On Monday, Culver City’s City Council recognized the work of Michelle Christie-Adams, the founder, director and playwright of No Limits, a nonprofit organization designed “to meet the auditory, speech and language needs of deaf children and enhance their confidence through the theatrical arts and individual therapy as well as provide family support and community awareness on the needs and talents of deaf children who are learning to speak,” according to its website, kidswithnolimits.org.
Adams is a teacher with more than 18 years of experience in the entertainment industry, who has received numerous awards for her work with No Limits, including the “Top 100 Heroes” award from Volvo for Life and The George Washington Medal of Honor from the Freedom Foundation.
“We believe in building the self esteem and communication skills of every child with a hearing loss by giving the highest quality of services so they can reach his/her potential regardless of his/her economic status. We strongly believe that parents must be actively involved and educated in this process as they are a key a factor in the success of their child,” says Christie-Adams.
The theatrical and educational program is geared toward:
- Enhancing confidence
- Strengthening literacy skills
- Developing competence in communication
- Offering family support
- Raising community awareness
- Increasing appreciation for the arts
- Delivering crucial life-skills
The No Limits Educational Center provides year round, high-quality specialty services to children in the greater Los Angeles area on a free or sliding-scale basis. The program offers:
- Individual therapy
- Bi-weekly literacy program
- Weekly parent education courses
- Computer training
- Theatre and public speaking program
- Language-enriched programs
- Support groups for children and their families
No Limits was founded in 1996 and, according to its website, is the only theatre group in the nation for children with a hearing loss who speak and listen. Many original cast members of the first No Limits production volunteer weekly to give back to the organization and inspire younger children with hearing loss. The children of No Limits have performed in more than 55 productions in over 10 states, reaching an audience of more than 30,000 people. Their work has been featured in the New York Times, Newsday, Oprah, and other media outlets.