Our Story
Hi, I’m Kelly Clouse, the founder and director of Artful Impact.
I grew up in West Lafayette, Indiana, and after graduating from Purdue University with a bachelor’s degree in financial planning and a master’s degree in special education, I spent more than 20 years as an essential skills teacher, working with students with moderate to severe disabilities at the high school level. During that time, I had the privilege of helping students and families navigate one of life’s biggest transitions of moving from the security of high school into adulthood.
In the classroom, I developed a curriculum that focused on functional academics, vocational training, daily living skills, social development, and community involvement. I collaborated with families, school personnel, and community agencies to create smooth transitions from classroom based services to adult services. Year after year, however, more families struggled to find programming outside of school that they desired for their child . Once students graduated, there were simply not enough diverse opportunities for them to continue learning, growing, and thriving.
Our community has some wonderful day programs, but because adults with disabilities often remain in those programs for many years, openings are limited and new programs aren’t being created quickly enough to meet the growing need. In addition, many students fall into a unique gap. Their skills, both academically and socially, don’t always align with the traditional day program model. However, they might not be independent enough to succeed in a competitive job or vocational setting.
Agencies like Vocational Rehabilitation are designed to train and fade support, but that leaves some individuals without the daily guidance or check-ins they still need. These students want to work on vocational skills and be part of their community, but in an environment that supports their abilities and offers meaningful social connection.
I saw this firsthand in my classroom. When we launched The Special Bean coffee cart, a micro-enterprise where students made and delivered drinks to staff in the building, it was apparent that students weren’t just making and selling drinks. They were building communication skills, practicing money management, and experiencing real success. Later, when we hosted a craft fair, students created items to sell, engaged with staff to promote their products, and handled real transactions. Both experiences showed me what was possible. When our students were given creative, supported opportunities, they could thrive in ways that exceeded expectations.
These experiences inspired me to create Artful Impact, LLC in 2024. The program is designed to fill that gap for graduates who need both support and opportunity. Artful Impact is more than a studio, it’s a place where participants can explore creativity through art projects designed to highlight their unique talents. They can also continue to develop vocational and functional academic skills by creating, marketing, and selling their artwork while also building social connections with peers, staff, and community members in authentic, meaningful ways. Lastly, they can experience real-world success as they earn money for their creations and gain confidence in their abilities.
Our program also benefits the broader community. Through our gift shop and community markets, and online product sales, community members will see participants not as people with limitations, but as creative entrepreneurs with talent, drive, and value. These interactions foster inclusion and change perceptions. They help our participants be seen for the capable, gifted individuals that they truly are and showcase the contributions that they can make to our community.
My motivation with developing Artful Impact has always been to create opportunities for individuals with disabilities after high school that give them purpose and fulfill their needs. I believe every person deserves to continue learning, growing, and building skills with the right support.
As we grow, we hope to provide expanded studio resources and adaptive art materials, enhanced vocational opportunities through our shop, online sales, and community markets and a sustainable, creative space where individuals with disabilities are seen, celebrated, and supported. At Artful Impact, we believe that creativity changes lives. With the right opportunities, our participants can not only develop skills and confidence, but also build relationships within their own community, showing the world that they are talented, capable, and deserving of every chance to succeed.