VSA, the international organization on arts and disability, was founded more than 35 years ago by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith to provide arts and education opportunities for people with disabilities and increase access to the arts for all.
With 52 international affiliates and a network of nationwide affiliates, VSA is changing perceptions about people with disabilities around the world.
Each year, 7 million people of all ages and abilities participate in VSA programs, in every aspect of the arts – from visual arts, performing arts, to literary arts.
VSA is an affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
To learn more about the VSA International, visit www.vsarts.org.
About VSA's Name
When founded in 1974, the organization was named the National Committee - Arts for the Handicapped. In 1985 the name changed to Very Special Arts and in 2010 it became VSA. In 2011, VSA merged with the Kennedy Center's Office on Accessibility to become the Department of VSA and Accessibility at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
