Resources for Adaptive Artists

Art Beyond Sight Collaborative
http://www.ArtBeyondSight.org
The Art Beyond Sight Collaborative is an international collaborative of community-based groups and local affiliates of national agencies; museums and other arts-related organizations; elementary and high schools; colleges and universities; national and inter-national advocacy groups; and blind, visually impaired, and sighted art enthusiasts. The collaborative provides a forum for ongoing interdisciplinary dialogues among researchers and practitioners, who share expertise and materials. On the local level, we assist museum professionals and other educators; parents; artists; and art lovers to create vehicles for lasting change in their communities.

Art Institute of Chicago
http://www.artic.edu/aic/visitor_info/access.html
Visit the Art Institute's beautiful online exhibits. The Museum is completely wheelchair-accessible and incorporates many programs for people with disabilities, including guided tours for blind and visually-impaired patrons, and signed interpreters for those with hearing-loss.

Art over Disability
http://www.newsreview.com/issues/reno/2001-09-13/artstate.asp
The MDA Art Collection promotes the work of artists with neuromuscular diseases

Association for Mouth and Foot Painting Artists in Atlanta (AMFPA)
http://www.sconi.com/mfpa_inc.htm
AMFPA is an international association comprised of extraordinary self-supporting artists who paint either with the mouth or the foot. Since the U.S. office of AMFPA in Atlanta does not have its own official Web site, I am listing artist, Dennis Francesconi's site. Dennis is a full-member of AMFPA and he provides useful information about the organization.

AMFPA
http://www.amfpa.com
Explore AMFPA in four languages: English, French, Spanish, and German.

Art Disability Expession, Exhibit of VSA Arts
http://www.vsarts.org/gallery/exhibits/disability
Artists are creating enticing new work that reflects their experiences with disabilities. This exhibition explores the historical, emotional and sociological influences that have inspired their artistic expression. Collectively, their art reflects aspects of the universal human condition, such as the desire for dignity and equality, the celebration of individuality and the ability to find meaning in all of life's experiences.

Extensions for Independence
http://mouthstick.net/index.htm#Products
Designer and manufacturer of home and office-related equipment for the disabled—a motorized easel, mouth-stick brush holder, and many other useful adaptive tools for artists and others.

Fine Art Museums of San Francisco
http://www.thinker.org/index.asp
The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco are comprised of the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park and the Legion of Honor in Lincoln Park, the largest public arts institution in the City of San Francisco. The Legion of Honor is fully accessible, as will be the de Young Museum (still under construction). Read about the many programs and collections on this site.

Musee de Louvre
http://www.louvre.fr/louvrea.htm
Even if you can't fly to Paris, you can visit the Louvre's online exhibits and learn about the artists and history of the Museum and Palace. The Cyber Louvre opened in 1998 and provides an opportunity to become familiar with the Louvre collections and history.

Museum of Fine Arts—Boston
http://www.mfa.org/education/accessprograms.htm
Besides having one of the finest collections in the world, including online galleries, the Museum is committed to making both the museum and its activities accessible to visitors with disabilities. The MFA's programs exemplify the year-round opportunities for participants of all ages and abilities, including a program for visitors who are blind or have low vision that provides an exciting opportunity for tactile exploration of selected sculpture and furniture in the galleries. Participatory and interactive programs are also available.

Metropolitan Museum of Art
http://www.metmuseum.org/events/ev_vis_dis.asp
Explore the vast collections of online art from one of the greatest museums worldwide. The Metro also offers many programs for disabled patrons. See above link for detailed information

The National Arts and Disability Center (NADC) at UCLA
http://nadc.ucla.edu/
NADCs mission is to promote the full inclusion of artists and audiences with disabilities into all facets of the arts. The organization offers an extensive review of resources and free technical assitance for artists and arts organizations. The NADC spearheads a national initiative, the Statewide Forums on Careers in the Arts, in conjunction with VSA Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, to advance career opportunities for individuals with disabilities in the arts

NIAD Art Center
http://www.niadart.org/index.htm
The National Institute of Art and Disabilities (NIAD) is an innovative visual arts center serving adults with developmental and physical disabilities. Located just 6 miles north of Berkeley in Richmond, California, NIAD serves up to 50 adults each day from diverse cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. Some beautiful work exhibited online.

VSA Arts
http://www.vsarts.org
Founded in 1974 by Jean Kennedy Smith as an affiliate of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, VSA arts is an International organization that creates learning opportunities through the arts for people with disabilities. The organization offers arts-based programs in creative writing, dance, drama, music and the visual arts implemented primarily through our vast affiliate network in 39 states and the District of Columbia, collaborators in 10 states, and 70 international affiliates in 67 countries. VSA arts' programs now serve 4.3 million Americans and 1.3 million people in other parts of the world. (Look for VSA's upcoming feature on Adaptive Art.)

Infinitec encourages visitors to explore the many disability arts-related organizations found online and in your telephone directory—they are too numerous to list here, but will always make you smile as you discover all the work that's going on the world over!