West Virginia - Stepping Stones
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400 Mylan Park Lane |
Ms. Susan Fox |
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Tel: (304) 983-7837 |
Organizational Profile:
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Full-time Staff: 3 |
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Stepping Stones strives to help people with disabilities achieve their maximum level of independence. This mission is accomplished by offering programs in the areas of community participation, leadership skills, physical, mental and emotional skills, self-esteem, and self-expression.
Programming Partners and Other Funders:
Hott Foundation; Brown Foundation; West Virginia Department of Education; Regional Education Service Agencies; West Virginia Division of Culture; West Virginia Fairs and Festivals Commission; West Virginia Convention and Visitors Bureaus; Arts Monongahela; Compeer; United Way; City of Morgantown, WV
State Programs
Educational Programs and Artist Residencies
Morgantown Summer Camp
Through the Morgantown camp, Stepping Stones provides arts programming during the summer for K-12 students with disabilities. The camp will operate for eight weeks, three days per week. During this summer camp, students will experience outdoor recreation and exploration, visual arts, crafts, dance, music, creative expression, field trips, and special visitors. Students will develop an exhibit or performance to be showcased at the end of camp. A partner will be sought in another area of the state to operate a similar summer day camp. Assistance will be provided as needed to the partner based on the outcomes of the Morgantown camp.
Artist Workshops
Stepping Stones uses the Artist Workshops program as a vehicle to recruit, train and place artists into schools. Each residency will be a partnership between a professional artist and a teacher and is designed to produce new and effective teaching methods. Teachers draw on the artists’ expertise in art; artists draw on the teachers’ knowledge of child development. Together, they develop art activities that help children learn social, emotional, physical, and cognitive skills.
Professional Development and Technical Assistance
Training and Technical Assistance
To reach West Virginia teachers with inclusive arts education practices, Stepping Stones has implemented a statewide training and technical assistance workshop. Content will focus on effective tools and strategies, as well as hands-on arts activities. A workshop for teachers will include information on VSA arts programs, art activities and ways to make art classrooms more inclusive. The workshop will present VSA arts as a resource for arts, education and disability information. Technical assistance will be provided on a one-to-one basis to educators upon request.
Art Assistance Scholarshop Awards
Stepping Stones is initiating a statewide scholarship program for art education funding and/or technical assistance of up to $1,000 to artists with disabilities interested in seeking additional training or experience. Funding can be applied to assist with purchasing supplies, contract for training and, ultimately, display an art medium. Award winners will be selected through a nomination and evaluation process conducted by Stepping Stones.
Cultural Access and Inclusive Arts Services
Arts in the Mountains
Arts in the Mountains is a collaboration between Stepping Stones and the West Virginia Division of Culture. This joint venture is built around producing, maintaining, and updating a roster of artists and arts organizations throughout the state that are qualified to work with people with disabilities.
Discovering Voices
A new program between Stepping Stones, Compeer, the United Way, and other Mental Health agencies, Discovering Voices will provide financial and technical avenues of self-expression for people with disabilities. The focus will be on providing financial assistance for hosting exhibits, lectures, and workshops.
Accessiblity Evaluation
The purpose of this program is to review the city of Morgantown, West Virginia’s ADA compliance Manual/Transition Plan and to make recommendations for updating these plans. Stepping Stones will work with the city of Morgantown to evaluate such areas as facilities’ accessibility and communication policies, programs, and services. The long-term goal is to evaluate other cities across the state based upon outcomes from the city of Morgantown’s compliance
Public Awareness and Outreach
‘eers and Eyes
With ‘eers and Eyes, Stepping Stones has initiated a school-based arts network across West Virginia that will be comprised primarily of students with disabilities. Special education departments in schools will be encouraged to have their students develop a visual arts exhibit or a performance. The resulting exhibits and performances will be showcased or displayed at statewide celebrations of the arts.
Arts for All
Arts for All is specially designed arts equipment that is inclusive for people with disabilities. The equipment will be utilized approximately four times a year at art festivals and events.
Miss Ability Pageant
In the spring of 2006, Stepping Stones will join with other community members to host the Miss Ability Pageant. In this program, women ages 12 and over are invited to participate in several phases including a talent segment, which may include such things as jewelry making, poetry reading, painting, dance, and vocals. The goal of the Miss Ability Pageant is to increase the self-esteem and confidence of women with disabilities.
(F) 202-429-0868