VSA (Kennedy Center) - Name Changes

Name Changes

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 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 National Committee - Arts for the Handicapped, then in 1985 became Very Special Arts. This changes to VSA arts in 1999, and simply VSA in 2009.

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.