Accessible Arts Program

The Accessible Arts Program is housed on the campus of the Kansas State School for the Blind.

• MISSION: To foster creativity and provide educational opportunities for people with disabilities while hosting an inclusive environment for all to engage, explore, and enjoy the arts.
• CREATIVITY: To form mental or physical images that are not physically present or have never been conceived or created by others.
• INCLUSIVITY: An inclusive community that is responsive and accessible providing all the arts, to all the people, all of the time.
• EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES: Classrooms with an art-based curriculum, resourceful instructors, and adaptations for people of all abilities.
• Creating art in an accessible format is not only tactual and fun, but also beautiful. A group of volunteers provides art activities for students on campus. In addition, they create tactual bulletin boards in the academic building throughout the year. The artwork presented was created by students who have a visual impairment. Enjoy the art and the tactual bulletin boards created for students at KSSB!

Man Pointing

A student’s impression of Alberto Giacometti’s sculpture named “Man Pointing”. The student formed the sculpture to show a man using a cane.

Origami Diorama

Students created a cardboard box diorama. Yellow origami cranes hang from the top of the box with clear string to create the look of a flock of birds in flight. Green paper strips at the bottom of the box show a bed of grass. Origami flowers of light green, navy blue, bright red, and bright yellow paper have been placed lightly on top of the paper grass.

Replica of a Cranmer Abacus

A student created a Cranmer abacus out of styrofoam, silver wire, and WikkiStix. The black styrofoam was used for the frame of the abacus.  Silver wire was pulled through white styrofoam balls for the beads. The letters “APH” were made with red WikkiStix and placed in the middle of the top frame.

Bulletin Board

The Accessible Arts program creates interactive and tactual bulletin boards for students on campus. An example is the White Cane Day Celebration bulletin board. Each board contains print, braille, visual, and tactual elements.