Beacons, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public benefit nonprofit
empowering adults with diverse intellectual abilities!
IMPORTANT DATES & INFORMATION:
Interest forms for Spring 2025
Explorer • PathFinder • Studio
Dates Coming up:
2/8/25: Club fun! "Around the World" (5:30 - 8:30 pm)
2/22/25 Club "Oscars Night" (5:30 - 8:30 pm)
3/14/25: Art Fair (5 - 7 pm) - Open to all SDRC consumers. Submission form coming soon! Juried exhibit theme: "DisARTed"
Spring: January 13 - June 27
Spring Break 3/31-4/4
Summer Break 6/30-7/11
Fall: 7/14-12/19
Questions? Contact Studio
Click here to learn how to apply
Beacons' newest divisions provide artistic spaces where artists with developmental disabilities can work with artists without disabilities to further develop their art, knowledge of technical skills and new techniques, try new and/or adapted tools that may optimize their skills, and explore other mediums and projects to connect with art and the community at large.
The programs uses lessons and activities that
target specific skills and align with
consumer’s IPP and ISP goals.
Hours: 9:00-2:00, up to 5 days a week,
with a minimum of 2 days
Term: 1 year (IPP team may decide additional time)
Contact: Studio@BeaconsNorthCounty.com
Artist/Instructor ratio: 3:1
San Diego Regional Center
vendor information:
Vendor #: PY3085, Code: 094
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Accepting Applications!
Interested in Studio or Studio E? Do you love to make art? Do you want to learn more about the artistic elements and design principles? Do you want to try to sell your art?
Fill out our interest form!
Please start by reviewing our entrance criteria to see if Studio Beacons is a good fit for your applicant.
1. Interest List: . If you are interested in applying for Studio Beacons please let us know by filling out our Interest Form. A Studio Beacons staff member will contact you for an interest interview to discuss current availability and Studio Beacons' program requirements.
2. Application/SDRC (or Independent Facilitators) follow-up: After the interest interview, if it determined that the applicant is a good fit for the program, you will be sent the Studio Beacons' application. You will also need to contact your service coordinator to have their IPP and CDER sent. Note: In order to meet the requirements for Studio Beacons, it is necessary for the applicant to have a vocational or creative expression goal in their IPP.
3. Screening/Intake Meeting: After the application, IPP, and CDER have been received by Beacons, our Studio Beacons team will contact you to set up an intake meeting to meet the applicant and make sure the workshop supports the applicant's IPP goals, and that the applicant is interested in the purpose of Studio Beacons.
4. Forms: If accepted into Studio Beacons, the applicant will then need to complete and submit the following:
Steps to Apply
Studio Staff
Andi Woolley
Director of Studio Beacons
Andi joined Beacons from Job Corps and after serving as the Assistant Director of Explorer, as of 2024 now leads Beacons' newest division Studio Beacons. Andi contributes not only her compassion for others, but also her prior experience as a Title 1 teacher, Job Corps reading instructor and Title 1 Paraprofessional. Andi has her bachelor's in Interdisciplinary Studies, a UX Design Certificate, and A.A. in Elementary Education.
Andi supports Beacons as a vocational training instructor, and helps design trainee assessments and lesson plans to enhance learning and measure progress of trainees towards their self-determined goals. Andi has taught a wide range of students for the Fremont County School District and will help Beacons continue to improve its options to meet the growing needs of those Beacons serves.
Miguel Martinez
Lead Instructor - Studio Beacons
Miguel Martinez joins the Beacons team as a Lead Instructor for Studio Beacons. Miguel is currently a Registered Behavioral Technician working with young children with autism and incorporating Behavioral therapy into their daily routines. This has led Miguel to want to continue down a path of empowering individuals with learning deficits, and eventually led to discovering Beacons through a mutual friend’s recommendation.
After visiting one of the coffee carts where trainees and staff had greeted and welcomed Miguel, his interest in the program skyrocketed. His favorite part about working at Beacons is meeting all the trainees. Every trainee is unique, with their own perspectives on life and what they want to do now that they are full grown adults. This creates a very diverse and welcoming environment, something that Miguel is very proud to be a part of.
Miguel’s personal life includes going out hiking and camping, creating digital art as a hobby, and visiting family for the holidays.
Brooke Brown, B.S. (Criminal Justice)
Lead Instructor - Studio Beacons
Brooke joined Beacons as an associate instructor in the Studio Beacons division (creative arts). Prior to joining the Beacons team, Brooke served as a behavioral interventionist as well as an activity director and activities coordinator at memory care facilities, where she created, designed and provided creative group activities with compassion and patience.
Brooke also has experience in the coffee industry and will use those vocational experiences to support trainees as they learn more about career options and pathways. She has also supported a humane society to help and train shelter dogs.
Elise Scheiffele, B.S. (English)
Lead Instructor - Studio Explorations
Elise is a recent National University graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in English. She is on track to pursue a postgraduate degree in English and is hopeful to adopt the art of instructing at Beacons. She is driven by her passion for fostering creative learning environments.
Having honed her skills in various industries such as Preschool education, hospitality, beauty, entertainment, and publishing, Elise is eager to bring her unique experiences in the customer service world to her role at Beacons. With her “jack of all trades” experience, Elise is inspired to bring a plethora of new skills and creative ideas for trainees to adopt.
Her goal is to adopt a hands-on, friendly and fun environment that prioritizes self-confidence and collaboration on projects that will enable new skills to be developed. She is optimistic to forge new connections in her role at Beacons.
Jack Canziani, B.S. (English)
Associate Instructor - Studio Explorations/Beacons
JACK CANZIANI
Associate Instructor (Studio Beacons)
Jack has two associate degrees in Theater Arts and Creative Writing, acted abroad in the Ensemble Enslein Theater Company (Berlin, Germany), as well as over a decade of experience as a chef. He is an accomplished artist with a collection of over 70 large-scale pieces in abstract visual art. Jack also teaches piano, guitar and vocal lessons. He also has a conversational level fluence in both French and German. Jack will work with the Studio team to support existing artists in Studio Beacons and develop Studio's "B" option to serve those with interests in performing arts, culinary arts and fine arts.
Alina R Clark
Associate Instructor - Studio Beacons
Alina worked in the healthcare sector as a behavior technician before joining Beacons. In that role she helped clients to acquire skills, fostered client stability and drove skill acquisition of clients with behavior support plans to help them increase communication, self-help, and social as well as play skills. Prior to her work in behavior support, she worked in sales with UPS. She will help support Beacons' trainees 1:1 to help them reach their goals through community support, job coaching and other services to help them live their days as they wish. In her spare time she volunteers at with Children Ministries and gardens.
Elizabeth Bingham, B.A.
Associate Instructor - Studio Beacons
Assistant Lead Facilitator - Club Beacons
Elizabeth is an Assistant Lead Facilitator for Club Beacons and also helps out with Studio Beacons. She is passionate about creating a welcoming and inclusive environment and enjoys engaging in various activities to encourage people to socialize and learn.
Elizabeth has a liberal arts and interactive media background, graduating from Bryn Mawr College and completing the Digital Design certificate program at SDCCD. During college, she worked as a Teaching and Learning Consultant, providing feedback to instructors to create an environment where both instructors and students could excel. Elizabeth has also worked with the Parks and Recreation division for the City of San Diego where she facilitated a range of recreational and educational activities.
She deeply cares about learning and strives to meet people where they are and help them grow. Elizabeth appreciates the welcoming environment of Beacons, and she enjoys seeing trainees having fun while learning. She also enjoys listening to Creative Mornings talks.