675:– is "to provide people of all ages living with disabilities the opportunity to learn through, participate in and enjoy the arts." A primary focus is on arts education opportunities for young people with disabilities and to "promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in the arts, education and culture around the world." Each year, people of all ages and abilities participate in VSA programs, which cover all artistic genres—music, dance, visual arts, theater and literary arts. This is accomplished through a network of affiliates in 52 countries and VSA state organizations across America.
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682:, effective 3 October 2005. The stated purpose of this action was to "enable both organizations to expand and strengthen their arts education programs to better serve children, families and all people with disabilities around the world." Other reasons cited were to allow for the sharing of resources and programming between the two organizations. The affiliation became a full merger in 2011.
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Inclusion teaches us that all means all. Everybody. No exceptions. The arts invite people to leave familiar territory, explore new questions, and seek answers. The arts offer a means to self-expression, communication, and independence. By learning through the arts, students become lifelong learners,
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VSA and its name have evolved since the organization was founded. The organization was and continues to be a pioneer in the field of arts and disability. VSA has played a significant role over the years in changing society's attitudes toward people with disabilities. With that change, the
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Each year VSA sponsors many notable programs such as the "International Young
Soloists Program," "Playwright Discovery" program, Call for Children's art, internships across the nation for students with disabilities. VSA/VW call for art program offers an exhibition opportunity for emerging
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experiencing the joy of discovery and exploration, and the value of each other's ideas. VSA is committed to driving change thru the arts – classroom by classroom, community by community.
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Two years later, in 2011, VSA and the
Kennedy Center's Office on Accessibility merged, becoming the Department of VSA and Accessibility at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
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organization has regularly looked at its own identity to ensure it is consistent with current attitudes and language used by the disability community. The organization began in 1974 as
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On 28 September 2005 the Board of
Trustees of the Kennedy Center and the Board of Directors of VSA arts – as the organization was known at the time – announced their formal
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in April 1993. This 272-page book profiled 16 artists with disabilities who discussed how participation in the arts made a positive difference in their lives.
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Many artists of note have been directly involved with, or supportive of, VSA. Those with disabilities have included deaf singer/songwriter
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with disabilities in the U.S. ages 16–25, including $ 60,000 in cash awards (among the largest in the nation) with a $ 20,000 grand prize.
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is an international organization on arts, education and disability, which was founded in 1974 by former U.S. Ambassador to
Ireland
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All individuals with disabilities who aspire to careers in the arts should have the opportunity to develop appropriate skills.
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All artists in schools and art educators should be prepared to include students with disabilities in their instruction.
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All children, youth, and adults with disabilities should have complete access to cultural facilities and activities.
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Every young person with a disability deserves access to high quality arts learning experiences.
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external links, and converting useful links where appropriate into
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White House Office of the Press
Secretary (15 February 2011).
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Association of Mouth and Foot
Painting Artists of the World
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Dissimilar
Reflections, Photography Exhibition, Nottingham
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may not follow
Knowledge (XXG)'s policies or guidelines
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Disability organizations based in the United States
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671:. The purpose of VSA – which started out as
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690:The four principals which guide VSA are that:
668:John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
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974:"Chronicles of Courage: Very Special Artists"
819:National Committee - Arts for the Handicapped
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740:Chronicles of Courage: Very Special Artists
666:Department of VSA and Accessibility at the
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853:"JFK's sister Jean Kennedy Smith reflects"
798:wrote and published a sequel to her novel
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85:Learn how and when to remove this message
1237:1974 establishments in Washington, D.C.
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871:"The Last Kennedy: Jean Kennedy Smith"
238:Individualized Education Program (IEP)
508:Disabled Peoples' International (DPI)
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432:Social Security Disability Insurance
1161:Organisations in the United States
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1232:Organizations established in 1974
996:"International VSA Festival 2010"
875:ABC World News with Diane Sawyer
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498:National Telecommuting Institute
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27:US-based non-profit organization
1142:Adam Reynolds' Memorial Bursary
503:Society for Disability Studies
360:Unlicensed assistive personnel
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944:on the Kennedy Center website
437:Supplemental Security Income
199:Ableism / Disablism
452:Disabled students allowance
447:Disability Living Allowance
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1168:Creative Growth Art Center
931:VSA Arts "Four Principals"
707:Moreover, they state that
664:. In 2011, VSA became the
660:, and is headquartered in
311:Disability rights movement
686:Principles and philosophy
457:Disabled Persons Railcard
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733:co-authored a book with
470:the Severely Handicapped
426:Socioeconomic assistance
336:Sexuality and disability
1125:Organisations in Europe
743:which was published by
585:Disability in the media
1152:Graeae Theatre Company
1147:Extant Theatre Company
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767:, theatrical director
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575:Disability in the arts
398:Physical accessibility
1106:Judith Scott (artist)
1086:John Patrick McKenzie
987:article and video on
775:, actor and director
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326:People-first language
304:Societal implications
1183:VSA (Kennedy Center)
859:. 26 September 2010.
829:in 1999, and simply
393:Orthotics and braces
378:Assistive technology
55:improve this article
1173:Creativity Explored
825:. This changed to
800:Deaf Child Crossing
354:Personal assistance
261:Learning disability
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67:footnote references
1010:Charter Oak Center
731:Jean Kennedy Smith
658:Jean Kennedy Smith
468:Assured Income for
136:Jean Kennedy Smith
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979:Publishers Weekly
900:National Archives
877:. 26 August 2009.
823:Very Special Arts
794:-winning actress
790:and many others.
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413:Web accessibility
373:Accessible toilet
256:Special education
194:Disability theory
187:Theory and models
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18:Very Special Arts
16:(Redirected from
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1192:Events worldwide
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969:Official website
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955:Nobody's Perfect
953:Matlin, Marlee.
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805:Nobody's Perfect
717:Notable programs
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544:Paralympic Games
539:Special Olympics
408:Universal design
331:Pejorative terms
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812:Name changes
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786:, violinist
784:Dale Chihuly
781:glass artist
769:Jack Hofsiss
757:Mandy Harvey
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745:Random House
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729:VSA founder
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513:Visitability
462:Freedom Pass
388:Mobility aid
286:Occupational
214:Other models
209:Social model
142:Headquarters
114:Company type
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57:by removing
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1076:Tony Heaton
1066:Bobby Baker
802:, entitled
777:Howie Seago
771:, musician
763:, sculptor
761:Chuck Close
680:affiliation
549:Deaflympics
403:Prosthetics
1221:Categories
1137:Shape Arts
1101:Marc Quinn
1061:Sue Austin
976:review in
915:Affiliates
840:References
759:, painter
607:Disability
531:Parasports
179:Disability
163:/education
1116:Jess Thom
857:USA Today
833:in 2009.
737:entitled
316:Inclusion
227:Education
118:Nonprofit
75:June 2019
59:excessive
827:VSA arts
281:Physical
1054:Artists
1012:website
1008:on the
1002:website
998:on the
568:Culture
518:WeThe15
362: (
274:Therapy
152:Website
132:Founder
124:Founded
53:Please
45:use of
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486:Groups
291:Speech
612:Lists
913:VSA
364:ADLs
165:/vsa
161:.org
127:1974
831:VSA
654:VSA
157:www
100:VSA
61:or
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