About the Project

The goal of this project is to build connections between Special Day Class (SDC) students and other students throughout the school. In recent years, a small number of students (10-15) have become PUPs, which is a student who mentors and collaborates with SDC students. Through these experiences, SDC students and PUPs developed confidence and friendships. The PUP Art project will expand this concept to a larger number of art students (over 500). First, all students will be educated on how to support their SDC friends and gain practice interacting with SDC students through teambuilders. This will promote empathy and reduce prejudice. Then, art students will be given choices for participation. At the first level (mandatory), students will work collaboratively to create art projects that promote disability inclusion/justice or create art templates for SDC students. For the second level (optional), students will work on projects with SDC students in art class. In level three (optional), select experienced students will create and teach art lessons to SDC students in art or SDC class. The ultimate goal of the project is that all students develop confidence, enhance learning, and develop social skills.