The Hungerford Mural

CAE Supports Programs for Children with Autism: The Arts Academy at PS 37

Autism is now the fastest growing serious development disability in the United States. CAE’s past work with PS37 on Staten Island, a school for students with severe cognitive disabilities, revealed that students with autism learn better through the arts.

Through a partnership with PS37 and Marquis Studios, CAE established a comprehensive arts residency to further explore how the arts affect student learning. Past residencies at PS37 revealed findings that students were meeting - and exceeding - their goals and expectations through arts education. The PS 37 Arts Academy teaches core curriculum through the arts and makes a positive impact on student learning and behavior.

The primary goal of the PS 37 Arts Academy is to provide the opportunity for students on the autism spectrum to achieve their full potential through the infusion of arts into the core curriculum, and for the Arts Academy to act as a lab site for teaching artists and offering professional development.

Teaching Artist Training Institute Pilot Program

CAE, along with PS 37, and Marquis Studios have developed a series of professional development sessions called the Teaching Artist Training Institute.

These professional development opportunities are led by PS 37 R teachers, related service providers including Speech, Physical Therapy (PT) and Occupational Therapy (OP), PS 37R teaching artists and by CAE staff. The pilot program focuses on children across the autism spectrum. Each professional development session includes classroom observation, a discussion on autism and reflection. This is an opportunity for teaching artists to learn from practitioners in the field on how best to address the needs of students with autism.

Parents As Arts Partners Programs in District 75

CAE has a long history of working with special education students through the Parent As Arts Partners (PAAP) grant program. This year, CAE awarded ten District 75 schools a PAAP grant to support arts education for students with mental and emotional disabilities, autism and other learning disabilities. Read the District 75 PAAP Grant Summaries HERE.

Featured Stories: Exploring Arts and Special Education Learning

Read Reflections of a First Year Teacher in District 75: How Music is Changing the Autism Spectrum
An exclusive interview with special education music teacher Mark Manczuk explores the challenges and rewards of his first year teaching children with autism.

Read The Art of Teaching: Learning Life’s Lessons Through Art
This story features an exclusive profile on Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) teaching artist Gordon Sasaki, who works with PAAP grantees from The Hungerford School on Staten Island.