ARTS FOR ALL WEBINARJUNE 5, 20133:30 – 4:30 P.M.

Including Students with Physical Disabilities and Communication Barriers in Arts Education

Welcome from Arts Access - North Carolina

About the Webinar

Our Partners

Book Give Away – “Out of My Mind”• Email us a question - you might win a book!

• When you email your questions, include a number in the subject line between 1 and 100

• Closest number wins a signed copy of Sharon Draper’s “Out of My Mind” (http://sharondraper.com/bookdetail.asp?id=35)

Review excerpt “I can't remember the last time I was so emotionally overwhelmed by a middle grade novel. Sharon Draper's new novel is the story of Melody, a 10 year old girl with Cerebral Palsy so severe that she can neither speak nor move independently. Trapped inside Melody's uncooperative body is a brilliant mind with a cutting wit.”

Introduction of Speakers• Lisa Williams – Lead Presenter

Panelists• Betsy Ludwig – Program Director, Arts

Access

• Sandy McMillan- New Voices Foundation, Parent Advocate

• Kay McMillian – Disability Advocate, Graduating High School Senior!

Students with Physical Disabilities and Communication Barriers – What to Expect?

• Significant communication AND physical disabilities

• Do not speak or difficult to understand• Use wheelchair or walker for movement• Lack fine motor skills to write, draw, or feed themselves

• Cognitive abilities are either typical or unknown because thorough assessment has not been done

• Assume they understand everything!

Possible Diagnosis• Cerebral Palsy – brain injury that occurs either before

birth or at birth; mild to severe

• Autism – a “spectrum” disorder; difficulties with social interaction, communication, and behavioral problems, including repetitive behaviors and narrow focus of interest

• Spinal Bifida – neural tube defect causing either minor

physical problems to severe physical and mental disabilities

• Others include traumatic brain injury and developmental delay

In the Classroom• Typically have an aide

• Have Individualized Education Plans (IEPs)

• Use technology to participate in classroom• Communication boards• Switches• Mouth or head sticks to control pencils/pens• Computers/Tablets

• Need alternate ways to meet curriculum objectives

• A chance for teachers to be creative!

Things we all may worry about…..

• I am afraid of saying the wrong thing

• What if the child doesn’t understand me?

• How will I reach this child?

• I feel really inadequate and unprepared

• Can I touch this child? Will I hurt him or her?

• How can I make sure their art turns out ‘right’?

Communication Strategies• Use symbols and pictures

• Can be very simple and ‘homemade’

Communication Strategies

Use symbols and pictures

Can be more complex/computer generated

*This was made using Boardmaker software

Communication Strategies• Sample Software

• Boardmaker (Mayer-Johnson, www.mayer-johnson.com, $399)

• Sample Internet Resources

• Quick Pics (http://patrickecker.org/home/)

• SEN Teacher (http://www.senteacher.org/Worksheet/6/PECS.xhtml)

• Search for PECS (Picture Exchange Communication Systems). There are too many resources to list!

Communication Strategies• Simple Alternative or Augmentative Communication

Devices (AAC)• Simple message output devices

• BigMack• iTalk2

Communication Strategies• Simple AAC Cont’d

• Rocking Say-It• Cheap Talk 4• Cheap Talk 8

Communication Strategies• How to use Simple AAC

• Yes/No response

• Making color or material choices

• Asking for help or more

• Ask or answer questions

Communication Strategies• Complex AAC

• These devices usually require some type of programming to be activity specific

• They allow for more messages or more elaborate communication

• Plan ahead. This type of device usually can not be programmed on the fly!

Teaching Strategies• Don’t be too ambitious – make sure your class size is not

overwhelming

• Utilize aides and assistants, you do not have to do this all by yourself

• Get to know the children!• Pay attention to verbal and non-verbal responses and actions

• Ask questions and utilize your resources.• Talk with the teachers and aides prior to your time with the students• Talk about and agree upon what kind of help you might need• Talk about set-up and structure

Teaching Strategies• Promote independent decision making (using choice

boards, simple voice output, ask questions)

• Remember, if a child does not have a way to participate, their experience with art is going to be very different than what we would like it to be

• Have high expectations for everyone in your group

• This means that we expect participation

• Art is what we make it – if it is yours, it is wonderful!

Teaching Strategies• Be clear with your expectations

• Have an example(s) of finished product

• Remind everyone art is a wonderful form of self-expression and it is okay if everyone’s art does not look the same

• If a project has multiple steps, have examples of the various stages as a visual aide

Examples of Adapted Art Supplies• Painting• Texturing

Examples of Adapted Art Supplies• Painting• Texture

Examples of Adapted Art Supplies• Visual Art Kit from Tadpole Lending Library

Examples of Adapted Art Supplies• Dramatic Art Kit from Tadpole Lending Library

Examples of Adapted Art Supplies• Dramatic Art Kit from Tadpole Lending Library (more….)

Examples of Adapted Music SoftwareMUSIC:Tod Machover and Dan Ellsey play new music

Dan Ellsey uses Hyperscore music software and a custom-tuned musical "hyperinstrument" to write, perform and conduct his music, and to help others learn how to compose.

Ideas for Creative Writing• Utilize word and/or picture boards

• Allow choices regarding subjects

• Plan group/collaborative activities

• Simple AAC devices can help a student give input• Software:

• Mayer-Johnson – Clicker6, Writing with Symbols, Story Builder, The Story Maker

• Don Johnston – Co:Writer, Write:OutLoud

• Alternative keyboards- Intellikeys/Intellitools (adaptable to all levels of abilities) – Mayer-Johnson

Examples of Art Work

Dance Resources• Integrated Dance Organizations - National Endowmen

t for the Arts

www.nea.gov/resources/accessibility/rlists/DanceResource.html

This is a list of dance companies that work with people with a variety of disabilities.

ALL ARTS RESOURCES• National Center on Universal Design for Learning

Includes information about:• UDL• Implementation• Research• Community• Resources

• NCDPI Summer Institute Training • Universal Design for Learning

Parent Perspective - Sandy

Parent’s Perspective - Sandy• My child’s artwork will never look like

everyone else’s and that’s ok I still love it

• I appreciate when someone takes time to consider how to include Kay in the activity

• Ask parent for suggestions—email works

• Recognize stressors that affect parents—sometimes we are in survival mode

Student Perspective - Kay

Student’s Perspective - Kay• I am a “Person First”

• Talk to me, not my aide• I have a disability; I’m not disabled

• Ask me about how I want to be included

• While I may not be able to do something by myself, I can choose how it is done

Additional Resources• Award-winning documentary, Certain Proof: A Question of

Worth (www.certainproof.com) Being shown on the Starz network and other cable outlets.

• A New Kind of Listening - The story of a visionary director, a one-of-a-kind theater group, and a young man who could not speak, yet found the voice he had been looking for all his life. http://www.anewkindoflistening.com/

• “Out of My Mind” by Sharon Draper (http://sharondraper.com/bookdetail.asp?id=35

• http://www.arts.gov/resources/accessibility/rlists/children.html - list of disability and arts resources complied by the NEA

NEW VOICES FOUNDATION

Founded in 2006

Model regional programs to strengthen existing services for children with significant communication and physical disabilities

Goal of inclusion in education and the communityRaise awareness

Focus on replication

New Voices is available to facilitate sessions around Certain Proof and Out of My Mind for awareness and education purposes

Assistive Technology Resources• Tadpole AT Lending Library (NC only) – www.tadpole.org

(a loan program for low-tech assistive technology)

• Toys for Special Children/Enabling Devices – www.enablingdevices.com

• AbleNet – www.AbleNetInc.com

• Flaghouse – www.flaghouse.com

• TFH – www.specialneedstoys.com

Art Supply and Lesson Resources• Dick Blick – www.dickblick.com (they also have great FREE

lesson plans!)

• Lakeshore Learning – www.lakeshorelearning.com

• Discount School Supply – www.DiscountSchoolSupply.com

• Incredible Art – lesson plans – www.incredibleart.org (visual arts, drama and more)

• BigCeramicStore – www.bigceramicstore.com (lesson plans for clay and glass)

Contact Information Arts Access

Betsy Ludwig Program Director, Arts Accessbetsy@artsacccessinc.org919-833-9919

Barbara Olson Executive Director, Arts Accessbarbara@artsaccessinc.org919.833.9919

Contact Information (NCDPI and NCDCR)

Christie Lynch EbertArts Education Consultant (Dance and Music) and NCDPI Liaison to the A+ Schools Programchristie.lynchebert@dpi.nc.gov 919-807-3856

Slater MappArts Education Consultant (Theatre Arts and Visual Arts)slater.mapp@dpi.nc.gov 919-807-3758

Banu Valladares Arts in Education DirectorNC Arts Councilbanu.valladares@ncdcr.gov919.807.6502

Paula Crawford, Ed. D.Section ChiefProgram Improvement & Professional DevelopmentExceptional Children Divisionhttp://ec.ncpublicschools.gov/

Archived Webinar and Resources• http://ances.ncdpi.wikispaces.net/Arts+for+All