IMAGINATION FORT WORTH

TRY TO IMAGINE, as a teenager, for the FIRST TIME in your life, walking into a place where hundreds of people like you, communicate in YOUR language and are aware of what its like to be YOU! 

Each year, since 1991, Imagination Fort Worth has created and produced "Imagination Texas: A Special Weekend Celebrating the Deaf and Hard of Hearing". This is the only statewide cultural program for Texas high school students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.

Your gift supports ACCESS to ARTS in EDUCATION learning, Real Life Skills and Peer to Peer socialization, for Deaf and Hard of Hearing high school students with limited opportunities!  

All dollars raised support direct program expenses for this TRANSITION EVENT for high school students who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH), utilizing arts-integrated activities. 

Video Links for: "Imagination Texas: A Special Weekend Celebrating the Deaf and Hard of Hearing":   https://youtu.be/Q5zG2KkNw0M    https://youtu.be/vL516UU9iLg

Link to an example of a SMORE with information about the 2026 program offering and structure: https://app.smore.com/n/qzn1k7

Each year, since 1991, Imagination Fort Worth has created and produced "Imagination Texas: A Special Weekend Celebrating the Deaf and Hard of Hearing". This is the only statewide cultural program for Texas high school students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. We celebrate the program’s 37th Anniversary on April 2 and 3rd, 2027, at the Tarrant County College River Campus. 

This is an event for students who are DHH that allows students to build awareness of postsecondary possibilities, practice transition skills, and meet role models who are DHH. This includes professional artists who are DHH mentoring students who are DHH while using arts-integrated teaching strategies. This event is a required activity of the Texas Education Agency’s (TEA) 2026-2027 Special Education Specialized Supports (SESS) grant.

The program offers hands-on workshops, led by Deaf artists and cross-sector Deaf professionals, for hundreds of Deaf and Hard of Hearing high school students, from over 24 communities across TX. Attending Deaf Ed teachers have CTE, DHH Education specific,  professional development opportunities. Life Skills development (IRL) as well as College and Career development opportunities abound during the program.

This year's event is themed: "Clue into Your Future" – A “Mystery Solving” weekend including a DHH Forensics specialist, DHH Makeup Artist for disguise makeup, a theatre-based Mystery Skit requiring student participation, a scavenger hunt for clues, and more.

Deaf Artists and Professionals mentor Deaf kids, and Deaf kids connect with peers. Together, they push beyond self - perceived limitations. Teachers leave with arts - based teaching strategies. 

The power of shared program experience for 36+ years provides proof of concept! Deaf students have created lasting relationships, solidified career/college choices, stayed in school and flourished, because of this program. Student participants return to serve as Teaching Artists and Mentors. 

A longstanding partnership with Tarrant County College and the TCC ASL training program benefits the participating high school students as well as the higher level TCC Deaf Ed students who hone heir skills, while volunteering for this program.

TESTIMONIALS:

"Imagination Texas means a lot to me, because it shows that you are not alone with a disability, that you have and make a lot of friends who make you feel comfortable and show you love and support!" 

"I went when I was a kid. Now, I’m an adult, a Teacher. This place is amazing."

"It means there a place for our deaf students to gather and feel worthy, confident and at home."

"An opportunity for Deaf students to come together and make lifelong friendships and meet Deaf adults who have achieved their dreams and doing what they love."

"It is a fantastic opportunity to see my students use what they have learned. I also get to see them grow because they know they are safe."

"It means everything, it might be the reason I move to Fort Worth and maybe come to this college."

Imagination Fort Worth (IFW) was originally founded in 1989 under the name, Imagination Celebration of Fort Worth, and was linked to the Kennedy Center's initiative to increase and improve arts experiences in learning. Research shows that arts in education experiences keep kids in school and ignite learning. During our history, we have served over 5 million students and earned national recognition. We are proud of our long history of putting "ARTS" in education by creating and providing ACCESS to students and teachers with the lowest access to opportunities. Recent research shows that introducing meaningful arts in education experiences to students living in high poverty areas, makes a lasting impact in their lives and in our community.