Dearborn Specials/Arts and Recreation Enabling (DS/ARE) is an extraordinary recreation program for adults with disabilities.
All counties are welcome to attend; most participants are from Wayne and Oakland. And we always include family, friends and caretakers to participate with anyone involved. The Dearborn Recreation & Parks Department has sponsored the Dearborn Specials/Arts & Recreation Enabling for over two decades. We stay strong together!
During the summer, the DS/ARE programs include picnics, bowling and a swim program. During the rest of the year we have fun at gym and swim nights, our monthly dances, pizza bingo and holiday crafts. Most of the programs are conducted at The Ford Community and Performing Arts Center in Dearborn. Bowling is held at Skore Lanes in Taylor and our picnics are held outside at Ford Field. The individuals that participate have disabilities such as Downs Syndrome, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy, Diabetes, Trainable Mentally Impaired (TMI), Emotionally Mentally Impaired (EMI), Severely Multiply Impaired (SXI). Some of the benefits of our program include physical exercise, intellectually increasing personal abilities, emotionally improving self-esteem and social interaction with peers and others. We offer social integration within all of our programs.
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Over the past 12 years I have seen a successful number of people have extraordinary outcomes because of their participation in our program. Several participants with different forms of autism have improved their lives by learning swimming techniques. This has increased their safety in or around pools and lakes. And swimmer’s parents have commended the program because what they have learned through repetition. Many participants with TMI have learned major basketball skills, i.e., dribbling and shooting. They also learn to be on a team with teammates while playing noodle hockey or volleyball. Besides those games, other favorites include t-ball, kickball and dodge ball. All activities are adaptive recreation to provide individuals with experiences that last a lifetime.
The dances are some of the most successful events in the DS/ARE program. No matter what disability a person may have music is an upbeat tempo that all individuals can appreciate. Our 2012 Halloween Dance was the best ever; 272 people attended and we blew the night away with howling music, crazy fun dances and a costume contest judged by volunteers. Mark Hankins is our resident D.J. and has helped our group every month for the past 20 years or so. In the past few years we have had volunteers from Teen Kiwanis and they have been a tremendous help. They help serve refreshments, dance and socialize with the participants.
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Who makes all this happen and why? I am Camille Gibson and I have been working for this program for over twelve years. I graduated from Wayne State University in 1997 with a Bachelors of Science in Parks & Recreation with an emphasis in Therapeutic Recreation. I absolutely love my job and all the wonderful people I work with. My goal is to involve people in activities they enjoy and help them learn and have lots of fun while participating. I could never run my programs without the best staff in the world. My assistants are Gene, Jim, Shelia, Kevin, Andrea and they are the best workers in the world because they love working with the folks in the DS/ARE program.
Help our community help you! Help support and spread the word about the DS/ARE!
DS/ARE Mission Statement: To enhance the physical, intellectual, emotional and social well-being to individuals with disabilities. To offer high quality recreation programs that people enjoy with family and friends in a fun and safe environment.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at :
Camille Gibson~Recreation Specialist
(313)943-2350 ext. 5517
To see a calendar of our events please visit:
