16 Dec “I don’t know what I’d be doing without CATA”
“CATA is where I see my friends and I can be myself.”
Every Monday afternoon, CATA artists gather for a drumming class. Roman, a young artist with disabilities, greets everyone with a smile as they arrive. When Aimée, a CATA faculty artist, begins a warm up, Roman joins her— confidently playing a rhythm on the dundun drum. ‘Follow Roman!’ says Aimée. Soon, the class is playing in time together, following Roman’s lead.
Roman has always had a bright light within him and a big personality to share. But as a young adult, he struggled to find a place where he could shine. “It was hard to find a place that would embrace him and give him opportunities to grow,” says his mother Danielle.
Entering adulthood is hard for most young people. And that’s especially true for people with disabilities: Many support systems they rely on in school vanish after graduation. It’s easy to feel isolated and disconnected. Parents of children with disabilities often say it’s like “falling off a cliff.”
“CATA gives Roman the opportunity to stretch his skills and grow as an artist. And just as importantly, he can socialize and build community.”
Finding CATA was a turning point for Roman.
He quickly made friends. And he dug deeper into his talents: He discovered the thrill of playing a solo on the djembe drum, and heard the roar of applause when he nailed his lines in an acting workshop. Now, he feels a sense of belonging like never before.
“I don’t know what I’d be doing without CATA,” says Roman. “It’s where I see all my friends and I can be myself.”
“If your whole life you’re told what you can’t do, imagine how powerful it is to say ‘I’m an artist.’” says Danielle. “That’s what CATA does for people like my son.”
“CATA gives Roman the opportunity to stretch his skills and grow as an artist. And just as importantly, he can socialize and build community. For Roman, the social part of CATA is critical,” says Danielle.
Recently, Roman got a call. CATA staff saw his skills and confidence growing. They knew Roman was ready for more. So they invited him to help lead a CATA drumming workshop— as an Assistant Teacher. All of a sudden, this young man who had been searching for his place in the community was being recognized in a whole new way.
“When CATA asked me to help teach drumming I was like ‘Wow – this is serious!’” says Roman. “Our teacher Aimée has me play a rhythm and everyone follows me. I feel special and honored.”
“Often when you have a disability, you’re defined by that disability. CATA flips that upside down,” says Danielle. “CATA honors every person for their strengths and capacities. They see everybody in the room and draw them in.”