Dear Spectrum Community,
It’s been three, long months since we closed our doors, and while we have loved staying connected online, we are counting down the days when we can see our community in person again!
As New York State moves through the phases of Governor Cuomo’s reopening plan, we have been having lots of discussions about what things will look like when we are given the green light. The health and well-being of our community is our top priority, and we intend to proceed with an abundance of caution to ensure that our families can safely attend programming in our space.
With that in mind, we have outlined the following plan. Keep in mind that all dates are tentative pending additional updates from the government and CDC.
- Now through July 31st: All programming will remain virtual
- August 3rd: Spectrum will begin offering individual services only, on a limited basis
- September: Spectrum will gradually phase in additional programming as recommended by CDC and NYS
When developing this plan, the following criteria were heavily considered:
- Research demonstrating an increased risk of COVID-19 spread through singing, an activity that plays a significant role in the music-based services we offer
- Research demonstrating that individuals with developmental disabilities were at an increased risk for acquiring COVID-19
- Accessibility barriers that may emerge as policies around safety and health are introduced
- The importance of being able to maintain continuity and consistency in an uncertain time
While we feel that Spectrum has a solid plan in place for operating safely, we also recognize that there is a steep learning curve for any business reopening at the beginning of their indicated phase. Our hope is that by delaying our opening until Phase 4 is well established, more information on best practices will emerge.
As we prepare for our reopening, members of our team will be reaching out to current students and families to begin the conversation about what a return to in-person services might look like on an individual level. Know that we are dedicated to serving you, and we ask that you be as transparent as possible about any concerns you have about you/your student’s ability to comply with the safety procedures we will be putting in place.
Lastly, we know that making the decision to return to in-person services will be a deeply personal decision for every student. We plan to continue to make virtual services an option for the foreseeable future so our students can have the ability to choose the format that works best for their own personal needs.
We are endlessly grateful for your continued commitment to our Spectrum community. While this has been a challenging time for all, our team has repeatedly reported that being able to see their students each week has been a bright spot throughout.
Thank you for being a part of our community!
Artistically yours,
The Spectrum Team