"Multisensory Design: Key to Creating Inclusive/Universal Environments in the Arts, Education, and Health Care," a one-day conference by the Arts and Health Outreach Initiative (AHOI), is planned for July 11 on the University Park campus.
The conference will offer an up-close look at multisensory design applications that transform arts, education and health-care environments into inclusive, health-promoting settings for community members with and without disabilities. Tim Lefens, founder and director of Artistic Realization Technologies (A.R.T.), opens the conference by sharing A.R.T. systems and tools enabling the creative self-expression of people with severe physical challenges.
Other speakers and topics include: Beth Gordon and Nancy Adams from Miami-Dade County Public Schools on their model high school "Feel the Art" project linking sighted high school students with peers who are blind or visually impaired; Helen Manfull, Penn State professor emerita of theatre and coordinator of "View Via Headphones" Audio Description (AD) Service, on an introduction to AD for performing arts patrons with sight loss; and Annette Ridenour, president of Aesthetics Inc. of San Diego, on the design of healing environments through the senses, including for medically complex children, the rejuvenation of nurses, and for outpatient surgery.
The conference schedule permits opportunity to attend the Pennsylvania School Study Council Arts-in-Education luncheon, featuring a talk on "Arts Unlocking Ability" by Kathleen Gaffney, Artsgenesis president.
Funded by the central office of VSA arts, the conference costs $25 per person. The luncheon is available for a separate fee. Registration is available online at http://app.outreach.psu.edu/multisensory/, and walk-ins also will be accepted. For more information, contact Ermyn King at (814) 865-8230 or efk103@psu.edu.