Part A

Source 1:

Rethinking Beauty & Visibility: Navigating Society’s Beauty Standards While Raising My
Disabled Child

Excerpt 1:

“Instead of loading beauty with capital, perhaps we could load beauty with value in terms of
difference, celebration, and empowerment” (Ginger Stickney).

Analysis 1:

I chose this quote from Ginger Stickney’s article about beauty because of the learning
experience I gained from it. Although it is a short excerpt; its importance is extremely significant
in defining “beauty” and how society depicts it. As a whole, this article allowed for growth and a
new interpretation of beauty. In our society, individuals tend to focus on the unimportant aspects
of beauty rather than valuing difference, celebration, and empowerment as stated in the excerpt.
In television and magazines, we are overwhelmed with images of “perfect” people, which creates
unrealistic standards of beauty. Especially being a girl, I feel like these standards are held higher
and difference is less appreciated. I found this quote to be memorable and key in spreading the
message the beauty should be seen as far bigger than just looks. This showed me how important
it is to value beauty as more than just looks and grasp that just because someone is different,
doesn’t mean they aren’t beautiful. In this course, I have learned the significance of eliminating
comparisons and accepting difference for it is beautiful and something that should be celebrated.
As a whole, it is important to educate and teach your kids that beauty is yours and is something
that no one can take away from you.

Source 2:

Gallas arts as epistemology

Excerpt 2:

“The arts make it possible for all children, regardless of their differences, to participate fully in
the process of education. They transcend the limitations placed on those children, such as Juan
and Brian, whose language, culture, or life experiences is outside the mainstream of American
schooling. They challenge children such as Adam to expand their boundaries of personal
expression and communication” (Gallas, 146).

Analysis 2:

I chose this excerpt from Gallas since it explores how the arts are absent and
unappreciated in our current education system. The lines in this piece speak for those who can’t
read or right but are able to generate art. More specifically, students with ADD may be able to
learn in non-standardized ways that can bring more emphasis on the importance of the arts and
its effect on students. I learned how the incorporation of arts in the education system when
meeting basic education expectations can be an engaging and exciting learning environment for
many individuals. Even when the creative aspects of art aren’t being used, the arts can be seen as
a powerful tool in educating children. This excerpt taught me how art-based learning is
significant in creating a more wholesome and complete education. Throughout this course, I
have learned how our education is set to praise the scientific classes rather than the creative
aspects of schooling. As a whole, I learned that the artistic aspects of learning are just as
important as the other subjects in school. Looking back on my education, there was a clear lack
in art-based learning, so I never got to experience its possible advantages in my education.

Source 3:

Finkelstein, V. (1975). To deny or not to deny disability: What is disability?

Excerpt 3:

“Let us see whether we can turn the world upside-down and show that disability is a socially
caused problem. An upside-down world where the "able" become the "disabled" and the
"disabled" become the "able-bodied” … We will imagine a thousand or more disabled people, all
wheelchair-users, collected together and settled in their own village where they had full
management and democratic rights. We will suppose able-bodied people do not often visit the
village and that the wheelchair-users control all aspects of their lives (Vic Finkelstein).

Analysis 3:

Prior to this class, I had never paid attention to what areas in my community are
wheelchair accessible and how other aspects of society lacked accommodation for everyone.
This article made me think about this consciously which allowed me to realize how changes in
society are essential to create an environment that is accessible to everybody. The way that this
excerpt switched the rolls of the “disabled” and “able-bodied” shifted how I view my community
and what needs to be changed so that it can be constructed in a way that allows people with
disabilities to have easier access to available resources. Following the first module, my
perspective on disability significantly altered because I had never thought about how our society
isn’t built for people with disabilities. Now that I see the importance of having accessibility in
our communities, I look for it wherever I go and support business that provide adequate
accessibility to everyone.

Source 4:

Sarason art chp. 3

Excerpt 4:
Schaefer-Simmern told Sarason these things…
 1. “All human beings are capable of artistic activity. The seeds of that activity are already
discernible in the earliest scribbles of children and in the orderly progression of artistic
form as the child develops that activity…
8. For two decades Shaefer-Simmern had worked with ordinary individuals (young and old,
educated and not, skilled and unskilled workers) whose artistic development and products
surprised them and everyone else. Although the artistic development of all of them, in terms
of the progression of form, had features in common, the work of each bore a distinctive,
indeed unique, imprint...
9. Shaefer-Simmern wanted to demonstrate that institutionalized, mentally retarded
“children” could develop as artists, just as he had, he said, demonstrated with
institutionalized juvenile delinquents” (Sarason, 35).

Analysis 4:

Before this class, I never considered art being created by people with disabilities and
viewing that art for more than what it was rather than seeing the process behind inventing it.
As a whole, this course changed my perspective on how I view disability. Initially, I had
always seen it as a limiting factor rather than seeing it as everyone is capable of creating art.
As a society, we tend to underestimate individuals on their capabilities due to their disability.
The self-portrait assignment that we participated in allowed me to gain an immense
appreciation for artists who have disabilities, especially in terms of mobility. I realized that
these individuals are still able to create profound and creative art that showcases their
imagination and identity. Sarason’s ideas challenged the idea of art and how people who are
disabled are just as able to produce art as a person who does not have a disability. As a
whole, this reding allowed me to understand that anyone is capable of doing art and is
something that simply needs to be practiced.

Source 5:

Baines intro & chap 1

Excerpt 5:

“In an age when academic learning has become the socially accepted definition and gateway to
success, being labeled as learning deficient can threaten the possibility that their imagined
identities can ever become reality. They are designated to watch from the sidelines, destined to
cater to the needs of others. While they are officially included in the group, they are, in effect,
socially excluded” (Baines, 22).

Analysis 5:

In this module, I never considered people who have “invisible” disabilities like a learning
disorder. In this course, I was able to learn about the social and medical models associated with
disabilities and how the different ways people viewed disability affected people. In the medical
model, I learned how it looks to fix someone’s disability rather than seeing them as a real person.
In our society, this is a common mindset especially when we are talking about people with
“invisible” disabilities. These individuals are often treated with numerous medications in hope
that is will “cure” them, which is often not the case and can even be more damaging. This
excerpt stood out to me because it gave me the ability to better understand how to see disability
and not view it as only a physical impairment.

My Excerpt 1:

“It has been enlightening to see how all of these individuals continue to do what they love
regardless of their limitations. Everyone should feel inspired by the courage and love these artists
have and aren’t afraid to show the world that they can do it. It makes me happy to see that each
person’s disability isn’t holding them back to take part in their art. I am guilty of giving up
because I feel like I can’t do something or don’t feel good enough. However, after watching
these videos and reading about these artists who conquered their fears and never let anything
stop them makes me want to work on never giving up because of any given circumstance.”

Analysis 1:

I chose this excerpt that I wrote in Module 1 because it represents the way people should think
regardless of their limitations or feelings of doubt. In this course, I learned that everyone is
capable of doing anything they set their mind to and that having a disability doesn’t limit you
from participating in artistic activities. Able-bodied individuals should not look down on people
with disabilities and treat them differently than someone who is not disabled. For this to become
reality, I think that it’s important for people to become more educated on disability and work to
create an environment where everyone is accommodated for.

My Excerpt 2:

 “I think that everyone has differing beliefs in what is and isn’t art based off of personal
experiences. I think that Jones’ work is art and it is special in that it uniquely communicates a
sense of community to the spectators. Art is special because of all the different emotions that can
spread to all different kinds of people. I think that it is important to keep an open mind when
looking at art and realizing that it will affect everyone differently.”

Analysis 2:

In this course, we talked a lot about the interpretation of art and how it can affect people
differently. In this particular excerpt, I remember having to analyze Bill T. Jones’ and Helen
Croce’s opinions on the performance “Still Here.” In this experience, I recall having the
realization that everyone has a different unique experience when viewing art. Everyone’s varying
life experience causes them to internalize things in dissimilar ways. In this class, I have learned
to accept and understand that people may see art differently than I do which is okay. This means
that everyone should embrace different views when looking at art and notice that it will affect
everyone differently.

My Excerpt 3:
In my life, I have used art as a resource for certain moods. When I feel like I am in a down mood
the first thing I go to is drawing. It has always been a relaxing pastime. The things that I draw
when I am in a particular mood shows me in a different way my internal emotions. Art has been
an outlet during stressful periods in my life. It has shown me a new way to express emotions and
feelings. 

Analysis 3:

In this course, we talked about the effects of art on us individually and how utilizing it in our
lives shapes who we are. I particularly enjoyed discussing this subject since it gave me the
chance to look at my own life and inspect how art has been implemented in it. I have always
used art as a way to put on paper how I am feeling in that moment. As a whole, I’ve began to feel
that art is almost a required element in my life since it has helped me in times of sorrow and
struggle. Moreover, in this course, we discussed how the lack art in the education system is an
unfortunate reality. Art-based learning is significant in creating a more beneficial and absolute
education. I have concluded that the art I create holds immense amounts of meaning and
emotions to me and is a relaxing pastime in challenging times. Art being incorporated in the
education system can allow for a more complete education especially for those who are able to
learn more efficiently with art-based learning.

Part B

The art I chose to use is a drawing I created representing my growth in this course. I pulled key
words that I felt best fit my new knowledge of disability and art. After completing this course, I
feel like I have a better understanding of disability and art and its immense impact on our
society. I look forward to taking what I know and paying closer attention to it in my life.
 Part C

In this course, my perspective on disability has changed considerably. Although I have

worked with many individuals who have disabilities, I feel like I dismissed many concepts that

we have covered in the class especially pertaining to art. Each week, the modules expanded my

learning on disability and its effect on able-bodied lives and the lives of those with disabilities

through the lens of art. Before this course, I always unconsciously viewed disability as a

limitation, however, after completing all of the modules, I see it as an everyday challenge that

doesn’t limit individuals from doing what they want to do and succeeding at it. An aspect that I

was most naïve about was the societal role on accessibility and access to environmental

resources for those who have disabilities. In my community, I have never paid attention to how

our surroundings are built and how it is not created for people who have disabilities. I learned

how this concept further disables them since they are obligated to ask for help in situations where

they need assistance due to the lack of accessibility available. Overall, my views on disability

have changed considerably despite my prior knowledge and experiences with people who have

disabilities.

Growing up, I have always loved drawing and using art as a way to express my emotions.

Although I see myself as an exceptional artist, this course has further taught me to understand

that anyone is capable of creating art and how people define art is subjective and individualized.

The way that our society is constructed makes us believe that art is not an important aspect of our

lives. The school systems neglect to incorporate art in their curriculum and have put a primary

focus on classes like the sciences which causes kids who don’t excel in those classes to feel

ostracized. Looking back at my education, I definitely noticed the absence of the arts in my
learning and how other subjects took over. I wish that I was able to experience art-based

learning, however, I am grateful that art has been a part of my life since I was young.

Throughout this course, I gained a greater appreciated for art and learned that art is interpreted

differently depending on your own unique experiences.

I don’t think that my identity has changed throughout this course, however, the way I see

the environment around me in regard to disability has changed significantly. I have always had a

decent understanding of disability, but I never realized until this course how many things I had

not considered or seen. After going through this course, I have definitely been more conscious in

my everyday life in terms of accessibility and societal norms. I have gained a better

understanding of my surroundings and have acquired a greater appreciation for art and how it

impacts people with and without disabilities.