A unique opportunity for community collaboration arose when a Centenary University composition class teamed with Abilities to provide engaging virtual arts programming during the pandemic.

The spring 2021 students of Advanced Composition: Service Learning, taught by Kerry Barnett, assistant professor of English at Centenary, researched, wrote and recorded short videos on a range of fun and interesting topics intended to appeal to adults with a wide range of disabilities.

Participants in the Abilities Day Program were able to access the videos during live online meetings and offer feedback and request topics for future presentations.

“The most appealing videos presented cheerful, enthusiastic college students directly addressing the audience as friends, maintaining eye contact, and speaking clearly,” said Barnett. “These suggestions were very helpful, and being able to interact with the folks from Abilities let the writing students experience their fun, joy and enthusiasm, which really motivated the students to consider their perspective as they developed the next set of videos.”

Among the video topics suggested by the Abilities participants were simple snacks, college classes, colorful sneakers, snow globes and hair-braiding a horse’s mane.

At the end of the semester, Abilities’ Rockstars–a choir comprised of individuals with all levels of ability and participation–had the opportunity to return the favor and showcase their talents by putting on a virtual musical performance for the class.

Patricia Evans, Abilities’ music and arts director, called the collaboration a “truly amazing experience” and said that “Everyone served by Abilities who participated got to experience the excitement of ‘going to college’ by viewing and commenting on the students’ presentations. But the engagement and acknowledgement from the students was really special, and it made a huge impression on our service recipients and their families.”