Hamden, CT — June 25, 2026 — Arts for Learning Connecticut (AFLCT) has been awarded a $16,000 grant from the John E. Blair Fund at the Greater Hartford Gives Foundation to support “Breaking Free – Kinesthetic Arts Integration at the CT Institute for the Blind, Oak Hill,” a year-long initiative that brings arts-integrated learning experiences to students with visual impairments and other disabilities. The grant will support programming throughout the coming year in partnership with Oak Hill’s Connecticut Institute for the Blind.
Through the project, professional Teaching Artists will collaborate with educators to deliver kinesthetic, multisensory arts experiences designed to increase student engagement, strengthen communication skills, encourage creative expression, and make learning more accessible through movement and the arts.
“Every young person deserves meaningful opportunities to learn, create, and express themselves,” said John-Michael Parker, Executive Director of Arts for Learning Connecticut. “We are grateful to the Greater Hartford Gives Foundation for investing in programming that ensures students with visual impairments and other disabilities have access to high-quality arts learning experiences that meet their unique strengths and learning styles.”
The initiative reflects AFLCT’s commitment to equitable access to arts education and builds on the organization’s longstanding expertise in arts integration. Teaching Artists employ instructional practices grounded in Social and Emotional Learning, Universal Design for Learning, and culturally responsive teaching to create engaging learning environments where all students can thrive.
By integrating movement, music, theater, visual arts, and other creative disciplines into instruction, the program helps students develop confidence, communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills while providing educators with innovative strategies to support diverse learners.
“We know the arts can remove barriers to learning by providing multiple pathways for students to engage with content and demonstrate understanding,” said Jed Kornbluh, Director of Business Development. “This partnership with Oak Hill reinforces our shared belief that creativity should be accessible to every learner, regardless of ability.”
Arts for Learning Connecticut serves more than 70,000 students annually through performances, workshops, residencies, professional development, and its nationally recognized Higher Order Thinking (HOT) Schools initiative. Through partnerships with schools and community organizations across Connecticut, AFLCT works to inspire young people and expand their learning through the arts.