Ryan Hourigan, Professor of Music Education and Director of the School of Music at Ball State University, shares the unique story that has led him to become a leading advocate for the inclusion of students with disabilities in arts education. Ryan invites the audience along on his journey from music educator and parent to advocate for change, highlighting stories of the exceptional students that have inspired his work along the way. As a Kennedy Center teaching artist and speaker, he has consulted with major arts centers around the country on how to include audience members with exceptionalities.  He has consulted for the University Music Society (Ann Arbor); The Count Basie Center (Redbank New Jersey); The Smith Center (Las Vegas) and abroad at the invitation of the state department just to name a few. He regularly has been invited to the John F. Kennedy Center to consult with their Every Given Child and Partners in Education Program. This interactive workshop will focus on steps that each performer can take either personally or as a part of their ensemble or not-for -profit arts organization to make each performance more inclusive.