Being at national TASH last week was an amazing experience: 1000 advocates from all over, 100’s of presentations, and lots of interesting and unique side events. Participants at my session about how to start an inclusive arts project were enthusiastic, and especially enjoyed the playful improv segment. Now I have a great workshop to share with people in other communities. Thanks to Christina Mueller, Dick Harmsen, Chris Radcliffe, and my family for help and support. Best wishes for a wonderful holiday  from polly….

Arts Access, Inc. is one of our great NC supporters and a wonderful advocacy for inclusive arts. They will be hosting a gathering of people interested in issues related to arts and disability on August 17th from 12-1pm.  The lunch gathering will be held at the Alliance for Disability Advocates conference room at 401 Oberlin Road, Suite 103, Raleigh, NC  27605. This will be one of many future gatherings that will offer opportunities to network, share resources, and unite in advocacy issues.  Please bring your own lunch and Arts Access will provide desert and beverages.  For more info visit the Arts Access website here or call 919-833-9919 to rsvp.

Margaret Heath attended a screening at the 7th Annual Arizona Inclusive Schools Conference on June 6th in Phoenix. The conference was organized by Arizona Wins With Inclusive Schools, a special project sponsored by Arizona TASH.

The conference was well attended by educators, parents and self-advocates. But most significantly, had several keynotes and break-out sessions by those speaking “from the inside out” – this was a phrase Laura Nagle used in describing her journey with autism. A New Kind of Listening fit right in to the themes of self-advocacy, inclusive communities and teaching environments; and the film was warmly received and inspired several people to think of how they might pursue an inclusive arts project of their own. It was particularly encouraging to the group of people producing a documentary about Laura Nagle’s life.

Thanks to Sherry Mulholland, Andrea O’Brien and Susan Black for inviting us to the Conference.

Polly coordinated workshop on May 22nd on inclusive arts education that drew an enthusiastic crowd of over 30 artists, arts educators, individuals and artists with disabilities, and family members to the exciting new River Arts District in Asheville, NC. The workshop, “Finding the Ability in Disability through Art”, was sponsored through Arts Access NC, and made possible by VSA South Carolina, the State Organization on Arts and Disability and through a Collaborative Innovative Grant from VSA International.  W. Lavone Griffin, theater artist and inclusive arts education specialist with VSA South Carolina, led the workshop. Plans are afoot for a networking and brainstorming group of Asheville arts educators who want to be more inclusive.

Shown in Photo: LaVone Griffin of VSA SC, Polly and Julia Brown, Ex. Dir. of VSA South Carolina