Linda’s Corner – Theater at WLA College

On Friday June 1, I had an incredible experience that I wanted to share. It was my privilege to be present for the final monologues in an introductory theater class at West Los Angeles College. The professor of the course, a longtime friend of FACT Carolina Barcos, is just exceptional.

This class is everything that the federal government is hoping for in the HCBS inclusion rule . Students with a range of disabilities are included side by side with “typical” students. What is so fascinating is that all of the students are faced with challenges of one kind or another and are both respectful and incredibly supportive of each other’s efforts. It was absolutely amazing to watch their struggles, their progress and their triumphs achieved in the space of a few hours.

GAP and Tailored Service students participate in this class with the assistance of very talented FACT staff. The other “typical” students expressed their thanks for the help and support that the staff also gave them.

The normal size of this type of class is 20 students, but this semester two sections were combined for a total of 40 students. It took incredible management to get everybody through their monologues, but I was extremely impressed not only with our students abilities to memorize and deliver monologues but with their incredible patience to sit hour after hour and support their fellow students.

I hope more and more of our students will get a chance to experience this incredible class and that others will have the opportunity to be the very important audience.