A place to create art and friendships
His hands shake as he dabs paint onto the sketch taped to the wall.
Sometimes paint goes outside the lines of the drawing. Kevin Handley doesn't seem to mind. He is having fun – and refining his fine motor skills.
"That why I come here, to learn things," said Handley, 34, with slurred speech.
Handley, who is disabled, comes to the Health for All Adult Day Health Care Center in Meadowview several times a week to socialize, take part in art projects and learn life skills.
Health for All officials have asked Book of Dreams to help they them buy more art supplies to increase the range of activities they provide to clients.
The more than 100 disabled or aging low-income adults who visit the center receive critical guidance. The seemingly mundane tasks such as painting or talking about the day's newspaper stories are intended to exercise and develop participants' mental and motor skills.
"They increase their range of motion and it's also very mentally stimulating for them," said Colleen Matsumoto, a physical therapist at the center.
Client Oliver George, 73, agreed. He's helping Handley complete the painting on the wall.
"It's relaxing," George said. "And it's good to have something to concentrate on that's constructive."
The center also provides a venue for socialization. Many people with disabilities would have little contact with other people if they did not attend the day.