Amara’s YA Story

 

Amara, a special needs student from Iran, recently arrived in the United States and began going to school in Connecticut. She found that integrating into her new 2nd grade classroom was challenging because it was her first school experience. In Iran, since she was a special needs student, she was not allowed go to school.
 
A teaching artist from Young Audiences Arts for Learning Connecticut planned an arts integrated project that included creating a visual performance that used music to develop each student’s leadership skills. Amara loved the musical elements and it helped her connect with the other students in a profound way. At the time, she didn’t speak any English, but she certainly communicated through the visual arts and dance! Through her experience with the YA program, Amara began to assimilate into her class and she is currently making great progress.
 
– Eileen Carpinella,
Executive Director of Arts for Learning Connecticut