About ASE
The Art in Special Education Interest Group serves as a platform for exchanging best practices, situated at the intersection of PreK-12 Art and Special Education.
Our Name
The name of the organization shall be known (as of Spring 2023) as The Art in Special Education (ASE) interest group of the National Art Education Association, herein referred to as ASE/NAEA respectively.
We acknowledge that while less than ideal, the term Special Education is currently the language of the field. Knowing this, we will continue to partner with members of the Disabled community and “strive to use language that is free of bias and avoid perpetuating prejudicial beliefs or demeaning attitudes” (American Psychological Association, 2020, n.p.).
Our Purpose
The purpose shall be to define and establish the role of the Art in Special Education Issues Group as a special interest group of NAEA and:
Provide a voice and advocacy for all students with diverse needs and the K-12 art teachers, museum and community arts educators, and special education instructors who work with them.
Provide a forum to share best practices for working with students who identify within the Disability community through the arts.
Provide information for the NAEA website related to teaching, advocating and working with individuals who identify within the Disabled community including information about agencies or resources that focus on the arts for Disabled individuals.
Provide a liaison with the Council for Exceptional Children in order to share information, education and training expertise;
Develop a network of NAEA members who have an interest in ensuring that those who identify within the Disabled community, children and teachers, have access to the arts.
Interface with the NAEA Disability Studies, Arts & Education interest group so that we may best engage with and support art educators both as practitioners and researchers.
Interface with members of regional and national Art Therapy Associations so that we may share and collaborate on best practices in the field.
Our History
Before the Art in Special Education Interest Group, formerly known as the Special Needs Art Education (SNAE) Interest Group, became a reality, NAEA conference attendees filled the rooms of presenters like Peter Geisser (RI), Adrienne Hunter (PA), Susan Loesl (WI), and Doris Guay (OH) to hear about equitable art making practices in Special Education. During this time most art educators had little training in special education.
After a presentation, attendees often gathered to continue the session and talk to others with similar concerns. It soon became obvious that more time to talk and network was needed. The ASE group grew out of these informal meetings and the efforts of other NAEA members. In San Francisco , for example, members of the NAEA Board of Directors might remember Beverly Gerber's (CT) and Janet Fedorenko's (OH) requests that NAEA form a group to focus on special education students. And, if you attended the Binney&Smith reception in Los Angeles, it was unlikely that you got by Barbara Suplee (PA) without signing a petition to form the ASE group. Her presentation to the NAEA Delegates' Assembly received a unanimous vote of support. Once approved by the NAEA Board of Directors, the ASE group became a reality.
