By Carla L. de Blas

This issue of NASET’s Practical Teacher Series was written by Carla L. de Blas. There is perhaps no better way to introduce diverse students to what they can do than by encouraging exploration of the arts. High stakes testing often takes precedence over art appreciation and thwarts students’ much-needed exploration of a uniquely human form of expression. Purposeful museum initiatives that celebrate diversity, promote literacy, and enhance social and emotional development abound, yet the educational benefits of art museums for students with disabilities are often overlooked. Art museums are actively working to create inclusive experiences for individuals with diverse abilities. Many curators aim to make the offerings enjoyable and easy to engage with regardless of disability or age. Embedding the visual arts to individualize and contextualize learning in instructional planning can foster a variety of learning experiences that expand background knowledge, support comprehension, build emotional well-being, and improve language development. An integrative approach to visual stimuli, language, and motor movement may build task initiation skills and support self-esteem. Special education teachers can feed both intellect and spirit through the work art museums are doing to provide inclusive learning. Thus, teachers committed to supporting students of all abilities and backgrounds with resources for formal, self-directed, or informal learning can readily access the educational benefits of art museums to address their intentional teaching aims.