CENTRE FOR THE ARTS IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Established in 1996, the Centre for the Arts in Human Development (CAHD) is a unique educational, clinical, and research facility dedicated to enhancing the lives of neurodivergent individuals and adults with disabilities. The Centre employs a multidisciplinary approach, integrating art, drama, music, and dance therapies to foster autonomy, boost self-confidence, improve social skills, and enrich overall quality of life for its participants.

Beyond its therapeutic programs, the CAHD also serves as a vital training ground for graduate students in creative arts therapies and education, offering hands-on experience under professional supervision. Most of the funding for the CAHD is provided by private support from foundations and individuals like you.

For nearly thirty years, the Centre has served as a bridge between families, Concordia University, and community organizations.

Your support can help provide:

• A unique clinical program, welcoming 20 new participants every two years: Through art, drama, music and dance therapies, participants grow their self-esteem and develop self-expression. Many begin the program shy and reserved, and learn to make friends, work in groups, articulate their concerns and deal with emotions.
• A lifeline at a major turning point: Many applicants have recently left high school, which offered a sense of routine and security. After high school, there are long waiting lists for community-based services. The CAHD offers participants a chance to continue growing in a structured environment, providing a welcome, therapeutic opportunity to build confidence and uncover hidden strengths.
• Research that changes attitudes and spreads hope: As a research centre within Canada’s largest comprehensive arts school, the CAHD is leading the way in a highly promising field, shattering misconceptions and demonstrating how creative arts therapies can better the lives of neurodivergent individuals and people with disabilities.
• French-language creative arts therapies: Since 2022, the Centre has offered a dynamic creative arts therapies francophone program two days a week, thanks to a generous private donor.
  

Our main objective is giving our participants the chance to surpass expectations and realize new personal goals.

This work would not be possible without the Centre’s generous donors.

Therapy: The Centre offers a day program providing group therapy through art, drama, music and dance/movement. Clients are typically admitted to the CAHD's programs through referrals from social workers at a readaptation centre or CLSC.

Research: The Centre conducts innovative research in the creative arts therapies and continues to expand the knowledge base in the field of disabilities and with other special populations.  

Education: The Centre is a clinical training site for graduate students in art therapy, drama therapy and music therapy in the Department of Creative Arts Therapies, as well as graduate students in the Department of Education. Professionals in the creative arts therapies supervise interns onsite.

Public outreach: The Centre aims to educate the public and raise awareness about the creative abilities of people with special needs.