TAPA Mom, Samantha Sosnik, put up an annual post in May of 2016, during Williams Syndrome Awareness month. In the funny way that social media works, someone recently saw that post from more than a year ago, commented on it, and within minutes it had skyrocketed to 300 likes with dozens upon dozens of comments. Samantha’s message is… Read More »
Posts Categorized: Our Students
From Max
Some thoughts from our TAPA Intern, Max! I originally heard of TAPA through my mother’s close friend Lisa Brodwin, whose daughter, Morgan Brodwin, used to be a student at TAPA. She suggested that volunteering at TAPA would be a good Bar-Mitzvah Project for me to complete. About two weeks after I started, I quickly… Read More »
Theresa Academy Awarded Community Grant!
The Theresa Academy of Performing Arts (TAPA) was the very grateful recipient of a community grant from Autism Speaks this past January! The $5,000 grant was awarded to our after school program:” After School in the Arts—After- care with a Flair”. This program has been in existence since 2009, and has been slowly growing and gaining in popularity among the… Read More »
Best Friends
One of the perks of working at TAPA is that you often get to witness incredible moments and hear students say remarkable things. It was no exception when 12 –year-old Riley Walsh described her best friend and fellow TAPA student, Amanda Van Arken, age 21. “We’re best friends and she tells me loves me with… Read More »
Flashback: The Holidays
Thanksgiving weekend, The Theresa Foundation was once again a participant in United Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County’s Festival of the Trees. This year’s theme, “With a Song in Our Heart”, displayed handmade ornaments made by TAPA students that showed off our love for music and the holiday season! Elizabeth Connolly, TAPA’s art teacher, helped students… Read More »
“Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones, But Words Will Never Hurt Me”
President’s Letter to Guests at Theresa Foundation Awards Dinner By Susan S. Russo How sad is that childhood refrain? Especially because we all know it simply is not true. Broken bones heal, but we remember words for a lifetime. I am “numerically challenged” and often make jokes about it. But I… Read More »
The Misunderstood Child
I am the child that looks healthy and fine. I was born with ten fingers and toes. But something is different, somewhere in my mind. And what it is, nobody knows. I am the child who struggles in school. Though they say I’m perfectly smart. They tell me I’m lazy – can learn if I… Read More »
Max: Veteran Volunteer
By: Max Cohen I first learned of TAPA through Morgan Brodwin, a family friend with special needs. Her mother, Lisa, would always comment on the joy TAPA brought to Morgan and her family. At this same time, I was exploring community service and volunteer opportunities in connection with my Bar Mitzvah. Lisa suggested that I… Read More »
Yoga Greetings
I’ve happily been with TAPA for just under four months now wearing a few different hats: as administrative assistant and yoga and dance teacher. I wanted to take a moment to share with you my delight in coming on board in general, and also specifically working with the yoga students on Tuesday evenings. It is… Read More »
Celebrating the Holidays at TAPA
By: Lindsay Rogan It’s certainly true that “there’s no place like home for the holidays” but The Theresa Academy of Performing Arts is a great runner-up! The hallways are filled with Christmas tunes, the fall art on the walls are being replaced with glittery and ornate holiday creations, and lots of special events are right… Read More »