Author: National Committee, Arts for the Handicapped

Publication Year: 1976

Media Type: Report

Summary:

The meaning and significance of life is intimately related to the ability of each of us, regardless of his status in the society, to manifest his uniqueness. Dr. Edwin Martin, the Deputy Commissioner of the Bureau of Education for the Handicapped, U S. Office of Education, DHEW has reminded us that as educators (we must) focus more carefully on the individual and his or her uniqueness.

Abstract:

The meaning and significance of life is intimately related to the ability of each of us, regardless of his status in the society, to manifest his uniqueness. Dr. Edwin Martin, the Deputy Commissioner of the Bureau of Education for the Handicapped, U S. Office of Education, DHEW has reminded us that as educators (we must) focus more carefully on the individual and his or her uniqueness. In that phrase he has probably expressed the significance of this conference as effectively and efficiently as is possible.

Those who work with the handicapped believe that creative arts play a crucial role in providing for the individual's uniqueness. It is both natural and fitting that the Bureau of Education for the Handicapped, with its emphasis on individuality and The National Committee, with its focus on creativity, respond to Dr. Martin's far sighted observation, The challenge of the next decade will be to reawaken our hearts and our spirits to the individual nature of each handicapped or gifted.

With this general goal in mind the combined efforts of these two organizations were joined to sponsor this conference, Arts and the Handicapped: Defining a National Direction. Topics chosen by a blue-ribbon committee were those that not only represented the greatest needs in the area of arts for the handicapped but were those that also appeared to be amenable to an applied research effort with a requital in the immediate future as a distinct possibility. The eight position papers in this monograph, which indicate not only the expertise of the highly selected participants but also their devotion to the handicapped (the papers were produced in less than a month's time) - will guide the Bureau of Education for the Handicapped in the future development of a creative arts program for the handicapped.

Our hope is that the wide dissemination of these Conference proceedings will serve to alert the professional community to the needs of the handicapped in the area of the Creative Arts and to ultimately provide for the handicapped, as President Carter personally recalled of his youthful exposure to the arts, something beautiful and full of meaning.

CONTENTS
An introductory statement - Laureen Summers.

Part 1. Establishing perspective. 
           Statement of purpose. 
           Conference design.
           Definitions: Harold Arberg, Ph.D. Director, Arts & Humanities Division, Office
           of Education. 
           An overview: Arts in education for the handicapped, Melville Appell,
           Division of Innovation & Development, Bureau of Education for the
           Handicapped.

Part 2. Exploring the current status.
           The state of the research, William G. Kalenius, Jr., Ph.D. Administrator for
           Public Services and Research, Clover Park School District.
           The Child and Aesthetic Development, Stanley S. Madeja, Ph.D, Executive
           Vice President, CEMREL, Inc.
           Public Facilities and Handicapped Patrons, Larry Molloy, Project Director,
           Educational Facilities Laboratory. 
           Career Development and Leisure Time, Judith E. Goldstein, Therapeutic
           Recreation Consultant, National Parks & Recreation.
           The role of the artist in working with handicapped people, Joan Newburg,
           NCAH Model Site Coordinator, San Fernando Valley Arts Council.
           Arts Education for the Handicapped, Jack Kukuk, Assistant Director, Alliance
           for Arts Education.
           The Nature of Society's Attitude toward the Handicapped and the Arts, 
           Gary C. Barlow, Ph.D.
           Speculations on Studying the field of Arts and the Handicapped,
           Jack Morrison, Ed.D., Executive Director, American Theatre Association.

Part 3. Projecting future arts research.
           Conclusions.
           Afterword: Garry McDaniels, Director, Division of Innovation and
           Development Bureau of Education for the handicapped.

Arts & Intersections:

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