Access/VSA Online Courses

The Theory and Practice of Anti-Ableist Arts Education is an asynchronous collection of modules that invites arts educators and administrators to consider what changes when our students’ disabilities are not just learning needs to design for but are also cultural identities to value in our classrooms. Throughout the course, we engage with historical work and thought-provoking readings (theory) that challenge our assumptions about disability and access. We also review concrete resources (practice) that suggest easy-to-implement strategies for meeting students’ needs in the classroom. Both are essential in anti-ableist teaching, which goes beyond integrating resources like accessibility checklists or adaptive tools—though these are useful starting points. This collection of modules provides educators, teaching artists, program administrators, and others with support in both efforts—unpacking concepts like ableism and anti-ableism, introducing ways to understand and design for disability in the classroom, exploring the history and work of disability justice, and providing concrete strategies and suggested arts exemplars for each of the major disciplines.

 

This online course is comprised of 15 modules that may be purchased individually for $75.00 each, or in discounted bundles. Purchase the complete bundle and receive a $100 discount.

 

Modules 1, 2, and 15 are our gift to you and are FREE with the purchase of any single module or bundle (a value of $225).

 

Pick the bundle that best suits your needs and register at kec.memberclicks.net/antiableistcourse

 

Module 1:  Setting the Stage for Anti-Ableist Arts Learning

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Module 2:  Foundations of Anti-Ableist Arts Education

This module defines and unpacks ableism as an oppressive system that impacts people with and without disabilities. We explore how ableism often shows up in schools, arts organizations, nonprofits, and society writ large. It also introduces a framework for anti-ableist arts pedagogy.

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Module 3:  The History and Practice of Disability Justice

This module introduces and unpacks the concept of disability justice. We go over the history of the first and second waves of the disability rights movement and differentiate between disability rights and disability justice as frameworks. Drawing on the work of disabled activists and artists, this module invites arts educators to consider the work of accessibility as a practice of love and solidarity with their disabled students.

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Module 4:  Models of Disability and Their Impact on Instruction

This module establishes disability as both an embodied experience and an identity. It challenges the idea that we can arrive at one, essential definition of disability as well as creating a single definition should be a goal. We unpack common definitions and ways of thinking about disability while exploring what each approach might mean for arts teaching.

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Module 5:  U.S. Special Education Law: What Arts Educators Need to Know

This module provides an introduction to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, unpacks the six core tenets of the law, and addresses what school- and community-based arts educators need to know about how the law affects their work. It also provides overviews of other laws that affect the arts learning of students with disabilities. We explore how these laws support disabled students and also where they fall short in efforts to enact disability justice.

 

Module 6:  Disability Art

This module introduces the Disability Art Movement and the concept of “disability aesthetics.” We explore the difference between Disability Art and art by artists with disabilities and discuss the importance of highlighting Disability Art in the classroom.

 

Module 7:  Teaching in Anti-Ableist Classrooms: Differentiated Instruction

This module explores the framework of differentiated instruction in relationship to anti-ableist practice. It suggests strategies for planning arts learning activities using Differentiated Instruction within an anti-ableist framework for instruction.

 

Module 8:  Teaching in Anti-Ableist Classrooms: Universal Design for Learning

This module explores the framework of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in relationship to anti-ableist practice. It suggests strategies for planning learning activities using UDL within an anti-ableist framework for instruction.

 

Module 9:  Teaching in Anti-Ableist Classrooms: Adaptation, Accommodations, and Modifications

This module unpacks the definitions of adaptations, accommodations, and modifications to ensure that students with disabilities are appropriately supported in inclusive and separate classrooms. We contextualize adaptations within an anti-ableist framework to challenge the idea that accessibility “checklists” can fully meet students’ needs. This module provides instructional examples that span the arts disciplines.

 

Module 10:  Visual Art: Exemplars and Strategies

This module explores disability aesthetics in the visual arts and provides suggestions for integrating disability art into the anti-ableist visual art classroom. We deeply explore the work of Deaf artist Patti Durr in addition to discussing several other disabled visual artists whose work can enrich instruction. The module also provides participants with specific instructional strategies for supporting students with disabilities in visual arts education.

• Featured artist video interview: Patti Durr

• Featured educator video interview: Kristin Mohan

 

Module 11:  Drama: Exemplars and Strategies

This module explores disability aesthetics in drama and provides suggestions for integrating disability art into the anti-ableist theater classroom. We deeply explore the work of theatremaker Terri Lynne Hudson in addition to discussing several other disabled theater artists whose work can enrich instruction. The module also provides participants with specific instructional strategies for supporting students with disabilities in theater education.

• Featured artist video interview: Terri Lynne Hudson

• Featured educator video interview: Sofiya Cheyenne

 

Module 12:  Dance: Exemplars and Strategies

This module explores disability aesthetics in dance and provides suggestions for integrating disability art into the anti-ableist dance classroom. We deeply explore the work of dancer Alice Sheppard in addition to discussing several other disabled dancers and choreographers whose work can enrich instruction. The module also provides participants with specific instructional strategies for supporting students with disabilities in dance education.

• Featured artist video interview: Alice Sheppard

• Featured educator video interview: Elizabeth Staal

 

Module 13:  Music: Exemplars and Strategies

This module explores disability aesthetics in music and provides suggestions for integrating disability art into the anti-ableist music classroom. We deeply explore the work of musician Lachi in addition to discussing several other disabled musicians whose work can enrich instruction. The module also provides participants with specific instructional strategies for supporting students with disabilities in music education.

• Featured artist video interview: Lachi

• Featured educator video interview: Emma Gibbins

 

Module 14:  Anti-Ableism in Arts Education Leadership

This module explores considerations for anti-ableist program design, including administrative commitments as well as approaches for training teachers and teaching artists throughout their careers.

• Featured panel video interview: Lachi, Erin Hoppe, Lauren Stichter, Hannah Wong

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Module 15:  Conclusion: Toward a More Just Arts Education