VSA arts of Texas is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that strives to create a society where people with disabilities learn through, participate in, and enjoy the arts. We are dedicated to the mission of promoting the creative power in people with disabilities by working with all community members to facilitate full access to the cultural and educational arts.
VSA arts of Texas is a member of the international network of VSA arts, an affiliate of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Disability affects 1 out of 5 Americans in their lifetime. According to the Texas Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities, there are approximately 4 million Texans with disability, and according to the Texas Council on Developmental Disabilities, the number of people with disabilities living in Texas is expected to increase by 30% by the year 2010.
Children and adults drive our organization every day. They inspire our programs and services and guide our vision of an inclusive, creative world. We serve approximately 5,000 adults, children, and educators directly, and over 25,000 students, parents, and community members indirectly each year. We offer programs, services, and events based in four expansive core areas: arts education, professional development, cultural access, and public awareness and outreach. We are a leading force in a movement to transform the way we teach, the way we learn about each other, and the way we live.
VSA arts of Texas is recognized as a model inclusive arts organization, continuing to lead successful efforts at the intersection of multi-disciplinary arts, inclusive education, and disability rights. Recent awards for programs and services include: National Award for Excellence in Education Programs, VSA arts, 2006; Excellence in Culture & Arts, Follow the Dream, National and Texas Parks and Recreation, 2005; National Award for Excellence in Cultural Access & Inclusive Arts Services, VSA arts, 2005; NOD Award for Disability Advocacy, Sister Cities International, 2004; Austin Critics Table Award, Outstanding Touring Show, Spatial Theory, Bill T. Shannon, 2004; Best Theatrical Activism, Actual Lives, Critic's Pick, The Austin Chronicle, 2003.
VSA arts of Texas produced the international tour of “Wings Are Given to All”, Nedoslov Theatre Company of Moscow, Russia, in 2005, in addition to producing the nation's only audio description video training series, The Art of Audio Description, in 2001.