Ever Disability Resource Fair

WALNUT CREEK, CA—Walnut Creek Arts + Rec has announced a lineup of March programming benefitting families around the East Bay, including spring break camps for kids and their first-ever resource fair for East Bay residents with disabilities.

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, an occasion for the Arts + Rec department to continue its recent efforts to grow its services and support for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, or IDD, according to Kyra Dixon, program coordinator.

“We’re so proud to host this new IDD Resource Fair,” Dixon said. “A major goal for Arts + Rec in recent years has been expanding our services to make sure that we are being truly accessible to as many community members as we can. We are also looking forward to creating a safe and welcoming space for the community to meet each other and build connections.”

The department also recently received certification in November as a Sensory Inclusive Venue for its popular Shadelands Art Center. The certification involved detailed staff training and the addition of new “sensory kits” to the facility with tools like noise cancelling headphones that help guests with special sensory needs.

“Inclusivity for all is a core tenet for Arts + Rec, and this new IDD Fair event adds to that,” Dixon said. “We encourage local vendors who offer support for people with disabilities to sign up and attend.”

The free IDD Resource Fair is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 29, at the Heather Farm Community Center, 301 N. San Carlos Dr. in Walnut Creek. The fair features tables and vendors from local organizations offering various support services for those with disabilities. All fair attendees get to enter a raffle.

With spring break coming up for local schools, Arts + Rec staff reminded families that now is the time to sign up for their spring break camps for kids up to 14 years old. In addition to sports and arts camps, the department is also offering four new STEM-centered camps this year in conjunction with Code Ninjas:

● Multi Sports Camps
● Arts Camps
● Become a YouTuber
● Robotics with Lego Juniors
● Robotics with Lego
● Introduction to Roblox

Sign up for camps and other upcoming spring programming and events on the department's website.