One Family. Three Generations. A Place to Belong.

For the Lopez family, OCCTAC has been much more than a place to take classes. It has been a community connecting three generations: their grandmother, mother Patty, oldest sister Elizabeth Lopez, Miriam Lopez, and younger brother Elijah Lopez.

Miriam joined OCCTAC’s Early Start program as a toddler after an older sibling became involved at the Center. Through music, dance, and visual arts, she discovered her abilities, developed friendships, and grew alongside a community that believed in her potential.

Today, Miriam is building everyday independence through OCCTAC’s Self-Determination Day School Program and putting new skills into practice through Mimi’s Butterfly Boutique.

Along the way, Patty found encouragement and connection with other OCCTAC families. Her daughter’s journey became part of a shared family story.

With a wide range of programs serving young children through older adults, OCCTAC creates opportunities to learn, express creativity, and connect at every stage of life.

This GivingTuesday, help sustain a place where individuals can discover their abilities and families can find belonging.

Give today. Help possibility grow at every age.

Orange County Children’s Therapeutic Arts Center (OCCTAC) stands as a beacon of empowerment within our community. Committed to inclusivity, we provide access to services for families facing physical, cognitive, language, social, and emotional challenges. Over 23 years, we've diligently served Santa Ana and Orange County, prioritizing those with disabilities from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Many of the families we support are multicultural, monolingual, and low-income immigrants. OCCTAC's unique success lies in bridging the gap for underserved communities, often overlooked by traditional therapeutic avenues due to cultural nuances. Our bilingual/bicultural staff leverages expertise and experience to meet the unique needs of our community.

2026 Giving Tuesday

This GivingTuesday, help more families grow with OCCTAC.

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