art, adapted.
what is adapted art?
Focused on inclusion, empowerment, and creative expression, Adapted art is designed to make the visual arts and art education accessible to individuals with disabilities and special needs. Adapted art educators' utilize the modification of tools and materials, artistic techniques and national visual arts curriculum, communication, visuals, and instructional methods to adapt art.
art, adapted.
Art, Adapted., was developed with the fundamental belief that Standards-Based General Education Art Curriculum can, and should be adapted to special needs students.
Students deserve high-quality Art Education that is standards-based and equal their General Education peers.
(SHE/HER/HERS)
ADAPTED ART SPECIALIST
CREATOR OF ART, ADAPTED.
Laura Smith
As an Adapted Art Specialist and the founder of Art, Adapted., Laura Smith developed an innovative award winning, evidence-based adapted art practices and techniques. In addition, Smith created new adapted visual arts curriculum, including project specific visuals that can be used both with students with disabilities and in a gen-ed art classroom.
It is Smith’s dream to create a world where ALL kids have access to high quality standards-based visual arts education.
Smith has extensive experience in the adapted art field. Smith has taught students with Autism Spectrum Disorder, both functional and academic; Behavior/Trauma Emotionally Disabled students from kindergarten to high school fine arts; students with intellectual disabilities, developmental delays, visual impairment, and blindness; students with speech and language impairment, orthopedic impairments and disabilities; and multiple disabilities.
Smith has a diverse resume and also works as a published author and illustrator of children’s books and graphic novels, and as a graphic designer.
inspiration
my inspiration.
Inspiration for Art, Adapted., came from my grandson, Beau, an AWESOME eight year old with Down Syndrome.
Beau’s birth changed the trajectory of my life, taking me on a journey of discovery to help better understand the unique needs of special kids and of my extraordinary grandson. My experience inspired me to create the award winning adapted art program, Art, Adapted. My goal was to create a program where special kids have an equal arts education to their gen-ed peers.
award winning program.
Over eight-years, Smith was able to develop an award winning adapted art program at a trauma informed public behavior school called, RISE, working with an extraordinarily diverse student population from kindergarten to age twenty-two.
when I say diverse, I’m talking about working with awesome students who are…
neurotypical and others who are neuroatypical; students with emotional disabilities, displaying significant behaviors and others with physical disabilities; students with mental health issues and some students with cognitive disabilities; students on the Autism spectrum; students on the rainbow spectrum; students who love art; some, not so much. All AWESOME!