To make the cards, the first step was for the clients to choose their favorite recycled Christmas cards from the donation pile. They then cut the cards into the shape of a circle and glued them onto previously handmade designs with thin string, replicating an ornament. For the snowflake cards, each client used paint to dip their fingerprints onto the cards to become the center of snowflakes. The staff and therapists then helped the clients fill out the cards with their messages to send to their families for the holidays. These kinds of art therapies are especially valuable for clients who have limited use of their arms, hands, and fingers; every client can have their fingerprints dipped into paint to create a custom card for this project, which is what makes a day like this so inclusive and festive.

Since it was Cards and Carols themed, everyone was asked to wear a Santa hat or some other Christmas hat of their choosing. The clients love days like this where they have free reign to be extra silly with their costumes. For any client that didn’t have a hat to wear, we purchased and provided hats that were passed out during the afternoon of the event.

Now comes the Carols part. One of the great loves that the clients have is their love of music; there are few things they look forward to more than when a live singer or band comes in to perform at the Day Program. The band that performed this day was Soular Rhythm, a band that has been coming to Universal for years, usually during the larger events and sometimes even on the weekends. Soular Rhythym consists of a keyboard player and a guitarist – both of whom are singers – who play everything from Top 40 to R&B to Jazz.

Soular Rhythym is always very creative and adaptable to the kind of music we request of them depending upon the event – in this case, holiday music. The clients and staff could not stop smiling and dancing wearing their reindeer antlers and Christmas attire. It was such a warm and happy start to December, with still so many more holiday events to experience until Hannukah, Christmas and New Years. We cherish these events where therapy and play can be so seamlessly intertwined. Keep the holiday fun coming!

No matter how different a Who may appear, he will always be welcomed with holiday cheer.

Cindy Lou Who, The Grinch