VSA (Kennedy Center) - Principles and Philosophy

Principles and Philosophy

The four principals which guide VSA are that:

• Every young person with a disability deserves access to high quality arts learning experiences.
• All artists in schools and art educators should be prepared to include students with disabilities in their instruction.
• All children, youth, and adults with disabilities should have complete access to cultural facilities and activities.
• All individuals with disabilities who aspire to careers in the arts should have the opportunity to develop appropriate skills.

Moreover they state that

Inclusion teaches us that all means all. Everybody. No exceptions. The arts invite people to leave familiar territory, explore new questions, and seek answers. The arts offer a means to self-expression, communication, and independence. By learning through the arts, students become lifelong learners, experiencing the joy of discovery and exploration, and the value of each other's ideas. VSA is committed to driving change thru the arts – classroom by classroom, community by community.