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Join us for the 31st Annual Very Special Arts Festival on Thursday, April 29, 2010, from 9:30 am - 1:00 pm, with the theme Imagine... VSAF celebrates the artistic achievements of students with disabilities along with their mainstream peers. This FREE festival features continuous performances on two stages, workshops in the visual and performing arts, and an exhibit of student art created around the theme. All schools are welcome to participate.

VSAF Picture
Howard Pasamanick/HP Photography

The festival is held on the Music Center Plaza in partnership with the Los Angeles Unified School District and the Los Angeles County Office of Education. VSAF is free to the public and open to all grade levels. No reservations are required, but notification of attendance is appreciated.

Download the VSAF celebrates Imagine... Flyer in English and Spanish

Download Sample Lesson Plans for Imagine... Theme, courtesy of LACOE - Download Word Document, Download PDF Document


View artwork from 2007 festival, California Cultures -- Shaping History.

 Teachers

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 possble. We welcome your submissions of artwork, poetry, or photography spotlighting the theme. Please review the forms below for additional information.

Introductory Letter Downloads - Word Document, PDF Document

Registration Form (Attachment A) Downloads - Word Document, PDF Document

Performance Information (Attachment B) Downloads - Word Document, PDF Document

Student Exhibit Label (Attachment C) Downloads - Word Document, PDF Document

Parent Permission Form (Attachment D) Downloads - Word Document (English), PDF Document (English), Word Document (Spanish), PDF Document (Spanish)

Art Submission Guidelines - Download Word Document, Download PDF Document

VSAF
Howard Pasamanick/HP Photography

 Volunteering

Each year, over 200 volunteers contribute 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.

Volunteer Sign Up Form - Coming soon

Volunteer Information - Download Word Document, Download PDF Document

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 Bus Information

School buses will drop off students on Hope Street between First and Temple. Bus parking instructions will be available in March 2010.

Teachers, please register your bus time by contacting:

LAUSD:

Paul Keifers
LAUSD Transportation Branch Manager, Bus Dispatch
2011 North Soto Street, Los Angeles, CA 90032.
Phone: 323-342-1460

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

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 & Parking

Directions to the Music Center Downloads - (Word Doc), (PDF)

Parking will be in the Music Center Garage at 135 North Grand Avenue.

 Contacts

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: 562-803-8451
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 sponsored in part by Dr. and Mrs. Peter S. Bing and a grant from the City of Los Angeles, Cultural Affairs Department.

Dept Of Cultural Affairs

VSAF Logo

Upcoming Events
 
February 17th, 2010
The Blue Ribbon Children's Festival

February 20th, 2010
World City at the Music Center - Futa Toro & Got Rhythm

 
Quick Links
 
View Video from the CVS residency & VSAF 2009

View Video from the CVS residency & VSAF 2008

Photos from the 2007 festival

Teachers

Volunteering

School Bus Information

Directions

Contacts

Inclusive Strategies

Promoting Positive Attitudes