About our Artists

Our school

Washington Center is a unique “one of a kind” facility. It is a separate school that serves students ages 3 to 21 with severe intellectual disabilities. Many of these students have concurrent challenges such as autism, blindness, deafness, or physical disabilities.

The school motto is “Those You Think Cannot …Can!”

Staff uses assistive technology and augmentative communication, multi-sensory rooms, and a mobility program that allows students in wheelchairs to move about school while learning about their environment.

When you visit the school you see students learning to walk as they move up and down the halls. Sometimes it appears that the halls have a “traffic jam” as students stop to use their non-oral communication techniques as they greet each other or a staff member by pointing to pictures or you may see them carrying along a communication device mounted on a walker. Actually it is quite exciting and fun as visitors tour our building. Each student has an Individual Education Plan and is taught using modifications to the State Curriculum Standards. Students are evaluated on the SC-Alt (Alternate Assessment) as directed by the "No Child Left Behind" mandate.

The focus of Washington Center is to provide opportunities for students to explore and develop independent functioning by addressing students’ individual needs. Through home, school and community involvement, we create an educational environment to maximize student success.

(Taken from our school website)

Mrs. Amanda

Welcome and thank you for visiting the art site. My name is Amanda Wakely and I have been at Washington Center since 2009. I am so excited to have this opportunity to share my love for the arts with all of our students.

I have had extensive training in several media, including, but not limited to: drawing, painting, photography, ceramics, glass fusing and jewelry design & fabrication. In 2002, I received my BA in Studio Art from the College of Charleston. For 7 years, I instructed children and adults in art classes and camps through my ceramics shop. In 2008, I received a Certificate for Jewelry Making and Design from Art Studio Fuji in Florence, Italy, where I studied for nearly a year and a half.

I met my wonderful husband while abroad who also shares a love for the Arts. We have two beautiful daughters who teach us something new each day!

This year is going to bring new and exciting adventures in Art. Thank you for allowing me to help your child find their inner artist.