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Review Special Gifts Theatre
This business has 14 positives and 1 negative.
Special Gifts Theatre Image

Special Gifts Theatre

Category: Employer, Entertainment, Service Provider/Agency, Disability-Aware Business
Phone number: (847) 564-7704
Location: P.O. Box 2231, Northbrook, IL 60065
Website: http://specialgiftstheatre.org/
Special Gifts Theatre is a not-for-profit organization that provides children and teens with special needs, a unique, creative drama experience enabling personal growth while breaking down stereotypes related to disabilities within the community at large.
Disability Aware Features:
  • Adaptive technology
  • Extra assistance available
  • Hires or would like to hire qualified individuals with disabilities
  • Offer products or services for people with disabilities
  • Physically accessible
  • Trained staff
 
Review Special Gifts Theatre
This business has 14 positives and 1 negative.
unydog
unydog
11:30am 11/30/10
Great!
Great!

Special Gifts Theatre is an amazing organization that gives individuals with any physical or mental challenges an arena to shine and feel important. Everyone is treated with the utmost respect and given a wealth of self-esteem to carry on in their everyday lives. The staff and administration are always willing to listen to any concerns or questions from not only the participants, but their parents/legal guardians as well. The mentor program is a two fold plus. The individuals that participate in this program and their mentors (buddies) all learn nothing but positive attributes that help build and nurture better adults in the future. This program is a definite must for any individual with special challenges in their lives to "be the best they can be."

Disability Awareness:   Welcoming, Talked directly to the person/people with disability, Friendly, Gave choices, Gave extra time, Respectful, Helpful with assistance or accommodation, Flexible service, Physically accessible, Accessible Parking
Atticus1015
Atticus1015
2:53pm 11/05/10
Great!
Great!

I attended the production of High School Musical put on by Special Gifts Theatre and it was phenomenal. The production was energetic and uplifting. I attended the production with a 14 year old boy with Autism and he had such a great experience and was dancing in the aisle during the finale. The staff who assisted us to our seats were very welcoming and accommodating to our specific needs.

Disability Awareness:   Welcoming, Talked directly to the person/people with disability, Friendly, Gave extra time, Respectful, Helpful with assistance or accommodation, Physically accessible
jmn
jmn
2:24pm 11/05/10
Great!
Great!

SGT is a magical place that changes the lives of both kids with special needs and kids that are typically developing . Not only are the kids with special needs given a chance to shine on stage, but they are also given the chance to form bonds with each other and their typically developing mentors that doesn't normally happen at school. Experience a full production of one of the musicals at SGT and witness just a small part of the magic of SGT.

Disability Awareness:   Welcoming, Talked directly to the person/people with disability, Friendly, Respectful, Flexible service, Other or suggestions
Kolex
Kolex
4:41am 11/05/10
Great!
Great!

Special Gifts Theatre is an outstanding organization. I have worked with SGT for the past 3 years, and I have witnessed time and time again the remarkable gifts it gives to all people involved. When you see children with disabilities beam from ear to ear each week as they come to participate you know there are incredible things happening. They have an opportunity to shine where no one makes judgements. The staff, parents and mentors are the most caring and passionate people I have met. This organization rocks on so many levels!

Disability Awareness:   Welcoming, Talked directly to the person/people with disability, Friendly, Gave choices, Gave extra time, Respectful, Helpful with assistance or accommodation, Has employees with disabilities, Flexible service, Physically accessible, Accessible Parking
Kolex
Kolex
4:41am 11/05/10
Great!
Great!

Special Gifts Theatre is an outstanding organization. I have worked with SGT for the past 3 years, and I have witnessed time and time again the remarkable gifts it gives to all people involved. When you see children with disabilities beam from ear to ear each week as they come to participate you know there are incredible things happening. They have an opportunity to shine where no one makes judgements. The staff, parents and mentors are the most caring and passionate people I have met. This organization rocks on so many levels!

Disability Awareness:   Welcoming, Talked directly to the person/people with disability, Friendly, Gave choices, Gave extra time, Respectful, Helpful with assistance or accommodation, Has employees with disabilities, Flexible service, Physically accessible, Accessible Parking
Kim
Kim
9:40pm 11/02/10
Great!
Great!

I have been working with Special Gifts Theatre for the past two years and have had the most wonderful experience! I have truly seen so much growth in the students that I have worked with. The program is designed to meet the needs of each student and it is so rewarding to see the student's progress throughout the year. The end of the season production proves how amazing this program is. Everyone should see an SGT show! :)

Disability Awareness:   Welcoming, Talked directly to the person/people with disability, Friendly, Gave choices, Gave extra time, Respectful, Helpful with assistance or accommodation, Flexible service
SMC684
SMC684
8:03am 11/02/10
Great!
Great!

I have been fortunate to be a part of Special Gifts Theater Team for two years. This is a great organization that supports the individual child and allows them to learn and grow. It is such a positive encoarging enviroment. It helps to create life long friendships, not only with the child's classmates, but also with their mentors. Special Gifts Theater is the most person centered program I have ever been a part of they truely allow every child to be a shinning star!!!!

Disability Awareness:   Welcoming, Talked directly to the person/people with disability, Friendly, Gave choices, Gave extra time, Respectful, Helpful with assistance or accommodation, Flexible service, Other or suggestions
be612
be612
9:40pm 11/01/10
Great!
Great!

Special Gifts Theater is a wonderful program. I recently just became involved in the organization. I've worked for many different organizations and programs that serve children and adults with special needs. This is the first program that i've work with that is completely student/child centered. The way that these student's IEP goals and parents requests and bring them to life is incredible. This organization really works with each child individually and helps to capitalize on their strengths. If I were to have a child with special needs I would send them through the program starting at age 3. This is a great program and I consistently recommend this program to everyone that I meet!

Disability Awareness:   Welcoming, Friendly, Gave choices, Gave extra time, Respectful, Helpful with assistance or accommodation, Physically accessible
jvotr
jvotr
6:00pm 10/31/10
Great!
Great!

I have worked at SGT for 9 years. I have watched it grow, and have seen hundreds of kids go through the program. The staff is loving, caring and true professions giving their heart and soles to helping
these children. I have watched children say their first words on our stage. I have watched relationships grow between our kids and their peer mentors. The joy and pride on the parents faces during a performance is indescribable. There is not a dry eye in the audience. Come to our show or have your child join this incredible organization and you will feel the magic that this wonderful organization provides.

Disability Awareness:   Welcoming, Talked directly to the person/people with disability, Friendly, Gave extra time, Respectful, Helpful with assistance or accommodation, Physically accessible
Birdy
Birdy
7:58pm 10/19/10
Great!
Great!

Both of my sons participate in this wonderful program, one as a peer mentor and one as a cast member. I have appreciated so many things about the program: the respect that the staff have for both my sons, their ability to treat them both with warmth kindness and compassion, and to bring out the best in them. My son who is a peer mentor has learned so much about problem solving, and developed a great friendship with his buddy. My son in the cast is appreciated for his strengths and talents, and has a great friendship with his peer mentor buddy as well. I have made friends and networked and learned a lot through other parents. The show is always both entertaining and moving, the result of a wonderful year long experience. LOVE IT!

Disability Awareness:   Welcoming, Talked directly to the person/people with disability, Friendly, Respectful, Helpful with assistance or accommodation, Physically accessible
jesusfreak
jesusfreak
10:14am 04/08/10

special gifts theater is a theater for kids with special needs this organization rocks

Disability Awareness:   Welcoming
Carol
Carol
12:47pm 03/16/10

Last Sunday, I attended the 10th anniversary performance at Special Gifts Theatre. The production was H.S. Musical and I just couldn't resist writing this list to share my positive feedback. Watching the interaction between mentors and disabled students, I couldn't help but realize that this organization is doing SO MUCH to create friendships and relationships between the world of disability and non-disability. Kids are so accepting. One child actor had such a hard time with her lines... she almost gave up. Her mentor buddy (looked about the same age) encouraged her with just the right amount of TLC (not doing it FOR her). It seems to me that SGT is doing many things right, including training those typical peer mentors. It was obvious that the two were real friends (not just master/apprentice). I loved how the actress used her peer buddy to self regulate-- a great skill to have in life as we all realize our interdependence on this planet. Great job, SGT. Happy 10th Anniversary!

Disability Awareness:   Talked directly to the person/people with disability, Friendly, Gave extra time, Respectful
advocate
advocate
8:50pm 10/11/09

While many families have had a good experience with Special Gifts Theater, we did not. Our son has high-functioning autism, and even though we were very clear about his challenges, and our modest expectations for him, he was asked to leave the program almost immediately. Attempts to convince SGT to find a way to allow our son to continue failed, and I found this organization designed for kids with special needs to lack commitment and imagination in working with kids on the spectrum. Perhaps we had an unusually unpleasant experience, and perhaps things have improved since we tried SGT. I certainly hope that's the case.

Disability Awareness:   Unwelcoming, Ignored the person/people with the disability, Inflexible service, Disrespectful, Impatient, Unwilling or unhelpful with assistance or accommodations, unimaginative and unprofessional
Special Gifts Theatre
Special Gifts Theatre
11:00am 01/07/11

Special Gifts Theatre is dedicated to providing the best experience to each child in our program. Our professional staff evaluates each new child that would like to participate. This evaluation helps us learn more about the needs of the child, parent expectations and overall goals that together we would like to try and accomplish. Most would agree, that a one on one evaluation is much different than placing a child with special needs in a new environment, with new friends and new experiences. Our ratio, which is a very high staff to student ratio (generally 1:3) enables us to work closely with each student to help them with this transition. However, there are times where some children have a more difficult time adjusting. We do try to work with each child in the program, consult with their parents, make adaptions and use additional resources if we see there may be issues. However, we must also protect our other students and staff if we find that there are extensive behavior issues that could put any of them at risk. We are unable to accept children into the program that require a one to one ratio, is a severe flight risk or a danger to themselves or others. This decision has been made because it would take our professional staff away from the other children in the program and change the ratio of staff to student that we pride ourselves on. It is our mission to do our best to provide a unique, creative drama experience to enable personal growth. We do try to make a difference in the lives of everyone we touch through respect and compassion and celebrate success at every turn!
Carol
Carol
12:09pm 06/25/09

My son participated in Special Gifts Theatre for many years and grew so much as a result of these experiences. This group works hard to provide support and training for peer mentors, who participate alongside the actors with special needs. The staff is committed, talented and accepting. Bravo for Special Gifts Theatre!

Disability Awareness:   Welcoming, Talked directly to the person/people with disability, Friendly, Gave choices, Gave extra time, Respectful, Helpful with assistance or accommodation, Flexible service, Physically accessible
TL400
TL400
8:32pm 06/24/09

SGT is for special needs kids who have disabilities who do plays there. in the fall they start it is really good theatre and it has a great peer mentor program that can help Special needs kids in the plays and be in the plays with them because it is so much fun to do if you like music dance and acting, you will love special gifts theatre. If you would like to be in it is really fun and exciting

Disability Awareness:   Welcoming, Talked directly to the person/people with disability, Friendly, Gave choices, Gave extra time, Respectful, Helpful with assistance or accommodation, Flexible service, Physically accessible