A university art educator with a degree in instructional design, an art educator/inspirational speaker who is also a blind artist with a degree in rehabilitation counseling, and an art specialist for a school system with degrees in art education and special education share their experiences, "ah-ha" moments, collaborative efforts, and inspirational arts ideas for their mutual passion of opening doors for diverse populations (including autistic, ESL, and visually impaired students). Through the senses and elements of visual art, the diverse group of educators will demonstrate strategies, organizational methods and share lesson ideas. Elements of art and principles of design are used as a framework to share practical methods; finger-painting is icing on the cake.

1. Vicky N. Cook
vanc75@aol.com
Ricky Trione
Ricky.Trione@gmail.com
Paige Vitulli
pvitulli@southalabama.edu
Opening the Doors for
Diverse Populations:
Learning Through the Senses
Mobile, AL ~ Mega Conference
Mobile, AL
July 21, 2015

2. Presenters
Vicky N. Cook, Baldwin County Fine Arts Supervisor ( retired from full time, currently working
part-time as BCBE arts specialist) vanc75@aol.com
Vicky is a talented educator with degrees in art, special education and administration with a
strong background in collaborating with other educators, organizations, community leaders and
cultural groups to advocate on behalf of the arts through creative connections and projects
involving the community. She is very experienced in developing and managing projects from
conception to completion, including art competitions, exhibitions, grants, student productions,
and publications. Vicky is dedicated toward working part-time for the fine arts educators of
Baldwin County Public Schools, while collaborating with the Alabama Alliance for Arts Education
to improve the quality of the arts for all educators and students in Baldwin County and Alabama.
Ricky Trione, Blind Artist Ricky.Trione@gmail.com
Ricky has been a blind artist and art educator for the past 9 years. He has personally experienced
the therapeutic and healing effects of art in his own life. Ricky has enjoyed sharing his journey and
passion for creativity, through the use of textures, with people around the Southeast. He has
been known as an encouraging force for people with all types of disabilities.
Paige Vitulli, Associate Professor, University of South Alabama, pvitulli@southalabama.edu
Paige a faculty member and director for the graduate Art Education Program in the College of
Education at the University of South Alabama. She teaches dance, music, theatre, and visual arts
education for the K-6 Elementary/Special Education Program and also directs the visual arts
component of the USA Arts in Education grant for inservice teachers. Her passions include family,
friends, traveling, art, photography, technology, gardening, fishing and food.
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Vicky, Ricky & Paige

3. Opening Doors for Diverse Populations:
Learning through the Senses
• Mobile MEGA Session Description
A university art educator with a degree in instructional design, an art
educator/inspirational speaker who is also a blind artist with a degree in
rehabilitation counseling, and an art specialist for a school system with
degrees in art education and special education share their experiences, "ah-
ha" moments, collaborative efforts, and inspirational arts ideas for their
mutual passion of opening doors for diverse populations (including autistic,
ESL, and visually impaired students). Through the senses and elements of
visual art, the diverse group of educators will demonstrate strategies,
organizational methods and share lesson ideas. Elements of art and
principles of design are used as a framework to share practical methods;
finger-painting is icing on the cake.
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4. Vicky’s Story
Connecting the Dots:
The Big Picture
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5. 5 Reasons why Music Helps
Children with Special Needs
1. Motivates
2. Multi-sensory Experience
3. Processed in Both
Hemispheres of the Brain
4. Non-verbal
5. Helps you Bond
• http://www.friendshipcircle.org/blog/
2014/01/13/5-reasons-why-music-helps-
children-with-special-needs/
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6. Musical Connections
• From Bach to Lady Gaga: Music Lessons for
Special Education (Universal Design)
http://udlseries.udlcenter.org/presentations/ba
ch_to_gaga.html
• It’s a Snap! 4 Ways to Use Music with Special
Needs Students
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/music-with-
special-needs-students-michelle-lazar
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7. Sensory Play:
Early Exploration Through the Senses
Sensory Play: Early Exploration Through the Senses
http://www.pbs.org/parents/child-development/sensory-
play/developing-and-cultivating-skills-through-sensory-play/sensory-
play-early-exploration-through-the-senses/
Touch: “I’m pouring warm water on your head. Do you feel
the wet water?”
Sight: “Do you see the bird in the tree?” “Where do you see
a squirrel? Oh, I see the squirrel on the fence.”
Smell: “Would you like to smell this flower? Mmmm, it
smells sweet.”
Taste: “I think you like the lemon. Ooh, is it sour?”
Sound: “Do you hear the airplane? What sound does it
make? Woooooosh.”
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8. Learning Is Multi-Sensory
Learning Is Multi-Sensory: How To Engage All The Senses So Children Really Benefit “Studies
have shown that we rely heavily on our senses to process information when learning and engaging
more than one sense when teaching can help information processing. Using multiple senses allows
more cognitive connections and associations to be made with a concept.”
• http://www.howtolearn.com/2012/12/learning-is-multi-sensory-how-to-engage-all-the-senses-
so-children-really-benefit/
Engaging the Five Senses to Learn About Our World “The outside world shapes children’s
development through experiences that they have, which include using their five senses—hearing,
sight, smell, taste, and touch. Drawing a child’s attention to the five senses and discussing them
increases understanding of and communication about the world around us.”
• http://www.readwritethink.org/parent-afterschool-resources/tips-howtos/engaging-five-
senses-learn-30959.html
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9. The National Autistic Society
http://www.autism.org.uk/sensory
Harnessing the Power of Art for Children with
Special Needs
http://www.macalester.edu/educationreform/reform
composition/MaureenSR.pdf
Autism Asperger's Digest
http://autismdigest.com/expressive-arts-learning-
growing-and-expressing/
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10. Vicky Cook
• Looking for
community
connections, a key
to the big picture,
and connecting
the dots
• Supporting staff
and key patrons
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11. Lulu's Homeport Marina
In the Fall of 2005 Lucy Buffett, owner of Lulu's Homeport Marina in Gulf Shores, AL, was
approached in a grocery store by Baldwin County Public Schools' first Fine Arts Supervisor, Vicky Nix
Cook, to consider adopting the K-12 fine arts as a Partner in Education. Buffett, the sister of the famous
singer Jimmy Buffett, and her restaurant manager, Johnny Fisher did not hesitate to take on the
challenge. Together they have created several annual and ongoing projects to maintain support for
arts education in Baldwin County. A few of the many successful ventures by Lulu's include a
cookbook- Crazy Sista Cookbook, the Art Fresh Market, and underwriting the AL Shakespeare Play of
Gee's Bend performed in Baldwin County.
One of the first projects Cook used the Lulu's funding for included facilitating blind artist,
Ricky Trione’s presentations in classrooms. Buffett's dedication to and confidence in the Baldwin
County Public School Fine Arts Department has led to a hugely successful partnership with Ricky Trione
by the BCPS system to provide art and character education experiences to all k-12 students. Since the
first grocery store encounter, the initial donation of $500 has blossomed into approximately $60,000.
It is essential to establish local support for the arts from individuals such as Lucy Buffett to
encourage others to support the school arts programs.
Baldwin County Public School Fine Arts appreciates Lulu's!
http://www.lulusathomeport.com/index.php

12. Vicky invites Ricky to accept
the challenge: VSA Project
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Initial drawing and
painting : Vicky Cook &
Ricky Trione
Vicky & Ricky with Wioana
Hamby, president of Very
Special Arts

13. Partnerships Developed:
Community Impact
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14. Vicky Cook
• Networking, connecting, and relating to those with
common interests leads to Dr. Paige Vitulli and
collaboration with faculty and preservice teachers at
the University of South Alabama
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15. Paige’s Story
The Elements of Art
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16. Elements of Art
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17. Elements of Art
Mind Map
http://www.mindmapart.com/elements-
of-art-mind-map-michael-petiford/
ABC’s of Art
http://www.awesomeartists.com/ART/mai
n.htm
The Artist’s Toolkit
http://www.artsconnected.org/toolkit/ind
ex.html
Elements of Art YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwN
QkhKg2Ig
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18. Why is Blue Dog Blue?
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19. Blue Dog Lessons
• http://www.deepspacesp
arkle.com/2012/03/07/geo
rge-rodrigues-blue-dog-
art-lesson/
• http://www.artsandactivi
ties.com/AA040938.pdf
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20. 20

21. George Rodrigue Foundation
http://www.georgerodriguefoundation.org/site317.php
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22. Paige’s Story
Bringing it Across the Bay:
Inspiration for Future Teachers
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23. Ricky’sStory
New Beginnings
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24. Ricky’s Inspiration:
Uncle Ronald Trione
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25. Ricky’s Early Pen & Ink style
(Black & White)
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26. Ricky’s Military Career
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27. Injuries, Acceptance,
and Moving Forward
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28. Collaboration with Vicky
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29. Ricky finds a “New Style”
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30. Ricky finds a “New Style”
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31. Ricky finds a “New Style”
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32. Ricky finds a “New Style”
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33. Ricky’s Demonstration
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34. Additional Resources
•Vicky Cook
• http://www.southalabama.edu/librarygalleries/cookhu
dson.html
• Baldwin County Alliance for Arts Education
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/115362941886334/
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35. Additional Resources
•Ricky Trione
• http://www.rickytrioneart.com/
• http://www.pinterest.com/rickytrione/ricky-trione-art-
blind-artist-texture-art/
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18pb2FCW0TM
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36. Additional Resources
•Paige Vitulli
• https://www.facebook.com/paige.vitulli
• https://twitter.com/PaigeVitulli
• https://instagram.com/paigevitulli/
• http://ponderingpaige.blogspot.com/
• http://arttalk.wikifoundry.com/
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