Inclusive Arts Education by Julie Palkowski

Universal Design for Learning - CAST

julieapalkowski — 2025-06-25 21:43:50 UTC

CAST created the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework so that all learning experiences in school, the workplace, and life are thoughtfully designed to elevate strengths and eliminate barriers. Because everyone deserves the opportunity to grow and thrive.

ACCESS- VSA

julieapalkowski — 2025-06-25 21:48:57 UTC

The Access/VSA site provides online learning and resources. The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Office of Accessibility and VSA works toward a world where people with disabilities of all ages can learn through, participate in, and engage with the arts.

WI DPI - UDL

julieapalkowski — 2025-06-25 21:50:14 UTC

UDL is not a special education initiative, nor a general education initiative…it is an every child initiative. Visit to learn about UDL and classroom applications.

The Kennedy Center- Arts Education Research & Resources

julieapalkowski — 2025-06-25 21:52:27 UTC

The VSA and Accessibility Department offers a large selection of publications, guides, and other resources dealing with a wide variety of subject matter in arts, education, and disabilities.

Arts for All Inclusive practice tips

julieapalkowski — 2025-06-25 21:53:55 UTC

Here are some ways to make sure you and your organization are being inclusive of people with disabilities.

Demonstrating UDL in a music classroom

julieapalkowski — 2025-06-25 22:26:32 UTC

This video show integration of video technologies to teach orchestra in a middle school setting.

Using a Comprehensive Arts Education Model ...

julieapalkowski — 2025-06-25 22:32:10 UTC

Inclusive Music (Skoog use in band)

julieapalkowski — 2025-06-27 16:04:18 UTC

This is a fantastic example of the Skoog being used to facilitate inclusive music practice, enabling a pupil to play on an equal footing with their peers and play in the band.

Teaching inclusive education

julieapalkowski — 2025-06-27 16:28:54 UTC

"Inclusive education is different because every child is different in your classroom, and inclusion is about incorporating every child, and making every child feel like they belong."

What is Inclusion?

julieapalkowski — 2025-06-27 16:33:25 UTC

Watch and listen to the perspective of a student about inclusion.

Music Inclusion Ensemble - Berklee College of Music

julieapalkowski — 2025-06-27 16:35:45 UTC

Talented musicians from across the country are coming together in Boston for a unique concert experience featuring artists with physical or mental disabilities. WBZ-TV's Courtney Cole reports. See the 2024 concert - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHMN6Gy53kk

Together with Tech - inclusive music education in action

julieapalkowski — 2025-06-27 16:38:25 UTC

Together with Tech brought together pupils from mainstream and special schools to make music using accessible music technology. This way of making music was new to the whole group, creating a level playing field where everyone could learn and experiment together and where tech was valued as a viable creative instrument.

Ruby's Story of Inclusion: The Middle School Years

julieapalkowski — 2025-06-27 16:48:20 UTC

"Inclusion isn't something you learn in a book or lesson plan...it must be lived each and every day." Notice the use of "band buddies" and strategies of inclusion to support the success of Ruby and her classmates.

Best Practices: Successful Inclusion — Dea's Story

julieapalkowski — 2025-06-27 17:31:39 UTC

Seventh grade student Dea discusses her life as a vision-impaired student in a general education classroom. The video demonstrates how special education students can thrive in general education settings.

SAUSD's Visual and Performing Arts Teachers Lead the Way with Universal Design for Learning

julieapalkowski — 2025-06-29 19:10:50 UTC

Take a look at how Santa Ana Unified School District's Visual and Performing Arts teachers are leading the way with Universal Design for Learning in the classroom.

See what children with disabilities can do

julieapalkowski — 2025-06-29 20:24:08 UTC

Unicef video

BEATING THE ODDS

julieapalkowski — 2025-06-29 20:25:30 UTC

6 Stories That Prove Anything Is Possible

Music Communication Board

julieapalkowski — 2025-06-29 20:32:44 UTC

Print this resource and share with students to help them respond to prompts in the music classroom. (I created and then used this with my elementary students who communicated nonverbally/non-speaking.)

WSM- UDL Arts Access for All (2018)

julieapalkowski — 2025-06-29 21:45:09 UTC

Wisconsin School Musician 2018 article - For the reprinting, hyperlinks were pulled since many were not functioning for the 2025 reprinting.

What is an adaptive scissors?

sloesl79 — 2025-08-27 13:24:26 UTC

Where can I learn more about Adaptive Arts strategies and resources?

julieapalkowski — 2025-09-08 20:42:52 UTC

Register below for free online Adaptive Arts Sessions. Choose one or all to learn and share with your art and music colleagues. The session dates, times, and topics are listed. Sessions are designed for art and music educators interested in exploring adaptive arts strategies and resources.

Art Communication Board

julieapalkowski — 2025-09-12 16:47:40 UTC

Print this resource and share it with students to help them respond to prompts in the art classroom.

SEL Arts Example

julieapalkowski — 2025-09-12 16:50:42 UTC

The New Jersey State Education Department has created a social emotional learning framework that connects to the arts. Check it out.

Tips to Start the School Year

julieapalkowski — 2025-10-29 16:25:18 UTC

This is Session #1 of the Wisconsin Art Education Association series - Adaptive Arts Sessions. The sessions are led by co-hosts WAEA members, Susan Loesl and Julie Palkowski. The focus for this session is on building relationships through UDL in the arts. Check session resources at - https://www.wiarted.org/art-in-special-education.html

Art Communication Board - Spanish

julieapalkowski — 2025-11-08 21:19:31 UTC

This board is from Arts for All - Wisconsin, link to webpage- https://www.artsforallwi.org/Portals/0/Documents/Communication%20Boards_2020-21_Spanish-English.pdf

Art Communication Board - Hmong

julieapalkowski — 2025-11-08 21:20:31 UTC

This communication board in Hmong is from Arts for All Wisconsin - https://www.artsforallwi.org/Portals/0/Documents/Communication%20Boards_2020-21_Hmong-English.pdf

Teaching Students with Visual Impairments

2025-11-13 18:46:28 UTC

This webpage provides multiple music resources and suggestions on instructional strategies to support learners who have a visual impairment or are blind.

Braille Music Chart

2025-11-13 18:47:58 UTC

ransier_udlexampleschart.pdf -

2025-11-17 14:51:21 UTC

UDL Example Chart of Representation, Expression, and Engagement in the arts.

UDL Resources

2025-11-17 14:57:47 UTC

Arts My Jam

julieapalkowski — 2025-11-17 17:53:45 UTC

Move to music and then freeze when the selected artwork is onscreen like one of the images in the artwork. Students may freestyle move to the fast in-between video sections.

Music from Pixabay (royalty-free) - https://pixabay.com/videos/

Artwork image titles and artists are identified within the notes. JP pulled together the music and images for educational purposes only.

0:08 Title- Dancing Couple, 1999, Artist- Romero Britto (1963- present)

0:24 Title- A Sunday on La Grande Jatte,1884; Artist- Georges Seurat (French, 1859–91)

0:41 Title- The Scream, 1893 by Edvard Munch; Artist- Edvard Munch (1863-1944)

0:57 Title- Jammin at the Savoy, 1981; Artist- Romare Bearden (1911-1988)

1:13 Title- American Gothic, 1930; Artist- Grant Wood (1891-1942)

1:30 Title- Unity in Art, 2020; Artist- Keith Haring (1958- 1990)

This or That?

julieapalkowski — 2025-11-24 17:13:24 UTC

Choose between two choices, showing the motion that is assigned. This fun activity encourages learner choice and to communicate with motions.

Building Classroom Relationships through UDL

waeawebmaster — 2025-11-24 20:55:58 UTC

This is Session #2 of the Wisconsin Art Education Association series - Adaptive Arts Sessions. The sessions are led by co-hosts WAEA members, Susan Loesl and Julie Palkowski. The focus for this session is on building relationships through UDL in the arts. Check session resources at - https://www.wiarted.org/art-in-special-education.html

Tracing Activities - Scarf / Mvmt.

julieapalkowski — 2025-11-24 21:15:19 UTC

This link shares a video that could be used for music in movement/scarves, as well as art classroom tracing shapes. Let me know in the comments what you think and how you used these.

Art With Mrs. E Article

julieapalkowski — 2025-12-15 17:58:42 UTC

https://artwithmrse.com/blogs/blog/how-to-feel-confident-teaching-adapted-art?srsltid=AfmBOoq2-NG9oUsyCZNg5reb3UP15ejegjvE5bue5IcSSAhdrUVW_R3G

Artsology

julieapalkowski — 2026-01-03 21:13:59 UTC

Art Games for Kids

Examples -

5 Things - https://artsology.com/auguste-renoir-art-game.php#google_vignette.

Who Painted That - https://artsology.com/who-painted-that.php#google_vignette

Adaptive Arts Lesson Plan Template

julieapalkowski — 2026-01-05 13:58:03 UTC

This word document can be used to build a lesson plan for art, dance, music, and theatre through UDL principles.

Music Lesson Template

julieapalkowski — 2026-01-05 14:08:36 UTC

This template allows fields to be filled for each lesson created. The template information is based on Wisconsin 2017 Music Education Standards.

Arts Check-in Template

julieapalkowski — 2026-01-05 14:25:56 UTC

Create a copy from this link. Modify the template as needed for your classroom.

VSA Program - Become an access site

julieapalkowski — 2026-05-01 16:11:11 UTC

The Office of Accessibility and VSA seeks arts, education, and cultural organizations to provide accessible, arts-based education experiences to students with disabilities, pre-kindergarten through grade 12. Organizations are invited to submit proposals to implement Access/VSA Programs.

To view the RFPs and to apply, visit

https://www.accessvsa.org/vsaprogramsites

Apply here by June 5!

Proposal submission deadline: June 5, 2026
Notification: Selected recipients will be notified by September 11, 2026
Contract term: October 1, 2026 - September 30, 2027

Eight Tips to Consider

julieapalkowski — 2026-06-09 18:57:06 UTC

By NAfME Member Rachael Fleischaker

Resources for Success in the Arts Classroom

julieapalkowski — 2026-06-09 18:59:31 UTC

This is Session #3 of the Wisconsin Art Education Association series - Adaptive Arts Sessions. The sessions are led by co-hosts WAEA members, Susan Loesl and Julie Palkowski. The focus for this session is on building relationships through UDL in the arts. Check session resources at - https://www.wiarted.org/art-in-special-education.html

Adaptive Arts Reflections

julieapalkowski — 2026-06-09 19:02:44 UTC

This is Session #4 of the Wisconsin Art Education Association series - Adaptive Arts Sessions. The sessions are led by co-hosts WAEA members, Susan Loesl and Julie Palkowski. The focus for this session is on building relationships through UDL in the arts. Check session resources at - https://www.wiarted.org/art-in-special-education.html

Chrome Music Lab

julieapalkowski — 2026-06-09 19:06:07 UTC

"A free, web-based suite of interactive tools that makes learning music accessible through striking visual layouts. Because it requires zero hardware or musical training, students with physical or cognitive challenges can explore pitch, rhythm, and melody simply by clicking, dragging, or moving a mouse. The "Song Maker" grid is particularly effective for young learners to build immediate, rewarding cause-and-effect compositions."

WAEA - Art in Special Education

julieapalkowski — 2026-06-09 19:23:30 UTC

The Wisconsin Art Education Association Art in Special Education webpage provides multiple resources, information, news, and strategies to support educators in their role to engage and inspire all learners.