University of Delaware
04/27/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/27/2026 09:23
Inclusive arts education
Inclusive arts education
Article by Jessica Henderson and Carl Kanefsky Photos by Jordyn Clifton and courtesy of the Center for Disabilities Studies April 27, 2026
UD offers professional development to support communication and inclusion for students with disabilities
April is National Autism Acceptance Month, a time to recognize, celebrate and advocate for autistic individuals, including those who may use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices like picture boards or tablets with programmed vocabulary. Many students with disabilities enjoy the arts, finding opportunities for creativity and expression in painting or music. But access has often been limited.
That's why the Delaware Department of Education (DDOE) reached out to University of Delaware's Center for Disabilities Studies (CDS) to help bridge that gap.
"Delaware's visual and performing arts educators have requested more opportunities for professional learning around supporting students with disabilities," said Lauren Conrad, education associate for visual and performing arts and gifted at the DDOE.
For that reason, CDS partnered with the DDOE to offer a professional development session tailored for visual and performing arts teachers from all three Delaware counties for the 2025-26 school year.
University of Delaware published this content on April 27, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on April 27, 2026 at 15:23 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]