Adaptive Resources
* This list is intended to provide information, not service as a recommendation or endorsement.
ART SUPPLIES & ADAPTIVE TOOLS
While some artist organizations are a resource for networks and information, these Web sites are places to get adaptive supplies. Please note that many of the vendors carry the same type of product at a different price, so it pays to shop around. Also, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Many more art supply and adaptive tools resources exist on the Web, so when in doubt, Google!
Ability Hub
www.abilityhub.com
Assistive Technology (AT) simplifies the lives of artists with disabilities, but AT is not necessarily simple. This Web site offers an easy and organized way to find adaptive equipment, answers to questions about AT you might already have, and features a host of resources for alternative solutions to using computers.
AbleNet, Inc.
www.ablenetinc.com
800-322-0956
AbleNet worked in preschools and classrooms in Minnesota for many years. As teachers, they wanted products that were simple-to-use, colorful, reasonable prices, and reliable. They designed products that were specifically designed for people with the most severe disabilities, not only provide learning experiences at school, but could also help parents have fun with their children at home. Includes Art for Me, Too!, a book to include the use of assistive technology in your art activities.
Alimed
www.alimed.com
800-225-2610
This site is predominantly medical and generalized orthopedic and rehabilitative supplies, but many of these adaptive tools could be useful to an artist with a disability.
Art Supply Warehouse
www.aswexpress.com
800-995-6778
The Art Supply Warehouse has wrist-and-hand supporting bridges to give you control while you paint (the Tanner Watercolor Bridge, $19.99), adjustable-height drafting or drawing boards that can tilt your work surface (2001 Art Station by Studio RTA, $119.99), and other art supplies. The Web site can be complicated to navigate, so call the toll-free number for a catalog.
Cheap Joe's Art Stuff
www.cheapjoescatalog.com
800-227-2788
Cheap Joe's is another art supply store with immense online offerings and a huge catalog. The Web site hosts an "artists' community" and even has a magazine, cleverly named The Palette .
Dick Blick
www.dickblick.com
800-828-4548
Dick Blick is a legend, with an extensive Web site, a catalog, and stores throughout the country.
Gold Violin
www.goldviolin.com
877-648-8400
The target audience of this Web site and company is older Americans, but many of the adaptive tools and gadgets are useful for artists with disabilities too.
Pearl Paint Supplies
www.pearlpaint.com
800-221-6845
Pearl Paint is a general art supply store with a big online shopping resource. Come here for any art supply, such as Winsor-Newton pots of paint (easier to manipulate if you have limited hand or arm control).
Madenta
www.madentec.com
Madenta makes trackers for head pointing that work with a tiny dot taped to your forehead.
Mobility Store
www.mobilitystore.com
800-603-9857
This Web site offers adaptive tools for every aspect of life, and many can be applied to your art, like the Gripcert reacher. It can allow you to grip many objects, from a single sheet of paper to a tiny tube of paint, water jars, canvasses, brushes, and even something as fine as a coin.
Northcoast Medical
www.ncmedical.com
800-821-9319
While not specifically art-related, the online catalog features many tools and devices that can be used in a studio environment.
Sammons Preston
www.sammonspreston.com
800-323-5547
The equipment and adaptive resources available from this site and catalog are general, but include tools specifically for arts and crafts as well. Call the toll-free number for a catalog.
S&S Healthcare
www.snswwide.com
800-566-6678
In the late 1960's, Stephen became president of S&S and has continued the mail order approach developed by his father, but expanded the company's product line, which now includes games, therapy products, early learning materials and products for movement, motion and balance. An entire section of arts and crafts materials, most of the adaptive supplies are under the "therapy" sections.
FOR MUSIC
Arts4All, Ltd.
www.arts4all.com
A provider of digital arts, arts education, and entertainment content for students, teachers, and audiences around the world. This was created to pioneer the future of the digital arts industry.
Coalition for Disabled Musicians
www.disabled-musicians.org
Phone: (631) 586-0366
e-mail CDMNews@aol.com
Click on "adaptive gear" for information about modified instruments and check out their national referral service.
Dancing Dots
Phone: (610) 783-6692
email: info@dancingdots.com
http://www.dancingdots.com
In 1997 Dancing Dots released its first product, the GOODFEEL Braille Music Translator. The company has expanded its focus to enabling blind musicians to independently record, edit and print out their musical ideas. In 2001, Dancing Dots published a new curriculum for Braille music entitled: "An Introduction to Music for the Blind Student, A Course in Braille Music Reading", by Richard Taesch. Soon after introducing this new curriculum, the company released Taesch's "Introduction to the Piano for the Blind Student." Although the company specializes in the integration of assistive technology and music, it also provides sales, support and training for more conventional assistive technology and music supplies. Consultation and training services are available.
National Resource Center for Blind Musicians
www.blindmusicstudent.org
On the home page, click on the link to the table of contents for connections to education information, like the Summer Institute, and perspectives from professional musicians.
Super Switch Ensemble
www.switchintime.com
Imagine using a switch to conduct a symphony orchestra, sing a nursery rhyme, improvise a heavy-metal guitar solo, call a western square dance or belt out a smoky blues song! This software enables students with mixed abilities to actively participate in musical activities using existing adaptive computer equipment and a music synthesizer built into your computer.
[Note: The following were extracted from B-Sharp News , a newsletter from the Coalition for Disabled Musicians]
E-Z chord - Graywood Mailbox Music
Phone: 1-800-462-5917, or 918-426-3656.
A device that clips onto the neck of the guitar and makes it easier to play chords.
Mouth Activated Controllers for Piano & Keyboards - Digital Music Network
Email: pierrej@earthlink.net
Equipment that enables people with limited or no use of their lower extremities to use the sustain pedal on pianos and keyboards.
Backsaver Drum Practice Pad - KayJae Manufacturing Co., Inc.
Att: Donald Jaeger, President
1-888-4-KAYJAE, (804)725-9664
www.kayjae.com
email: sales@kayjae.com
The KayJae Backsaver Drum Practice Pad was invented to make it easier, more comfortable and less painful to practice rudiments or to warm up before a performance. It is light weight and portable, and can be used on almost any chair, even a drum stool.
MUSICOR
10 rue Joseph Liouville
75015 Paris - France
Tel: 33 1 56 36 00 32
email: marie-claude.dagens@caes.cnrs.fr
contact: Maria Saboia
Experimental invention that provides support for the arms and hands while playing piano or keyboards. Inventor claims that the Musicor user will feel more confident and more relaxed, and can guide and control their movements with ease.
FOR PERFORMERS
Damon Brooks Associates
www.damonbrooks.com
Damon Brooks is a talent agency that specifically represents performers and speakers who have disabilities. The Web site includes a list of the performers they represent as well as their clientele. Contact them directly for information about joining their roster.
Media Access Office
www.disabilityemployment.org/med_acc.htm
Primarily West coast-based, the Media Access Office "promotes the employment and accurate portrayal of persons with disabilities in all areas of the media and entertainment industry." The Web site includes links to job and networking opportunities, news, and other resources.
Mixed Ability Dance Resource Directory
http://www.wac.ucla.edu/cip/dancemedia/index.htm
Mixed Ability Dance Resource Directory includes dance companies and groups are comprised of dancers with and without disabilities. In addition to performance work many of the dance companies also provide dance instruction, workshops or training.
The Non-Traditional Casting Project (NTCP)
www.ntcp.org
NTCP is a not-for-profit advocacy organization established in 1986 to address and seek solutions to the problems of racism and exclusion in theater, film and television. They offer a resource guide that includes information on working with actors with disabilities, as well as a consulting and information program that consults to a variety of organizations, institutions and individuals regarding diversity and inclusion, covering a range of professional needs. Also check out their roundtable and resource evenings, which bring together actors, directors, casting directors, producers, writers, agents and designers to deepen the dialogue regarding inclusion through the candid exchange of personal views. Visit:
Professional Enrichment Program (PEP)
http://www.culturedisabilitytalent.org
PEP is a coalition of partners (in the San Francisco Bay area) sponsoring activities to build bridges, enabling and supporting people from non-traditional groups, especially people with disabilities, to engage in professional theatre work. The website has a list of writings about adapting theatre.
MAGAZINES
Ability Magazine
www.abilitymagazine.com
Ability Magazine focuses on issues from the perspective of the disability community, with a focus on arts, current events, and entertainment.
The Disability Rag
www.ragged-edge-mag.com
A progressive, edgy, and interesting Web site with interesting news and viewpoints on the disability community.
KALEIDOSCOPE
www.udsakron.org/kaleidoscope.htm
Kaleidoscope magazine has a creative focus that examines the experiences of disability through literature and the fine arts. Unique to the field of disability studies, this award-winning publication expresses the experiences of disability from the perspective of individuals, families, healthcare professionals, and society as a whole. The material chosen for Kaleidoscope challenges and overcomes stereotypical, patronizing, and sentimental attitudes about disability. Although content always focuses on a particular aspect of disability, writers with and without disabilities are welcome to submit their work.
New Mobility Magazine
www.newmobility.com
This general disability community magazine's Web site is very easy to navigate, with links to recent articles, an "expert online" section, and a classified section.
ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS
Links to local resources, information about how to use technology, career guidance-these organizations and Web sites have a lot to offer.
Ability Hub
www.abilityhub.com
This Web site offers an easy and organized way to find adaptive equipment, answers to questions about AT you might already have, and features a host of resources for alternative solutions to using computers.
American Association of People with Disabilities
www.aapd.com
866-241-3200 (Toll-free voice/TTY)
This is the largest national nonprofit organization of people with disabilities, dedicated to ensuring economic self-sufficiency and political empowerment for people with disabilities. Membership is inexpensive, and includes benefits like New Mobility magazine, membership in a federal credit union, and a mail-order prescription drug benefit.
Art Beyond Sight Collaborative
www.artbeyondsight.org
Art Beyond Sight is an international collaborative that is providing a forum for ongoing interdisciplinary dialogues among researchers, artists, museum professionals, educators, parents, artists, and art lovers to create vehicles for lasting change in their communities.
Arts as a Force of Healing, Building, & Empowerment
www.artslynx.org/heal/index.htm
This comprehensive site contains well-researched links and several subheadings for artists with disabilities, both to share their work and to learn about resources.
Association for Mouth and Foot Painting Artists (AMFPA)
www.amfpa.com
AMFPA is an active international association of self-supporting artists who paint either with the mouth or the foot. If you do paint with your mouth or foot, contact this organization to see about becoming a member. http://www.sconi.com/mfpa_inc.htm
This is the Web site of one of its artist members, because the organization does not have a U.S. Web site.
Blindskills, Inc., and Dialogue magazine
www.blindskills.com
The Web site and magazine are designed for people who are blind or have low vision. It includes promotions for job-hunting resources and information on large-print books.
Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation Paralysis Resource Center
www.paralysis.org
The home page of this extensive Web site can lead you to many pages of information and resources about paralysis in general. Click on "tools and technology" to reach information on adaptive resources that extend beyond the arts.
Deaf Nation
www.deafnation.com
Aiming to be the online resource for the deaf and hard of hearing community, Deaf Nation provides news, video clips with sign language, and "the latest in deaf sports."
Half The Planet
www.halftheplanet.org
Founded by former VSA arts President John Kemp, Half the Planet's Web site offers a wealth of information on nearly any topic you could think of. Under "departments" click on "arts" where there is a full list of arts organizations for persons with disabilities.
Infinitec
www.infinitec.org
A joint project of United Cerebral Palsy Association of Greater Chicago and Washington, D.C., Infinitec's Web site is full of interesting pages and ideas dedicated to the power of assistive technology (AT). Click on the arts-related link to see a fascinating online exhibit called "Feeding the Soul" which features the work of artists with disabilities (including Lisa Fittipaldi) and information about adaptive resources.
The International Guild of Disabled Artists and Performers
www.igodap.org
The guild is a collective of artists and performers with disabilities. It's free to join, and it's a great resource for networking and finding information about international disabled arts festivals. Click on the "profiles" link to find out about interesting organizations, festivals, and artists worldwide.
Mainstream Online
www.mainstream-mag.com
Mainstream is a longstanding advocate for the general disability community. The Web site offers news, commentary and information on technology, products, and resources for people with disabilities.
The National Institute of Art and Disabilities (NIAD)
www.niadart.org
NIAD is an innovative visual arts center in northern California that serves adults with developmental and physical disabilities. Among the resources available on their site is the video "Freedom to Create: Studio Set-up, Adaptations for Physically Disabled, The Studio in Action" for $35.00.
The National Arts and Disability Center (NADC)
nadc.ucla.edu
NADC is the national information dissemination, technical assistance and referral center specializing in the field of arts and disability. The site is a deep resource of information about opportunities, classes and services, and funding for artists with disabilities and organizations that serve them.
National Endowment for the Arts Office for AccessAbility
www.nea.gov/resources/Accessibility/index.html
202-682-5400
The National Endowment for the Arts' Office for AccessAbility resource center is extensive-a good place to start looking for just about anything related to arts and disability.
ZotArtz: Arts for All Program
www.zotartz.com
The Arts for All program introduces art tools designed to allow everyone to "be empowered through the arts". The medium consists of an art roller (attaches to a wheel chair or a handle to be used tabletop or on the ground), pogo paint sticks, a chalk-walk n' roll device and others. Sites are able to rent the set of tools. The uses include both group events and in classrooms. The resulting art product is an original large mural size painting created on paper secured to a large area of floor space.
(F) 202-429-0868