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In the midst of about 40 children screaming and jumping in delight, Jason “Lefty” Williams strummed his guitar and belted out Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds.”

Siskin Children’s Institute students, half with developmental disabilities and the rest typically developing, noticed that the Atlanta-based guitarist strums using a prosthetic pick strapped to his right arm, which tapers to a nub a couple of inches below his elbow.

Before the Monday morning performance, one girl asked how his arm went away. He was born without it, he said after he had the kids try to guess the answer.

Aside from piquing the students’ curiosity, Mr. Williams’ disability was less notable to the children than his musical ability.

“Just enjoy the music,” said Emily Carisch, 5, after the performance.

“I wonder if something is heavy, if he can still pick it up with one hand?” she added.

Mr. Williams played for the students as part of the Riverbend Festival’s community outreach program, Siskin officials said.

The 34-year-old musician, who performed Monday night at the Bessie Smith Strut, said that from the time he picked up a guitar at age 4, he never doubted he would play music for a living.

But the performances in which he can show the power of hard work and practice to young children, especially those with disabilities, are some of Mr. Williams’ favorite shows, he said Monday.

“It’s going to sound a little cheesy, but you really can do anything you set your mind to, and kids need to know that,” he said. “There’s not enough of that hope out there these days. If I can help with that, I’m happy to do that.”

For Siskin teacher Mary Whitmire, the students’ immediate acceptance of the performer’s differences mirrors their acceptance of one another.

“They reacted the same way they do to their friends in the classroom. That’s what it is, and he still does great, and they move on. It’s not an issue for these guys,” she said after the show.

Children with disabilities may confront more of a challenge dealing with others’ reaction to their disabilities than from the disabilities themselves, Ms. Whitmire said.

Role models such as Mr. Williams can help give children the confidence to disregard outside negativity, she said.

“It’s not necessarily their own limitations; it’s the limitations of the rest of us that may be the biggest problem,” she said.