Holly's Pages

Art Activities for Students with Visual Impairments
and Additional Disabilities

Philosophy:

When doing art with MIVI students (and others) it should be:

Accessible
Accessible with modifications for fine motor, tactile defensive skill deficits
Accessible via appropriate sensory features
Accessible to appreciation by and participation by persons functioning at a 12 month intellectual level and below
Not visual only, not tactile images that require braille level skills

Multi-Sensory
Visual, olfactory, gustatory (edible doughs), tactile via textures, movement of parts, manipulation of materials to make a pleasing whole,
Frequently non-representational

Kid Produced
Really made by your students. Made by students participating at the level at which they are capable, partial participation is still participation, but the experience should be interesting to them at some level.

IEP Driven
Every thing you do in the classroom should relate to IEP’s. If you believe in it enough to do it, but it’s not in the IEP, consider changing the IEP

Related to the Curriculum
If you don’t have a curriculum, that means you are writing your own, weather you realize it or not. Thematic units are a great approach. I believe every special ed teacher, no matter what the developmental level of the kids, should be doing this approach. For older groups who must focus on activities of daily living, community based instruction and vocational skills, incorporate a seasonal unit that changes about once a month.

Encourage Interaction
Art is about sharing. It’s about collaboration for many types of art, and it’s about sharing your results with others. Do your art in groups of at least two or more students. Encourage kids showing each other their work, taking turns using materials, and making choices of colors and tools. Keeping in mind that the activity should be designed for maximum participation by the kids with disabilities, art is a great opportunity for joint work with typically developing peers.

Share School Life with Family at Home
Always sent art work home if you can. Include a note with it about what the theme was, and how the student participated. If kids from other classes participate or there is some other type of special event involving the art, send home a photo of the kids making the art. (Check with your building administrator about photo clearance, usually not needed unless photos are distributed via newsletter or TV broadcast)