NAEA Position Statement on Visual Art Educators with Disabilities

NAEA acknowledges the importance of recruiting, retaining, and supporting visual arts, design, and media arts educators with disabilities, evident and not evident. Art educators with disabilities bring unique perspectives and skills to the field of art education. Visual arts, design, and media arts educators with disabilities possess valuable insights derived from lived experiences. Art educators with disabilities are in positions to advocate for and bring awareness and understanding of others who experience disabilities.

NAEA advocates for and affirms the rights of art educators with disabilities. Art educators with disabilities may choose to disclose disabilities. NAEA believes equitable and inclusive schools, cultural institutions, arts associations, community settings, and museums intentionally foster a positive and welcoming culture, provide accommodations, and follow laws regarding individuals with disabilities. NAEA encourages socially just practices and policies that promote increased awareness, understanding cultural and societal obstacles and systems, and acceptance of visual arts, design, and media arts educators with disabilities.

Resources:

ADA.gov. (n.d.). The Americans With Disabilities Act. https://www.ada.gov

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, September 16). Disability inclusion. http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/disability-inclusion.html

Council for Exceptional Children. (2016, February). CEC’s policy on educators with disabilities. https://exceptionalchildren.org/sites/default/files/2020-08/EWD%20Policy%20Statement_FIXED.pdf

Derby, J. (2013). Nothing about us without us: Art education’s disservice to disabled people. Studies in Art Education, 54(4), 376–380. https://doi.org/10.1080/00393541.2013.11518910