News and Journal Articles About Upstream Arts

Pioneer Press:  For developmentally disabled, a club ‘just to have fun’ (2010)
An article about our friends at Highland Friendship Club, featuring some great pictures from one of our programs with them.

The Examiner: Minneapolis Arts Education (2010)
A three part article on the work that Upstream Arts does in the community.

Minnesota Playlist: Collaboration, Communication, and Confidence (2010)
Read about the how Upstream Arts encourages collaboration, communication and confidence in its participants in this Minnnesota Playlist article.

Twin Cities Daily Planet: Upstream Arts: Movement, music, and theater build social skills for youth with disabilities (2009)
Read about the work that Upstream Arts is doing in the Twin Cities Daily Planet.

The Autism Society of Minnesota: Perspectives on Autism (2009)
Read about Upstream Arts’ partnership with The Autism Society of Minnesota in this article from their newsletter.

The Autism File USA: Autism on the Stage (2009)
This article in The Autism File USA about performing arts programs for children on the autism spectrum inlcudes information on Upstream Arts’ collaborative work with the Autism Society of Minnesota.

Special Olympics of Minnesota: The Forerunner (2008)
This article in the Special Olympics’ newsletter, The Forerunner, highlights Upstream Arts’ work.

Research Articles on Arts and Disability

Outcome-Based Evaluation of a Social Skills Program Using Art Therapy and Group Therapy for Children on the Autism Spectrum (2008)
This article from the Journal Children & Schools discusses the specific impact that arts therapy has on children and youth with Autism. Click here to download it.

Disability Status Report: Minnesota (2007)
Get the most recent statistics about people with disabilities in the state of Minnesota in the latest Status Report.

Critical Evidence: How the Arts Benefit Student Achievement (2006)
This short but sweet article uses non technical language to summarize recent research on the value of arts learning. It can be downloaded for free on the Arts Education Partnership website.

How Students with Disabilities Learn In and Through the Arts: An Investigation of Educator Perspectives (2004)
This research article by VSA arts discusses how arts learning has particular benefits for students with disabilities. Click here to download it.

Critical Links: Learning in the Arts and Student Academic and Social Development (2002)
This compendium of research studies has been widely used to make the case that arts learning is essential. It can be downloaded for free on the Arts Education Partnership website.

Books

Making Art Special: A Curriculum for Special Education Art by Helen Goren Shafton (2010)

Creative Expressive Activities and Asperger’s Syndrome (2006)

Moving Over the Edge: Artists with Disabilities Take the Leap by Pamela Kay Walker (2005)

No Pity: People with Disabilities Forging a New Civil Rights Movement by Joseph Shapiro (1994)
A great primer on the Disability Rights Movement.

Upstream Arts Publications

Download a copy of Upstream Arts’ 2010 – 2011 Annual Report here.

Upstream Arts’ past annual reports and quarterly newsletters are available to download by clicking on the links below: