Author ORCID Identifier
0009-0004-3912-6724
Document Type
Capstone
Publication Date
2026
Keywords
Deaf community, American Sign Language (ASL), occupational therapy, community-based programming, art participation, social participation, accessibility, occupational justice, community engagement, inclusive arts
Department
<--Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences-->
Abstract
This doctoral capstone project developed, implemented, and evaluated a Deaf-centered, ASL-accessible community art program at the Jessye Norman School of the Arts in Augusta, Georgia. The project addressed communication and environmental barriers that may limit participation in meaningful leisure and community-based occupations. Two ASL-interpreted art sessions and a community art show were completed, with evaluation using adapted PROMIS-based survey items, implementation observations, and quality improvement feedback. Because only two usable anonymous survey responses were available at each time point, findings were summarized descriptively and interpreted as feasibility and implementation information rather than evidence of effectiveness. The project supported the feasibility of accessible community art programming and informed recommendations for future implementation and sustainability.
Recommended Citation
Bacal, Andrey meg and Dumitrescu, Cristina, "Connecting Through Art: A Collaborative Art Program for the Deaf Community" (2026). Occupational Therapy Student Scholarship. 8.
https://orb.binghamton.edu/occupational_therapy_students/8
