(creating coloring book pages for younger children)

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 a Drawing Contest for high school students to create coloring pages for a coloring book for younger children.
Drawing Contest Theme
- In recognition of National Inclusive Schools Week, students are asked to incorporate the theme “Unity Within Our Community.”
- Demonstrate through your sketch drawings, how inclusion of people with and without disabilities benefits us all.
- Must be age-appropriate for younger children.
2022-23 Submission Highlights
Highlights include high school drawing contest and elementary and middle school artwork contest winners.
Who May Enter
Students in grades 9 – 12 in a public, parochial, or private high school in Maryland may submit drawings (sketches). The winning sketches will be compiled into a coloring book for young children. Home-school children who reside in Maryland, grades 9-12 are also eligible including students with and without disabilities.
Timeline for the Art Contest
- All submissions of Art are due by Thursday, January 12, 2023. 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 in late January 2023.
- 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, 2023, during DD Day at the Legislature. 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. Any questions or for additional information, please contact Sharon Dols at The Arc Maryland, at sdols@thearcmd.org.
This project is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $1,201,464 with 100% funding by ACL/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government.