- Sep 21, 2010
ARTS HORIZONS RECEIVES NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS GRANT FOR ITS SPECIAL EDUCATION ARTISTS ACADEMY
Grant Prepares Teaching Artists to Work with Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Englewood, NJ – (WiredPRNews.com) – Arts Horizons, one of the largest arts-in-education organizations in the New York/Metropolitan area, has been awarded a $26,000 grant in support of its Special Education Artist Academy. SEAA is a unique, sustainable model program for training specialized Teaching Artists who work directly with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in inclusive and special education environments.
The grant will enable the SEAA program to continue into its fourth year program with the New York City Department of Education’s District 75/Citywide. District 75 provides citywide educational, vocational and behavior support programs for students who are on the Autism spectrum as well as students with significant cognitive delays, emotional challenges, sensory impairment and/or multiple disabilities. Presently, the SEAA program operates out of P188X in the Bronx, P226 in Manhattan and P255 Q in Queens.
“The Arts provides a wealth of opportunity to connect with students on the autism spectrum,” says Dena Malarek, Arts Horizons Senior Program Manager for Special Populations. “The theater, music and dance programs we provide transcend verbal communication, and unlock the talents and spirits of our students. By training additional Teaching Artists through our Special Education Artist Academy, we hope to uncover the key to not only better understand students with autism and other learning challenges, but to help them find their voices and flourish as artists.”
The SEAA program benefits students and their families, teachers, schools and teaching artists, and was created in direct response to the rise in enrollment of students with special needs, particularly those with ASD. By training teaching artists to work with this population, the Arts Horizons SEAA Program increases the Teaching Artists’ skills, and provides them with the necessary tools to better reach the children and work collaboratively with schools and allied therapists to support student learning.
The SEAA specialized Teaching Artist Training program will be conducted through the year, and includes professional development sessions as well as in class, hands-on work with children.
About the NEA
The National Endowment for the Arts is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts, both new and established; bringing the arts to all Americans; and providing leadership in arts education. Established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government, the Endowment is the nation’s largest annual funder of the arts, bringing great art to all 50 states, including rural areas, inner cities, and military bases. For more information, visit: http://www.nea.gov/
About Arts Horizons
Arts Horizons, located in Englewood, NJ, is a premier arts-in-education, non-profit organization that reaches more than 250,000 children, teachers and parents a year throughout the New York/Metropolitan area, with vibrant school and community-based programs where children gain appreciation for the arts. Founded in 1978, Arts Horizons is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York and New Jersey State Councils on the Arts as well as numerous foundations, corporations and generous individuals. To learn more about Arts Horizons, or the Arts Horizons Special Education Artists Academy, please visit: www.artshorizons.org or contact Dena Malarek at dena@artshorizons.org, or call (201) 567-1766 Ext. 108.