XENIA, Ohio — An Ohio art teacher has crafted a program for students with developmental disabilities and their families that’s attracting more participants each week.  

What You Need To Know

• Art teacher Kristin Bailey works with students with developmental disabilities 


• Students learn everything from painting to working with clay


• The classes are held at The Coffee Hub in Xenia

Kristin Bailey teaches her weekly art class at the Coffee Hub in Xenia, part of a program offered by the Greene County Board of Developmental Disabilities.

“I’ve been teaching for about 11 years and this is one of my favorite programs,” Bailey said. 

It’s a favorite activity for Tom and his parents. Tom attends with his service dog, Roman.

“Kristin is fantastic,” said Carolyn Watterworth, Tom’s mother. “She is so animated and loves these clients so well. She just works great with them. She treats them right.”

Tom has learned about a variety of mediums and styles of art, including the current lesson: clay.

“It’s just one of those things that when you put a piece of clay in front of somebody, the tactile quality of it you’re able to focus in on that feeling and the sensation of clay,” Bailey said. “I find that’s something people really enjoy, that sensory feeling and sensation. It really helps people focus in on what they’re doing and they seem to enjoy it.”

Another boy, named DJ, seemed pretty restless until Kristin brought out the clay. At that point, he immediately calmed down and focused on having fun creating.

“DJ is on the autism spectrum,” said Angie Chafin. “He loves, blue he loves arts and crafts, this is kinda sensory input for these kiddos, so it’s very important to get this input.”

It also gives DJ and the other students a chance to partner on a project with their parents.

“It’s kinda like a group collaboration project,” Bailey said. “It’s not just a solo artist but something they can do together and they can kinda bounce ideas off each other.”

Ms. Kristin, as the students call her, is getting good grades from the parents and students like Jessica Ferris.

“She’s good. She’s a really good art teacher,” Jessica said.

“100%, two thumbs up,” said DJ’s mom.

“He loves it all. There’s nothing he doesn’t love about it,” said Watterworth. 

“Art’s something that everybody can benefit from and you don’t have to be a fantastic established artist to be able to really appreciate it,” Bailey said. “It brings me joy.”