[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21729]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           TRIBUTE TO ACCESSIBLE ARTS ON ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY

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                           HON. DENNIS MOORE

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 29, 2006

  Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I take this opportunity today to 
pay tribute to Accessible Arts, Inc., of Kansas City, Kansas, during 
the year in which it celebrates its 25th year of service to children 
with disabilities,
  Accessible Arts values children and the arts; above all, access to 
the arts for children with disabilities is their core principle. 
Advocacy, education and collaboration are essential components in 
accomplishing their objectives. Through the arts, children develop 
critical thinking skills, take risks in a safe environment and 
experience successes. The challenge of creating something of value 
instills hope and self-confidence in children of all ages.
  In 1981, Accessible Arts founder and first executive director William 
Freeman saw the need for an organization to advocate for active 
participation in the arts for all children, regardless of their 
ability. The result was the Arts with the Handicapped program of the 
Kansas State Department of Education, which later became Accessible 
Arts, Inc.
  This unique and innovative program has benefited thousands of 
children, their teachers and parents, This 25th anniversary of the 
Accessible Arts program is cause for celebration and appreciation of 
all who have contributed to its development, and to celebrate 
Accessible Arts' continuing its important work. I join in paying 
tribute to this unique and valuable program and wish Accessible Arts 
many more years of successful service to children with disabilities and 
their families.

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