Dr. Rhoda Bernard Releases Groundbreaking Debut Book on Accessible Arts Education

Dr. Rhoda Bernard, the founder and managing director of Berklee’s Institute of Accessible Arts Education (BIAAE), will release her debut book Accessible Arts Education: Principles, Habits, and Strategies to Unleash Every Student’s Creativity and Learning on Friday, September 19. Published by Solution Tree Press, the first-of-its-kind guide offers comprehensive and practical strategies for inclusive arts instruction that nurtures and empowers students of all backgrounds and ability levels.

“This work is a lifelong dream of mine, and I am incredibly honored to share it with a community of educators, students, and artists who have inspired me for decades,” said Bernard, who also serves as assistant chair of the Music Education Department at Berklee. “I am grateful to the many talented individuals who helped to make this book a reality, including the publishing team, my colleagues at Berklee and many other partner organizations, nearly two dozen artists with disabilities, and the countless students and educators who have taught me so much over the years, and who continue to teach me every day.”

Accessible Arts Education serves instructors in K–12 schools, higher education, and community settings wherever dance, music, theater, and visual arts are taught. Inspired by Bernard's own experiences as an innovator and leader in the field of inclusive arts education, the guide provides teachers with a proven framework on how to reduce barriers, support and nurture a diverse population of learners, and create an equitable environment where all students can grow and thrive.

In addition, Accessible Arts Education features artwork and quotes from disabled artists, including Megan Bent, a Boston-based artist who contributed the cover art as well as several other illustrations throughout the book. The book’s foreword was written by Stephen Shore, an autistic musician, scholar, and internationally renowned speaker. A launch party on Tuesday, October 9, at David Friend Recital Hall will celebrate Bernard and the artists who contributed to the book, with performances by student musicians from the BIAAE.

“As a disabled artist who is also an arts educator, it was deeply meaningful to illustrate Dr. Bernard's book, Accessible Arts Education," said Bent. “I know firsthand how the arts can empower and sustain you. It is essential that arts education is inclusive and accessible for all students.”

A long-standing advocate for access to the arts and arts education for all, Bernard began to pioneer accessibility within the arts education space soon after joining Boston Conservatory. In 2007, she created a one-of-a-kind program for students on the autism spectrum, which developed into the BIAAE and was formally launched in 2017. Today, more than 320 individuals with disabilities engage in the BIAAE’s arts education programs every week. Through private and group instruction led by highly trained and compassionate educators, the BIAAE has helped artists unlock their potential for learning, performing, and creating in the arts. To provide training and support for pre-service and in-service arts educators, the BIAAE also offers first-of-their-kind graduate programs in music education and autism and a wide range of professional development programs and resources.

“Dr. Bernard's book is a transformative guide that solidifies her legacy as a pioneer in the field, drawing upon her extensive experience leading the Berklee Institute for Accessible Arts Education,” said Lenora Helm Hammonds, dean of the Professional Education Division. “Her work continues to shape the future of music education, ensuring that students with disabilities have the opportunity to pursue their artistic passions, and families and adults have the support needed to live vibrant lives through the arts.”

In 2023, the institute was highlighted by PBS Newshour as part of the show’s CANVAS series on art and health. More recently, in April 2025, the BIAAE sponsored a performance by the Music Inclusion Ensemble at the Berklee Performance Center, which featured several musicians from the program.

Accessible Arts Education is available for pre-order at Solution Tree’s website and on Amazon. Learn more about the Berklee Institute of Accessible Arts Education.