Facilitators: Jacqueline Ann Clipsham, Anne Finger

The session participants were given brainstorming time for about five minutes to meditate on the question below. The group then broke into six smaller groups - each person in a group discussed his/her list, after which the smaller groups created a master list of ideas, grouped according to importance. After 15 minutes, all the groups came together to share their ideas. The following is a summary of these ideas:

"How can people with disabilities entering careers in the arts best access important funding and learning opportunities?"

• Mentorship Programs
  • learning from an experienced anchor, someone who has already established himself/herself in the career and who can give good solid advice of his/her experience
  • mentors can lead youth down a path that has already been laid out
• Grant Writing
  • grants which are well-written will be taken seriously
  • if needed to ensure a well-written grant, assistance should be sought from people or organizations knowledgeable about grant-writing
• Clearinghouse for information pertaining to the arts and disabilities
  • clearinghouse should include topics such as grant writing, disability needs, arts education, resources, etc.
  • information should be accessible via the World Wide Web
• Networking / Advocacy
  • building personal relationships, beginning at this Forum
  • building supportive bonds with other artists, disabled and nondisabled
  • heightening awareness by keeping up with current events (e.g. magazines, newspapers, etc.)
  • helping artists make themselves known through volunteerism
  • working together to ensure the inclusion of arts education in all schools, including special schools
• Education Work Fairs
  • work fairs as opportunities for employers to recruit and hire persons with disabilities
  • education about and encouragement in arts career options must begin at the lowest levels of students' education experience
  • the message of support for those who need it must be continuously delivered
• Educating the Professional World
  • teaching sensitivity and awareness of disabled people and siabled people's issues to teachers, just as they are taught sensitivity and awareness of different cultures and ethnic groups and their issues
  • teaching educators to continuously encourage their students, regardless of ability level
  • teaching professionals to never impede on the talents of others
• Bartering Services and Talents
  • in order for the needs of disabled people to become public, disbaled people themselves must become public
  • disabled people need to share their talents with the public, in exchange for services needed
  • by volunteering their time and talents, disabled people can begin to build relationships with arts organizations