Margaret Derrig

Dr. Richardson

Art Education 4400

April 25th, 2021

Inclusive Educator Statement

As an artist who lives with a learning disability and was considered “gifted” in school, I

have an understanding of how being a student with an exceptionality can affect your experience

in the art classroom. For myself, the experience has some positive aspects and some negative

ones. My personal experience is limited, but I believe it is important to continue to educate

myself about various types of disabilities and exceptionalities that students may have in my

classroom so I am better prepared to teach those students. I also want to create a classroom

environment that is already accommodating for various needs so that it is something already in

place and doesn't need to be fixed besides some basic adjustments for students’ personal needs.

A big part of what I know about disabilities comes from my studying of American Sign

Language and Deaf culture. I am getting a minor in American Sign Language, and taking the

classes for it has taught me a lot about Deaf history, Deaf culture, and what the experiences are

like for Deaf/deaf and Hard-of-Hearing students. Learning about these topics has greatly

influenced what I know and think about disabilities as well. It was where I was first introduced to

the difference between the medical model and the social model of disabilities. Having this

background knowledge coming into this class put me in a good position because I had already

started building my knowledge about what disabilities can mean and how they can impact

students.
 One big influence on my perspective of students with disabilities and exceptionalities

from this class was the documentary “Defiant Lives” from the second week of classes. This was

one of the first times I got to watch a documentary about the disability rights movement and

learn about the history of it. It really opened my mind to see what the experiences are like for

people with disabilities. I think that it is a very important documentary that every teacher should

watch. But watching it also raised questions and sparked my desire to find and watch more

documentaries on disabilities in education, disability rights, and related topics. I think that it’s

important for educators to become familiar with this history and these issues so they can better

teach their students with disabilities.

As an art educator, I want my classroom to be as accessible as possible, because I think it

is a perfectly conducive environment for creative accommodations so that the space and

materials are accessible as possible. Art is about creativity and expression and individuality,

which makes it the perfect space for students with exceptionalities to feel represented and

accommodated for, in a way that doesn’t feel forced or like it’s a burden. I want my art classroom

to already accommodate for different needs of various types of students. But these

accommodations can be available to all students, as to not single out students with

exceptionalities, but also because they can benefit students of all kinds. Having a classroom that

is accepting, accessible, and accommodating is very important to me so that I know every

student is having the best art experience that they can. Art is one of those classes that you may

love it, or you may hate it, and you might not get that many different experiences with it

depending on when/how it is offered at different schools. Because of this, I want to make sure

all of my students have the best experience they can, in case they don’t get many more after. This

way, hopefully they can continue to like art, or to at least think about it with an open mind. But if
the art classroom isn’t accessible, or accommodating for various needs and learners, then it won’t

give the students those opportunities.

My classroom will be accepting of all different types of identities, as each should be

accepted and feel safe in the art classroom. Art does not judge or hate, and my art classroom will

not either. No matter race, ethnicity, religion, political views, gender identity, sexual orientation,

disability, etc. all students are accepted and supported in the art classroom. There will be no

judging other students, only compassion and positivity. My art classroom will be a safe space for

all students, including those with disabilities and exceptionalities.