Organized in 2007, The Arts In Special Education Consortium provides means by which professionals and key stakeholders involved in arts education for students on the special education spectrum in New York can share perspectives, determine needs, develop ways to meet them, deepen practice and understanding. Our purpose is to bring together constituencies that historically have not had sufficient opportunity to interact with one another, to engage them in meaningful conversation and exploration in order to ascertain barriers to and opportunities for providing quality arts education to special education students. That is, to build capacity, understanding and value, and do so as a whole – School/Arts/Home – community.

Mission

The Arts In Special Education Consortium provides means by which professionals and key stakeholders involved in arts education for students on the special education spectrum in New York can share perspectives, determine needs, develop ways to meet them, deepen practice and understanding.

Our purpose is to bring together constituencies that historically have not had sufficient opportunity to interact with one another, to engage them in meaningful conversation and exploration in order to ascertain barriers to and opportunities for providing quality arts education to special education students. That is, to build capacity, understanding and value, and do so as a whole – School/Arts/Home – community.

Vision

The Arts In Special Education Consortium envisions a time when classroom teachers, arts specialists, school and arts administrators, teaching artists, paraprofessionals, related service providers and parents understand the value of the arts for students on the special education spectrum and work together to insure these pupils receive quality, appropriate arts education that deepens and extends learning, reveals and builds capacity and enhances communication and participation in the world.

Steering Committee

The Steering Committee meets on a monthly basis, collaborates on events, makes decisions on focus, goals and mission and carries out the necessary tasks to succeed in reaching our goals.

Stephen Yaffe, Chairperson - stephen@artsspecialed.org
Lisa Dennett
Adam Goldberg
Mike Halverson
Erica Rooney
Ronnie Shuster
Nancy Volante
Meryl Wittenberg

Support Committee

The Support Committee consists of individuals with a high interest in the goals of the Arts in Special Education Consortium but without the time needed for participation on the Steering Committee. Support Committee members may take on individual tasks as needed for specific functions of the Arts in Special Education Consortium.

Phil Alexander
Patricia Freer
Dena Malarek
Linsey Miller
Maria Mitchell
Jean Newton
Romy Nordlinger
Sarah Ory
Joanna Padula
Erin Ronder

If you are interested in joining the Steering or Support Committee please send an email to info@ArtsSpecialEd.org

Special Thanks

Thank you to the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), a state agency.
And to Interactive Drama for Education and Awareness in the Schools (IDEAS), NYSCA sponsor.