Welcome to Inclusive Clay

Inclusive Clay has evolved organically over the last 4 years as a group of adults called "Pottery Friends" have met weekly in the basement studio at the home of founder and program director Kristin Bispels. Kristin is the mother of an adult daughter with disabilities. When her daughter exited the school setting at 21 years old, she explored options for her daily life. They tried some programs, but it was challenging to find meaningful activities that were appropriate for her abilities and interests. Another priority was to find a way for her daughter to interact with people in her community so that she could participate and find belonging.

As a way to attempt to address these needs, Kristin began inviting a small group of peers to their home to make things with clay at her home studio. They learned how to construct pottery that was useful and functional that they were proud to share with others as gifts. They problem solved as clay mishaps like cracks occurred and glazes ran, and were empowered to try again with greater success and confidence. They built independence as they chose what they wanted to make next and could follow the steps required to handbuild it with appropriate support. The participants learned how to roll a clay slab and connect it to form a vase, while also connecting to each other and forming friendships that extended beyond the basement studio. What she discovered was that her daughter wasn't the only one who struggled to find a way to connect with others in the community in a meaningful way, and as word spread about the "Pottery Friends," the class grew.

That group of Pottery Friends has now transitioned into Inclusive Clay, which is a growing organization whose mission is to provide access to ceramic art studios through supported education and reduce the barriers adults with disabilities face when interacting in these community spaces. This program has partnered with ArtFusion19464 in Pottstown PA to begin this mission in 2024, and we are excited to begin our first session there in January.

We invite you to join our journey as we grow, and as a supporter of our mission, you will help us to increase the number of classes we are able to offer as well as begin to extend our partnerships with other community ceramic art studios. Our greatest need right now is funding, and your donations, no matter the size, will make a significant impact on our program and the lives for adults with disablilties in our community. Together, let us create a more inclusive and empowering art education environment for all.