Posted Sunday August 04 2013 at 11:20 pm
in News
The following is reprinted from a July 25, 2013 Boston Photography Focus blog post written by VSA's own Kati Blair Kotrc. View the original post.
Inclusion is an imperative for the health of all cultural organizations. Not only do the Americans with Disabilities Act and other federal and state regulations legally mandate including people with disabilities, it also makes good business sense. 11% of the population in Massachusetts are people with disabilities, 13% are over 65 and experiencing the loss of vision, hearing and mobility associated with aging. Add to that the family and friends that they travel with and you have a sizable potential audience. Furthermore, whatever is done to address the particular needs of an individual or group typically improves the experience for everyone. Who hasn’t rolled a suitcase over a curb cut intended to provide access to the sidewalk for someone using a wheelchair? Similarly, once a large print guide is created it often becomes more popular than the standard print version because everyone can use it easily. Any organization that isn’t deliberately designing for access and inclusion is likely coming up short.
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Posted Wednesday July 31 2013 at 11:44 pm
in News
It's official!
VSA Massachusetts has received a renewal of the Arts for Inclusion contract with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DOESE). This 5 year contract, worth $850,000, will help us provide inclusive arts education opportunities for students and educators throughout the state. The COOL Schools program will serve 2,000 students with and without disabilities and 300 teachers each year in schools in Boston, Tewksbury, Worcester and Gardner.
Through arts integration, students sing, dance, draw and act their way into their curriculum, making learning more accessible and engaging for all. COOL students will also attend inclusive arts festivals and field trips to cultural organizations, expanding inclusive arts learning opportunities outside the school. Professional development will give educators resources on best practices to support inclusion through the arts.
Thank you for the vote of confidence, DOESE!
Posted Tuesday July 30 2013 at 06:49 am
in Cultural Inclusion
A message from the Museum of Science:
The Museum of Science, Boston is committed to the inclusion of people with disabilities and strives to create an environment that is inviting, engaging, and accessible for everyone. To work toward achieving this goal, there are times throughout the year when the Museum seeks people with a variety of abilities and disabilities to help improve the accessibility of our Museum. Hearing from people with disabilities expands our knowledge about the museum experience and informs how we design museum offerings, such as exhibits and programs, in the future.
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