Orange County Arts and Disability

We are grateful for our partnership with Bowers Museum. 💜🧡💛

Arts on the Move Community Display returns again this summer! Join us at Bowers Museum in partnership with Orange County Arts and Disability, July 10-21, 10 am - 4 pm! Celebrate creativity and diversity with artworks by Special Education students and talented adult artists with disabilities. Free entry! 🌟

Thank you Orange County Children's Therapeutic Arts Center for recognizing us as a community partner. We value our long-standing relationship with your organization and look forward to continuing our partnership to provide opportunities for students with disabilities to engage in the arts.

Free presentation on Arts and Accessibility at Bowers Museum on June 5th from 1:30 -2:30 p.m.

Sponsored by Arts Orange County, this presentation will explore what arts and culture organizations should be thinking about when it comes to accessibility. Join Marleena Barber, Arts OC Board Member and Executive Director of Orange County Arts and Disability, as she provides an overview of disability, offers her lived experience as a person with a disability and shares tips on how arts and culture organizations can be more welcoming to patrons with disabilities.

RSVP HERE:
https://bowers.org/index.php/programs/events-calendar/event/3780-arts-and-accessibility

Image Description:
1. A flyer with a close-up image of the side of a wheelchair. The text on the flyer includes all the above information with logos of sponsors on the bottom.
2. A photo of Marleena Barber with wavey, blond hair, and blue eyes. She is wearing a purple top, a black blazer jacket, and a large silver pendant necklace. She is smiling and standing with her left hand on her hip.

Thank you Laguna Art Museum for hosting our second Orange County Arts and Disability Collaborative gathering. Our guest presenter, Erin Schalk, shared accessability tips for including blind and low vision patrons in various arts settings. Erin also led the group in an image description activity.

The Collaborative, in partnership with Segerstrom Center for the Arts' Community Engagement Department, is a space for arts and cultural organizations to share resources, discuss challenges, and keep current on best practices for creating and maintaining accessible spaces and programming so that people with disabilities can fully participate in and enjoy the arts.

If you are an arts and/or cultural organization in Orange County interested in joining the Collaborative, please contact Marleena Barber at [email protected]

Image Descriptions:
1. (left to right) Katherine Morton -Laguna Art Museum, Marleena Barber- OC Arts and Disability, Chloe Saalsaa-SCFTA, Emily Neely, SCFTA, Erin Schalk- Braille Institute
2. Katherine Morton stands in front of a seated audience introducing the guest speaker.
3. Erin Schalk stands at a podium to the right of a large screen titled "Arts and Accessibility."
4. Erin Schalk, wearing black pants, a burgundy shirt, and a gray sweater stands beside a podium holding a microphone.
5. A photograph of the outside entrance of Laguna Art Museum.
6. Chloe, Emily and Marleena stand in front of a white projector screen. Emily is taking and Marleena and Chloe have their attention toward her.

What a wonderful day! Thank you, again, Orange County Department of Education, MainPlace Mall, and Rena Strober!

WATCH: OC Arts and Disability spotlights students and adults’ artistic accomplishments Education news from Orange County and beyond

Don't miss Anaheim Union High School District Hope School's Pageant of Hope, "I ❤️ NY," tonight at 6:30 p.m.! An amazing multi-disciplinary arts experience. Hope School's address is: 7901 Knott Ave, Buena Park, CA 90620

Did you know that the Orange County Arts and Disability Festival visual art exhibit will be on display at MainPlace Mall through Wednesday, May 8th? Check out the map to find your school district or organization's art panel location.

Join OC Arts and Disability Director, Marleena Barber on Tuesday, May 7th for a panel discussion with artists with disabilities. Sponsored by Arts Orange County and held at Orange County Music and Dance Black Box Theater, the panelists will discuss disabilty as identity,. how disability influences their work and the unique experiences they have had.
RsVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/artists-with-disabilities-panel-and-discussion-tickets-889911197347?aff=oddtdtcreator
Panelists include Kaylee Bays who was recently featured on the hit show "So You Think You Can Dance" and John Tuxker from "Born This Way," Free and open to the public! ASL interpreting services will be provided. For questions,.contact Marleena Barber at: [email protected]

The Orange County Arts and Disability Festival is tomorrow at and we can't wait! We have so many amazing organizations participating and providing fun arts activities for children and families to engage in. Stop by the table at the staging area of Macy's Court to pick up a treasure map. Visit each table and receive a stamp. Fill your map and return to Macy's Court to pick up a prize!

Adjoin Nonprofit Braille Institute Laguna Art Museum Easterseals SoCal Straight Up Abilities Orange County Department of Education Hope Center for the Arts The Autism Community in Action OC Music Services LLC Unlimited Possibilities Formerly UCP of Orange County Bowers Museum

A heartfelt thank you to OCDE staff member, Edith Fuentes, for representing us so beautifully this morning on Telemundo 52!

Festival de artes y discapacidades en el condado de Orange Promueve oportunidades, concientización y educación para las personas con discapacidades.

Tune into Telemundo 52 tomorrow morning for the 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. news hours to hear about the Orange County Arts and Disability Festival! OCDE staff member. Edith Fuentes will be interviewed.

Thank you to all the teachers who volunteered their time this afternoon to install artwork for the 48th Annual Orange County Arts and Disability Festival on display, now, at MainPlace Mall through May 8th! Special shout-out to Orange County Department of Education facilities for delivering the art panels to the mall bright and early this morning!

Joining us this year is OC Music Services LLC which provides individual and group music therapy and lessons to clients of all ages and abilities in Orange County at their Irvine studio, in the home, and in various community settings. OC Music Services believes that music helps us learn new skills and have fun by connecting deeply with others and ourselves. Music therapy is the specialized use of music by a credentialed professional to address social, communication, emotional, cognitive, physical and sensory needs. Engage with OC Music Services exploring various instruments and through a fun interactive reading and sing-along to "There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Shell" this Saturday at MainPllace Mall in Santa Ana.

We are thrilled to have Laguna Art Museum provide an arts workshop on Saturday at the 48th Annual Orange County Arts and Diversity Festival!! Stop by their table to create a sparkly starfish gem wand! Laguna Art Museum exists to engage and enlighten people of all ages through art that embodies and preserves the California experience. Laguna Art Museum presents exhibitions relevant to California art and artists throughout the year and is home to the annual Art & Nature Festival celebrating the museum's unique relationship to the environment.

We are excited to welcome Easterseals SoCal to our festival this year. Stop by their table on April 27th to make this colorful paper plate fish! Easterseal's mission is to lead the way to full equity, inclusion and access through life-changing disability and community services. "Our community is stronger when we build on the abilities of all of our neighbors. That's why we work in local communities as champions for ability. We pave the way with programs and services that unlock the potential of each person we serve, regardless of the challenge they may face. Working in partnership, we offer guidance, provide support and inspire action so that everyone can reach for and realize their potential." Through programs and services tailored to meet the needs of individuals, Easterseals Southern California supports full participation and inclusion within the local community. Their services include Adult Day Services, Autism Services, Child Development Services, Living Options, Employment Services and Easterseals Camp.

The OCDE Special Education Services Division operates Connections - Empowering Every Learner. Connections has 48 classes on 13​ different school sites throughout Orange County. Students are referred to the programs from their district of residence. Connections provides access to state standards with curriculum that is designed to meet the unique needs of the students. In addition, emphasis is placed on addressing the emotional and behavioral needs of students. Connections also provides opportunities for career technical education (CTE), community-based instruction and vocational training for the students. We are thrilled that OCDE Connections will have a table at our resource fair and will provide a fun sea-creature coloring activity on Saturday, April 27th at MainPlace Mall!

Braille Institute is a non-profit organization whose mission is to positively transform the lives of those with vision loss. We offer a broad range of free programs, classes, and services serving thousands of students of all ages helping to demonstrate that vision rehabilitation is a beginning, not an end. Stop by the Braille Institute table at the Orange County Orange County Arts and Disability Festival on Saturday, April 27th, and create these fun, tactile Jellyfish!

Adjoin is a nonprofit organization that provides independent living skills services to adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities to foster a more independent lifestyle. The organization supports individuals with daily life skills such as budgeting, transportation, cooking, etc,. Their mission is to help individuals of varied backgrounds, interests, and abilities to achieve their life plan in the communities where they live, work, learn, and play. Come by and visit Adjoin's table at our Festival at MainPlace Mall on Saturday, April 27th!

Meet Children’s book author Ana Cortes! Ana is a talented artist and writer on the Autism Spectrum. She originally planned to be a character designer for the animation industry, having grown up with a love of cartoons but after writing her middle-grade graphic novel, Marco, Pablo and Olivia: Futbol Tryouts, she was hooked on comic books and fell in love with writing, and a new dream was born. Ana gets inspiration for her graphic novels from favorite movies, television shows, and books and also from her own childhood memories. She thinks a great book is one that has relatable characters that the reader feels invested in and a story that they can connect with. Ana hopes her young readers enjoy her books but also come away from her stories wanting to know more about Ecuadorian culture. When she’s not writing exciting adventures for children, Ana enjoys drawing, watching movies and television shows, reading novels, baking, playing with her dog, and hanging out with her friends and family. A part-time aerialist and someone living on the Autism Spectrum, Ana lives in Irvine, California, with her toy poodle dog. Meet Ana and learn more about her art and books at her table this Saturday, April 27th at Main Place Mall. Check out some of Ana's work, here: https://marcopabloandolivia.com/

We are just one week away from one of county's beloved arts festivals! Join us next Saturday, April 27th at MainPlace Mall for the 48th Annual Orange County Arts and Disability Festival, part of Arts Orange County 's Imagination Celebration and in partnership with the Orange County Department of Education! We are thrilled to welcome Broadway, Film, and TV star, Rena Strober, as our Mistress of Ceremonies! View a mall-wide exhibit of nearly 700 pieces of artwork, enjoy day-long performances on our festival stage and engage in a variety of fun arts activities. Free and fun for the whole family! ASL Interpreted will be provided!

We are just weeks away from this wonderful celebration! Come join us April 27th!

OC Arts and Disability Festival to make a splash with creativity and inclusivity on April 27 Education news from Orange County and beyond

Did yout know that the prestigious Festival of Arts/Pageant of the Masters chooses artwork from our Arts and Disability Festival to be featured in their Junior Art Exhibit over the summer? We are grateful for our partnership with FoA, and the intentional efforts they have made to create an inclusive youth exhibition. FoA members joined us last night for the annual art selection as we also selected pieces for our traveling art show, "Arts on the Move."

Congratulations to our two teaching artists, Marianna Kovacs and Gailann Harmeier, and all of the students from Unlimited Possibilities on the culminating art exhibit marking the completion of the 8-week "In My Element" art program for students with disabilities. This program is provided in 2023-2024 under a contract with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. What a joy to see the pride in the students and families as they admired their work this evening. So many colorful and creative pieces! We are grateful for this wonderful partnership with UP and look forward to offering more arts opportunities for their youth program.

Thank you, Orange County Department of Education, for this beautiful article in tribute to our beloved Festival MC's who are gracefully passing the baton to a new generation. William and Paula, we are grateful for your many years of service. You will be missed. ❤️

OC Arts and Disability Festival honors William Allen Young and Paula Dunn for their contributions Education news from Orange County and beyond

Update! Sensory Bunny at MainPlace Mall had been extemded until 11:30 a.m. today! Come visit us at Macy's court!

Join us this Sunday, March 17th from 9-10 a.m. at MainPlace Mall for Sensory Bunny, an event exclusively for children & families with special needs to visit with Bunny in a sensory-friendly environment.

During this event, families visit the Easter Bunny at their own pace before the mall opens to the public. Sensory triggers including music, fountains, and lights are limited to create a setting that is calm and comforting.

Orange County Arts and Disability will provide a craft activity for the children to enjoy while they wait to see the Bunny.

To make a reservation, click here: https://www.shopmainplacemall.com/event/sensory-friendly-bunny/2146500542

Sensory Bunny is held in partnership with Autism Speaks Southern California

For questions, please contact the management office during business hours (M-F 9am - 5pm) at 714.559.6544.

Are you an artist with a disability? Apply to perform and/or have visual artwork featured at the 48th Annual Orange County Arts and Disability Festival at MainPlace Mall in Santa Ana on Saturday, April 27th, 2024. The deadline to apply is March 22nd!

Visual Art Entry Form
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSddLnId6QkYwq8znEAU2TCpYGJg5BXlmnHtoCbulm0_3TDZFA/viewform
Performing Arts Entry Form
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScX5ZmuTwg5L3K3YfknTF5yn5XsgrHYwlmM-femY3h263T6zw/viewform
Entry forms are due FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 2024!

Image description:
Official "Call for Visual and Performing Arts Flyer." A beach scene background with student-themed artwork of a mixed-media surfboard in the center titled "Surf’s up!" by Thuan Do
SAC Program, Edison High School, HBUHSD
Text of the fyer reads:
Orange County Department of Education | Educational Services
Curriculum, Instruction and Academic Enrichment Unit and
Orange County Arts and Disability present
Make a Splash at the 48th annual Orange County Arts and Disbility Festival.
Entries due Friday, March 22, 2024
Visual and performing artists of all ages who have a disability are invited to submit artwork and/or apply to perform in a countywide celebration of Arts and Disability on Saturday, April 27th, 2024 at MainPlace Mall in Santa Ana, California.
Artwork may be delivered attention to Carey Arias at OCDE via district mail or in person (HOURS 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.) at 200 Kalmus Drive | Costa Mesa, CA | 92626
Entries due Friday, March 22, 2024
Visual Arts Rules and Entry Form
Performing Arts Rules and Entry Form
For content questions, contact Marleena Barber at [email protected]
Sponsor Logos at the bottom.

Come visit us today at the Boco De Oro Festival --2nd Street Promonade in Santa Ana. Come learn about our upcoming arts and disability festival and "Make a Splash" with some of the arts activities we have available to attendees.

Thank you, Anaheim Union High School District and Hope School AUHSD for hosting our Teacher Workshop today!

We are so grateful for the opportunity to host today’s Orange County Department of Education teacher workshop “Serving Students with Disabilities in the Arts Classroom.” Thank you to Orange County Arts and Disability and OCArts4All for creating this wonderful training day for all OC teachers. AUHSD Visual & Performing Arts