inclusion

The development of the program came directly from working with people with disabilities and the art process. The program serves adults with mental retardation and developmental disabilities (MRDD). Any means necessary has been taken to make the program accessible to anyone interested. Adaptable easels were constructed to accommodate wheel chairs. The studio is open to the community so they can take advantage of art programming and the opportunity to work with people with MRDD.

Our program had a need for accessible programming because every client has a unique physical and mental disability. These accessible needs were met through the arts program identifying the abilities of the clients and making art through their individual strengths. Our assessment process is unscientific but dramatic. Clients have become active participants within their communities by offering art exhibits, installation for restaurants, window displays, original coloring books given away to school age children and workshops Through the sale of our art, we have developed a visiting artist program hiring local artists. We constructed large metal flower props for the state production of The Wizard of Oz by elementary school children. We have donated art to Ohio University's scholarship art auction fund raiser.