INTRODUCTION
On April 28, 2012, The Consortium held New York City’s first-ever Arts In Special Education Think Tank. The event brought together people across stakeholder groups to consider obstacles to providing quality Arts Education to students with disabilities (SWDs).
We found that the single common denominator across the day’s key focus areas – Administrative Support, Professional Development, Partnering, Funding – was
- Lack of sufficient understanding of the values of the Arts
And
- Lack of sufficient communication of these values to those who most needed to hear them
Through its Steering Committee, Content Committee and Arts Values Working Group – a body born as a result of the Think Tank – The Consortium has continued to consider this issue and provide conference sessions and other public venues on the topic.
As this work has progressed, our thoughts on the matter – which still remains in our estimation the primary obstacle to providing quality Arts education to SWDs – have become more refined. As follows:
- Lack of sufficient understanding of the values of the Arts
- For students with disabilities
- For those who work with them – and, as applicable, those who provide them undergraduate and graduate training
- For those who love and champion them at home
And
- Lack of sufficient communication of these values to those who most need to hear them
- All current and potential partners – and, as applicable, those who provide them undergraduate and graduate training
This Arts Values section is reflective of our efforts to provide practical approaches and solutions as well as conceptual understandings and frameworks.
Arts for All Abilities Consortium
Arts Values Working Group
Emily Davis
Hanaah Bates
Adam Goldberg (Founding Member)
Kelly Callahan
Matt Mazur
Kyla McHale (Founding Member)
Katherine Stock
Stephen Yaffe (Consortium Liaison, Founding Member)
ESSAYS
- On Synthesis, Art Aberrations and Possibilities
By Stephen Yaffe - The Value of Art for Students with Disabilities
By Erica Rooney - The Value Of The Arts for Students with Disabilities
A Speech and Language Pathologist’s Perspective
By Mark Corallo - Sensing the World:
Unexpected Ways We Find Art Everywhere Everyday
By Jordana Mendelson - A “Special” Education
By Kelly Brady - The Accessible Gateway to Self-Expression
An essay on the importance of art for students with disabilities
By Constance van Rolleghem - The Arts are Learning
By Stephen Yaffe -
Opening Remarks
In Sync: Ensuring Continuity, Expanding Conversation, Extending Community
The Consortium Conference 2022
By Stephen Yaffe
WORKSHEETS
VIDEOS
Students with Autism make music with i-Pads/CBS News Sunday Morning.
https://www.cbsnews.com/videos/students-with-autism-make-music-with-ipads/
A dream workshop with the New York City Ballet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp6LeOIkUuQ
Special needs children learn to dance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUGD1J9Ywdw
ELEVATOR PITCHES
This section is currently under construction. Please check back here again.