Everyone deserves to have access to art and have their voice heard, but how do we, as abled service providers, do that? Join us to explore and learn about how to engage all clients in the art making process. By listening to the needs of disabled and neurodiverse populations, we can begin to provide authentic, validating therapy and art experiences for our clients. In this training we will present accessible art directives, guides, and resources designed to serve a wide range of clients. By critically looking at how we define art therapy, art making, and who it is for, this training will invite participants to explore how they can create more inclusive spaces for clients. This training is a time to deepen our understanding of what an accessible art studio can look like, explore tools to develop your confidence and directives, and gain resources and skills that create space for your clients to develop in their artistic process and have freedom of expression. You will leave with concrete tools and resources, as well as guides to help shape your practice into an inclusive space.  

Objectives

• Identify two ways in which affirming and inclusive art therapy differs from a traditional art therapy session ​

• Understand how to break down directives into accessible and authentic parts.​

• Describe how ableism can affect how we work with clients

• Explain how having a critical lens of art and art therapy can support a more authentic experience for disabled and neurodiverse populations 

• Be able to name/create two supports for clients