Acknowledgments
A very special thanks to the organizations and individuals who have
encouraged and supported my work with children with special needs and to
those whose patience and expertise have enabled that work:
The Department of VSA and Accessibility at the John F. Kennedy
Center for the Performing Arts. Through the Intersections
Conference, I learned more about the intersection of arts and educa-
tion for children with special needs; through the VSA Arts Connect
All—Professional Development Program and the Mississippi Arts
Commission, I was privileged to offer training and guidance to
teams of teaching artists and classroom teachers providing services
to children with special needs; and through the VSA Arts Connect
All—Workshop/Residency Program, Springboard to Learning, St.
Louis, my work has expanded and grown.
Special School District (SSD) teachers, paraprofessionals, and
students—especially Dr. Mollie Bolton! The very special students
and faculty at SSD continue to teach me, inspire me, and leave me
awestruck.
Milbre Burch, storyteller and friend extraordinaire. Milbre not
only listens but also responds with insights, ideas, and materials
when my creativity runs dry.
Annette Harrison and Karen Young, storytellers and partners in
delivering storytelling residencies in the SSD classrooms. We
encourage each other, inspire each other, console each other, and
celebrate our victories together.
Bobby Norfolk, partner in all that I do. He commiserates with the
frustrations and cheers for the victories, and through it all, he lis-
tens and listens and listens.
—Sherry Norfolk
Thanks to all those who have encouraged my work and added to my
knowledge base about developing special programs:
Amy Fihe, elective/art instructor and senior capstone at Encore
Academy, Reynoldsburg, Ohio. Amy was the art teacher at
Herbert Mills Elementary School, with whom I worked for about
