Kids and sidewalk chalk go together, don’t you think? But throw a wheelchair or a walker into the mix, and it becomes almost impossible for some kids to enjoy this childhood delight. Now, thanks to Dwayne Szot, children with disabilities can enjoy sidewalk chalk and a whole lot more.
Dwayne Szot
Dwayne is the founder of Zot Artz studio in Bayfield, Wisconsin. He’s also the inventor of a collection of adaptive art tools. According to his website, “Arts For All art tools are one-of-a-kind products that offer individuals of all abilities an opportunity for creative expression through arts and mobility. Art tools are designed so participants with limited movement or lack of fine motor skills can be successful in using what mobility they have to create, paint, draw, print and more. Individuals will roll out paint and draw with chalk – all while working on mobility skills and coordination through creative expression.”
ZotArts.com
You can learn more about Dwayne’s inventions (my fav is Major Bubbles), workshops, art boxes, and tool lending program at Zot Artz Arts for All. Be sure to browse through the online catalog where the pictures are worth a thousand words. If the equipment and workshop prices are beyond your budget, don’t lose heart. Check with your state Art Council. They may have grants available to cover part of the costs.
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Are there any artists out there? Here’s a great opportunity to use your art to help the special needs community!
Request for Proposals:
Self-Advocates Minnesota (SAM) is seeking artist to lead 12 self-advocates through a process to create an art project that communicates the message of Respect, Inclusion and Change. These are core values of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons w/ Disabilities. Contract will include an April 8th and 9th working session w/ self-advocates at Friendship Venture in Annandale Minnesota. Artist would lead a process resulting in a mural, quilt, sculpture, or other art form TBD. Whatever art piece is created will be used to create a 2011 calendar and other materials (posters, t-shirts, mugs, etc)
Art created by self-advocates will be on public display at the capital and at other locations as arranged by regions.
Amount available for entire project including artist fee, planning, materials, transportation: $5,000
Deadline for submitting proposal: February 1st, 2010.
Process for decision making: Self-Advocates from the Central Region of Minnesota will review all proposals and select the artist to work on this SAM project.