Unique teaching technique helps visually impaired children enjoy art

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A new Fund for the Arts program called Arts for Kosair Kids is giving local children opportunities they wouldn't normally have.

WLKY’s Jennifer Baileys learned more about this unique teaching technique that allows visually impaired children to enjoy the arts.

Though it may appear to be any other class of young children working on an art project, the students at the Visually Impaired Preschool Services are enjoying a new way of looking at art, using senses other than sight.

“She is focusing three or four art projects on each sense. So sense of smell, audible, touch and a lot of our artwork is tactile or has some sort of aroma to it, or some sort of audible component to it. And it helps accentuate those remaining senses that children have so that when they lack the vision, they can learn through their remaining senses and accentuate those,” Heather Benson, with VIPS, said.

VIPS serves 30 children with visual impairments. The Fund for the Arts’ partnership Arts for Kosair Kids connects the students with opportunities to enjoy art in a unique way.

“When you lack vision, art is something that is difficult to enjoy because it's so visual. So our children get to enjoy it and learn about it and appreciate it,” Benson said.

The students are also able to use what they learn about art in other classes.

“This is a tambourine that the children made, and not only is it used in their art therapy session, but they also took it to their music class,” Benson said.

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Kosair Kids is giving local children opportunities they wouldn't normally have.