We exist to empower marginalized communities within our school and to increase the visibility and importance of their work
This organization fosters, cultivates, and advocates for adaptive art programs for alternative curriculum students and are driven by their passion to share their philosophy and approach to teaching adaptive art. A truly collaborative effort, Arts for ME employs the ideas, guidance, and expertise of educators and artists from around the world.
Arts for ME’s successful methodology is based on four tenets: Collaborating, Lesson Planning, Set Up and Cycles, and Support.
Collaborating
All programming is only made possible through their collaboration with Special Education teachers, occupational therapists, peer educators, guest artists, and public partners.
Lesson Planning
Founded on Discipline-Based Art Education, each lesson plan starts by focusing on an artist or art movement and is built out from there. Lesson objectives are to develop individually tailored processes so each learner is able to express themselves with the goal to expose students to new artists and provide unique experiences that allow them to make choices within their work.
Set Up and Cycles
Structure is integral to successful learning. Arts for ME conducts class once a week led by two certified teachers with no more than 8 students per class. The classroom set up is based on the project and mobility needs of each student. Lessons may last 1-4 weeks with a project cycle of 4 years which ensures that a student can take the class for all 4 high school years and always have a new learning experience.
Support
Participation from peers, nurses, occupational therapists, educational assistants, and special education teachers supports the organization’s operations and helps build friendships and confidence in each learner as well. Arts for ME is dedicated to cultivating that confidence so students learn how to support themselves and feel it is equally important to provide students with independent space to freely express themselves on their own.
