| Developing a Jewelry Program for Disabled High School Grads |
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| Written by Meredith Arnold | |||
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Polymer Clay makes it's way into the most interesting places! Recently appointed as an Artist in Residence for the Shoreline Public School District in Shoreline, WA I have been designing a unique jewelry making program for disabled high school graduates. The projects that my ten new students will be creating include polymer clay earrings and tile bracelets, silk bead necklaces and will end with a grand finale of Precious Metal Clay enameled with polymer clay pins. A very ambitious program, to be sure!The purpose of this program is to develop a strategy for these students that would help create some income for them to supplement whatever other resources they already have. The Dept. of Vocational Rehabilitation for the state of WA and the Shoreline Schools Foundation have combined their resources for this program. Coming this Spring the items made in this program will be available for sale at a local arts and crafts fair. Of course I have designed in enough pieces for the students to be able to keep some of the things that they make, too. In an odd twist, one of the students in my class is the youngest sibling of my daughter's best friend, whom I have not seen in the 8 years since my daughter passed away, (my daughter had Down Syndrome). Being the parent of a multiply handicapped child, an artist and a teacher is teaching me that life really does come full circle in funny ways. What an adventure!
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