Arms Wide Open (AWO) enriches the lives of individuals with special needs from throughout San Diego County by fostering caring social environments and creating opportunities for recreation and participation in the arts. In 2008, the owners of Arts in Motion, a for-profit studio, had a dream born out of personal experience as the mother/brother of a special needs young man. In 2010 AWO became a non-profit that now offers 200+ individuals a wide range of classes (e.g. musical theatre, dance, drumming), offering them a creative outlet and social opportunities that enhance their quality of life

Mission Statement - Arms Wide Open San Diego is a non - profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of children and adults with special needs or disabilities by fostering caring social environments and creating opportunities for recreation and participation in the performing arts

Vision Statement - Our vision through AWO is to provide an environment for children and adults with special needs to grow physically, mentally and socially through the arts, enabling them to enrich the greater community.

“ARMS WIDE OPEN. A place where there are no limitations and "YOU CAN DO IT" is repeated often. A place where dreams are encouraged and a path to reach them is made...An amazing place where your ABILITIES are seen and you get nonstop smiles, high fives, pats on the back and applause at the beginning, middle and end of every class. A place that accepts you with "arms wide open"...

-Jessica's mom