The Appalachian Education Initiative recently announced a new partnership with VSA, the international organization on arts and disability. This collaboration is providing AEI with greater access to resources, information and funding for including people with disabilities in the arts. The funding is made possible through the national office of VSA, and is supported in large part by the U.S. Department of Education. During 2011, AEI began the process of re-establishing VSA programs and services in West Virginia. For information about planned programs and services, please contact Lou Karas, AEI's executive director, at 304-336-8162 or lkaras@aeiarts.org. VSA, the international organization on arts and disability, was founded more than 35 years ago by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith to provide arts and education opportunities for people with disabilities and increase access to the arts for all. VSA is an affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. There are excellent resources on the arts and disabilities available on the VSA website, http://www.vsarts.org/. Examples of VSA publications include: The Contours of Inclusion: Inclusive Arts Teaching & Learning (PDF) Arts Access Made Easy: Successful Strategies from Award of Excellence in Arts Access (PDF) A Broad Brush: Access and Arts Education Insights from School Districts (PDF) The Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability (LEAD) is a professional network focused on expanding the breadth and scope of accessibility services and programming across the country and around the world. LEAD explores practical methods for implementing accessibility in cultural environments, communicates information about arts and accessibility and shares resources and knowledge among professionals in the field of accessibility. LEAD accomplishes its objectives through an annual conference, an active communications network, and resources generated by the LEAD network and maintained by the Kennedy Center. For more information about LEAD go to: http://www.kennedycenter.com/accessibility/education/lead/ Tip Sheets from LEAD include: The Color Red in Design Captioning and CART Large Print Programs Radio Frequency, Induction Loop, and Infrared Assistive Listening Systems Producing and Distributing Braille and Large Print Programs Service Animals and the Revised ADA Regulations Staff Training Resources Universal Design Resources on the Web Universal Principles of Online Accessible Ticketing The Impact of the 2010 Regulations on Hold and Release Policies for Wheelchair Accessible Seating Tip Sheets are available in Braille and large print. Contact The Kennedy Center at 202-416-8727 (voice) 202-416-8728 (TTY) or access@kennedy-center.org.

Brittany Shreves selected Student Artist of the Month  07/18/2011 Coty Sheme selected Student Artist of the Month  06/30/2011 AEI and West Liberty University to partner on new center  06/14/2011

	Home  |  About AEI  |  Who is AEI  |  VSA - The Arts & Disabilities  |  News & Events  |  Links & Resources  |  Newsletter  |  Donate Now  |  Contact Us Copyright 2008 Appalachian Education Initiative. All Rights Reserved.