Richmond School District AccessAbility Fair: Creativity Catapulted

On January 28th, 2025, the Richmond School District hosted its first-ever AccessAbility Fair,

bringing students together from across the district to collaborate on creating a stunning process

art masterpiece. The fair’s art station offered a unique and inclusive experience for students with

motor and/or visual disabilities, who often face challenges when using traditional art tools and

techniques.

At the heart of the fair was a switch-adapted catapult, which allowed all students to participate in

creating splatters on two large canvases. This innovative setup enabled each student to make

their own artistic contribution in a way that was accessible and empowering.

Participants began by choosing the paint color they wanted their sponge to be soaked in. Once

the sponge was loaded into the catapult, students pressed a button to launch the sponge, sending

it flying through the air to make its unique mark on the canvas. The result was a vibrant,

collaborative artwork that celebrated the creativity and spirit of all those involved.

The AccessAbility Fair highlighted the power of inclusive artmaking, providing students with

different abilities an opportunity to express themselves and experience the joy of creating

something meaningful together.