Through the artist residencies organized by VSA Arts, I have experienced the personal growth of ESE students. The children I worked with realized new potentials for their skills by participating in art projects of various mediums. Students gained confidence and beamed with pride at their projects! I believe VSA provides an invaluable service through these residencies as well as their other programs for people with disabilities. Too many people are not otherwise given a real chance to develop their personal skills, or may not have had enough encouragement without programs such as VSA provides. More than once I have worked with students who would first say "I can't do this" and after showing them how, and encouraging...they would complete a drawing or project, and I would say, "See, you CAN do it!" The realization, the light on their face and in their eyes makes it all worth while.
