Quick look: On the latest episode of FutureCurrent, Orange County Arts and Disability Director and OCDE Arts Consultant Marleena Barber and local artist Joshua Roy place a spotlight on how inclusive arts programs are helping students with disabilities discover their talents and share their stories through creative expression.
Long before she became a leader in Orange County’s arts community, Marleena Barber experienced firsthand how the arts can transform the way people see themselves — and how others see them.
The director of Orange County Arts and Disability joined Orange County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Stefan Bean and educator Lainie Rowell on a recent episode of the FutureCurrent podcast to discuss how arts education and accessibility initiatives are helping people with disabilities express themselves, connect with others and find a sense of belonging.
Released during Disability Pride Month, the conversation also features able artist Joshua Roy and his mother, Connie, whose story illustrates the impact that access to the arts can have on students of all abilities.
Barber shared that her commitment to the work is deeply personal. Born with albinism, a genetic condition that affects pigmentation and can cause low vision, Barber said she spent much of her childhood navigating perceptions about her disability. Everything changed when she discovered music.
As an elementary school student, she performed Whitney Houston’s “The Greatest Love of All” at a talent show and quickly became known not for her condition, but for her talent.
Despite encountering skepticism about pursuing music, she studied the subject in college and later became a music educator. While teaching at the Braille Institute, she directed full-scale musical productions with students who were blind or visually impaired — an experience that helped launch the career she has today. After earning a master’s degree in nonprofit arts management, Barber eventually joined OC Arts and Disability, where she has served as director for the past six years.
Today, her work focuses on creating opportunities for people with disabilities to both make and experience art.
Creating opportunities for connection through art
The annual Orange County Arts and Disability Festival recently celebrated 50 years of showcasing visual and performing artists with disabilities while connecting families, educators, and arts organizations and community members through performances and interactive experiences.
“It’s so important to provide opportunity because without opportunity, there’s no discovery,” Barber said. “A lot of these students — and even their parents — would never know that they have these talents if they were not given opportunities.”
In addition to arts education programs, OC Arts and Disability works with museums, theaters and cultural institutions throughout Orange County to improve accessibility and create welcoming environments for all visitors.
Barber said that their mission is to expand arts inclusion by collaborating with local museums and performing arts centers to make their programming and spaces accessible for people with disabilities to feel like there’s something there for them.
Drawing his own path
Joshua Roy’s artistic journey offers a glimpse of what that inclusion can make possible.
As an artist with Down syndrome, Roy began drawing around age 5 after his mother, Connie, recognized his talent and enthusiasm for art. Today, he creates detailed drawings, greeting cards and commissioned pieces featuring pets, landscapes and other subjects.
When Dr. Bean asked what he enjoys most about art, Roy’s answer was straight to the point.
“Drawing is fun,” he said. “Drawing makes me feel happy.”
Working primarily with pencil and Sharpie pens, Roy said art has helped him develop patience, focus and a curiosity for learning.
As Orange County continues expanding inclusive opportunities through education and the arts, Barber said she is encouraged by the growing collaboration among local arts organizations and community partners to ensure students with disabilities have access to meaningful opportunities to explore their talents.
Dr. Bean shared a similar outlook during the episode.
“My hope is that more and more people with disabilities feel that they belong in our community through the arts,” he said. “With your work, and the work we’re trying to do in education, we’re getting there.”
FutureCurrent is produced by the Orange County Department of Education and features unscripted, story-driven conversations with educators and community leaders across Orange County. Episodes are available in both audio and video formats on major podcast platforms and YouTube.