NIAD, The National Institute of Art & Disabilities, is an award-winning nonprofit art studio and gallery with a mission to provide an art program for people with disabilities that promotes creativity, independence, dignity and community integration. NIAD serves adults of all ages from diverse cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds every weekday, year round.

NIAD's Studio Program enables artists to transcend their disabilities and gain a sense of individual identity, self-worth and achievement through classes in drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics, textile and surface design, creative writing and basic computer literacy. The Exhibition Program presents five exhibits annually and allows artists to exhibit their artwork, read their poetry and receive earnings from the sale of their artwork, all of which validate the creative works of NIAD artists, increasing their self esteem and independence. NIAD artists' work is also exhibited locally, nationally and internationally, held in many private collections and exhibited through public art projects.

NIAD was founded in 1982 by Florence Ludins-Katz and Elias Katz, Ph.D. For more information, please visit NIAD on the web at www.niadart.org

The Commissioners of AC5 wish to extend a special thanks to:

• Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors
• County Administrator's Office
• Sheriff Warren E. Rupf, his Staff & the Sheriff's Posse of Contra Costa
• General Services Department