The Cincinnati Adaptive Arts and Music Camp is bringing art students from across the country to Northern Kentucky University’s campus to expand access to the arts for artists with significant physical disabilities.
NKU and Cincinnati Adaptive Arts and Music Camp have teamed up with May We Help, an organization made up of volunteer engineers, to host this residential camp. The majority of funding for the camp comes from ArtsWave through tens of thousands of people who contribute to the annual ArtsWave Campaign, the Cincinnati region’s primary source of arts funding. This support allows 11 young artists with physical disabilities from across the country to develop custom adaptations that enable them to express themselves through their chosen art form.
Cincinnati Adaptive Arts and Music Camp was launched by Deborah Amend, assistant professor of special education at NKU, and her former college roommate, Jennifer Petry, more than 15 years ago. Both women combined their love of music with their experience raising children with physical disabilities to open doors others never thought possible.
“Every artist deserves the opportunity to create and express themselves, regardless of physical ability,” said Amend. This camp brings together educators, engineers, artists and volunteers to solve challenges that many people never think about. Watching someone play an instrument, create a sculpture or make art in a way they never thought possible reminds us that creativity has no limits when people work together.”
The camp has grown to include instruction, custom engineered assistive devices and custom adaptation plans for strings, brass, guitar, piano, woodwinds, ceramics and sculpture.
“Our volunteers don’t just build adaptive devices, they create opportunities that remove barriers and unlock possibilities,” said Brianne Wilkerson, program director at May We Help. “Partnering with NKU and the Cincinnati Adaptive Arts and Music Camp allows us to help artists pursue their passions with adaptive tools, instruction and plans designed specifically for them.”
Hosting the camp on NKU’s campus also allows artists and their families to develop social and emotional connections with others who share similar passions and disabilities. At the end of the week, each artist will leave with a personalized adaptation plan, along with custom supports and instruments created by staff and volunteers.
