Artwork Themes
The Arc Maryland, with its statewide partners, provides a school inclusion program called “Together We’re Better” (TWB). The objective of the program is to raise awareness of the value and importance of inclusion of students with disabilities. One component of the program is an Art Contest for elementary and middle school students.
Following the theme from National Inclusive Schools Week, “Rebuilding Our Inclusive Community Together,” students are invited to create and submit a personal work of art that explores one or more of the following concepts:
- Why it is important to have friends of all abilities;
- What you have learned about yourself and others through this awareness campaign on how we are better together; or
- What steps do you need to take to reach a fully inclusive culture in your school?
Who May Enter
Elementary School:
Students in grades K – 5 in a public, parochial, or private elementary school in Maryland may submit a piece of artwork. Home-schooled children who reside in Maryland, grades K- 5 are also eligible. This includes students with and without disabilities.
Middle School:
Students in grades 6-8 in a public, parochial, or private middle school in Maryland may submit a piece of artwork. Home-schooled children who reside in Maryland, grades 6- 8 are also eligible. This includes students with and without disabilities.
Timeline for the Art Contest
- All submissions of Art are due by Wednesday, January 4, 2022. Any entries received after the stated deadline shall not be considered for an award. Submissions can be submitted digitally via email(photo of the artwork or file) or physically mailed.
- The Art will be judged on Thursday, January 13, 2022.
- The judges include members and staff from The Maryland State Department of Education, the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council, the Maryland Department of Disabilities, and The Arc Maryland.
- An awards celebration for honorees will take place on Tuesday, February 22, 2022, during DD Day at the Legislature held at The Graduate Hotel in Annapolis. DD Day is a gathering of advocates with and without disabilities, Maryland Elected Officials, and the Governor’s Office
Additional Information
The Arc Maryland has compiled links and information to our “Diversity Celebration Toolkit,” which you can access here, to help teachers and/or parents in preparing lesson plans and activities for students to celebrate the diverse capacities and abilities of all students. For questions or additional information, contact Sharon Dols at sdols@thearcmd.org.
This project was supported, in part by grant number CFDA 93.630, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy.