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Come celebrate the 33rd Annual Very Special Arts Festival on Thursday, May 3, 2012, from 9:30 am - 1:00 pm! The theme, Into the Future, will be featured in continuous performances on two stages, workshops in the visual and performing arts, and a student art exhibit. This FREE festival celebrates the artistic achievements of students with disabilities along with their mainstream peers. This year’s festival will take place at the Walt Disney Concert Hall.
 Howard Pasamanick/HP Photography
The festival, presented in partnership with the Music Center, the Los Angeles Unified School District and the Los Angeles County Office of Education, is free to the public and open to all grade levels. No reservations are required, but notification of attendance is appreciated.
Into the Future flyer and sample lesson plans coming soon.
There are many ways you and your students can participate in the festival. Students can perform onstage at one of the two outdoor stages, submit artwork for display, or simply enjoy the many activities. Performances should have some relevance to the theme and must be five minutes or less to allow as many students to participate as possible. We welcome your submissions of artwork, poetry, or photography spotlighting the theme. Please review the forms below for additional information.
Art Submission Guidelines (PDF)
Reservation Forms Coming Soon
 Howard Pasamanick/HP Photography
Each year, over 200 volunteers give their time and energy into making the Very Special Arts Festival possible. There are opportunities to volunteer before and during the event, and your help with this year's festival would be greatly appreciated. We can assign volunteers to areas where there is a need or you can indicate areas where you would like to work.
Forms Coming Soon.
For questions or additional information about community and volunteer participation, please contact:
Lovey Sherman
Volunteer Chair
Fax: 323-722-7277
Phone: 323-722-7994
School buses will drop off students on Grand Avenue between 2nd and 3rd Streets. Bus parking instructions will be available in March 2012.
Teachers, please register your bus time by contacting:
LAUSD:
LAUSD Transportation, Bus Dispatch
Phone: 213-342-1400
LACOE and all non-LAUSD schools:
Franco Giangualano
Phone: 562-803-8516
Fax: 562-803-8477
Email: giangualano_franco@lacoe.edu
| Choosing Your Words With Dignity | |
 Howard Pasamanick/HP Photography
What you write and say creates images and perceptions about people with disabilities. Using negative words encourages stereotyping. Positive, constructive words can enhance the dignity of people with disabilities and promote positive attitudes about their abilities. Avoid negative terms such as "victim," "cripple," lame," stricken" or "afflicted by" (disability). When talking to or about people with disabilities, refer to the person first rather than the disability.
Some appropriate phrases include:
* Person (or child or student) who is visually impaired
* Person who is deaf
* Person who uses a wheelchair
* Person with developmental disabilities
* Person who has muscular dystrophy
It is no longer appropriate to use the term "handicap" when referring to a disability. The appropriate terminology to use would be "disability." Avoid using education or medical jargon and acronyms (e.g., "OH" or "SED") to describe students. Positive descriptions include, for example, "child with physical disabilities" or "student with severe emotional disturbances."
Visit www.inclusiveschools.org for practical strategies on how to create more inclusive homes, schools and communities.
Directions to the Music Center Downloads - (Word Doc), (PDF)
Non-bus Parking will be in the Music Center Garage at 135 North Grand Avenue.
If you are a teacher or school interested in participating, contact:
For Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) teachers:
Vixente Medrano
LAUSD Division of Special Education
Phone: (213) 241-6701
Email: vicente.medrano@lausd.net
For L.A. County teachers or non-LAUSD teachers:
Ray Guilleaume
Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE)
Phone: 562-461-8795
Email:guilleaume_ray@lacoe.edu
For production questions or further information about the Festival, contact:
Suzy Boyett
Phone: (213) 972-3305
Email: sboyett@musiccenter.org
The Very Special Arts Festival is made possible by generous support from the Rosen Family, the Binder Foundation and the City of Los Angeles, Department of Cultural Affairs.
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