"There are two alternatives when dealing with a disability; either it dominates you or you dominate it."
Poet David Wright (who is deaf) might not have ever met Dame Evelyn Glennie, but his statement could easily define her outlook on deafness. Determined from a young age that people around her needed to see her for what she could do instead of for what she couldn’t hear, Evelyn’s story is a true inspiration to all of us.
Seeing the person first, and not the disability, is at the forefront of Imagination Stage’s Access programs. Since 1988, Imagination Stage has worked with members of our community who have disabilities and pioneered a number of innovative and successful approaches to inclusion.
Recently Imagination Stage’s Access program was selected as one of five organizations nationwide to become a national affiliate of Kids Included Together (KIT). As an affiliate, we have embarked on a two-year partnership which includes opportunities for training and consultation to both Imagination Stage staff and faculty on a regular basis with regards to inclusion supports in the classroom for students with disabilities. In 2009 Imagination Stage staff will be trained as Inclusion trainers to then serve as a regional resource for inclusion of students in out-of-school time programs.
The process of Inclusion at Imagination Stage is much like that of the work of an orchestra – each part is vital to providing its own sound, and contributing to the success of the group as a whole. Our instruments are supportive parents, nurturing faculty & staff, and welcoming peers. Working together they create an environment that celebrates each person’s ability to participate in the arts, and seeing that magic happen week after week here at Imagination Stage is music to my ears.
By Lisa Agogliati, Deaf Access Program Director
Seeing the person first, and not the disability, is at the forefront of Imagination Stage’s Access programs. Since 1988, Imagination Stage has worked with members of our community who have disabilities and pioneered a number of innovative and successful approaches to inclusion.
Recently Imagination Stage’s Access program was selected as one of five organizations nationwide to become a national affiliate of Kids Included Together (KIT). As an affiliate, we have embarked on a two-year partnership which includes opportunities for training and consultation to both Imagination Stage staff and faculty on a regular basis with regards to inclusion supports in the classroom for students with disabilities. In 2009 Imagination Stage staff will be trained as Inclusion trainers to then serve as a regional resource for inclusion of students in out-of-school time programs.
The process of Inclusion at Imagination Stage is much like that of the work of an orchestra – each part is vital to providing its own sound, and contributing to the success of the group as a whole. Our instruments are supportive parents, nurturing faculty & staff, and welcoming peers. Working together they create an environment that celebrates each person’s ability to participate in the arts, and seeing that magic happen week after week here at Imagination Stage is music to my ears.
By Lisa Agogliati, Deaf Access Program Director
Labels: Deaf Access, Inclusion
posted by Imagination Stage at
5:58 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home