It takes extra planning, flexibility and creativity to make the arts accessible to students with disabilities. Here are some inspiring thoughts on why we should continue our mission to make art inclusive for all.
Creative Expression Benefits for Students with Special Needs
On the site Living in Dialogue: No Art Left Behind, blogger Anthony Cody posted a thoughtful piece after being inspired by the words of artist and kindergarten teacher Susan DuFresne. She states: “Art is healing and meditative for children and teachers. It is inspiring and allows a different kind of space for free and creative expression. Art builds self-confidence in a way that children need. It develops listening skills and an ability to work from part to whole. It develops trust in one’s teacher.”
Special Education teacher and blogger Nancy Bailey states in the Importance of Art for Students with Disabilities that “If inclusion is the goal for students with disabilities, as has been described in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, then art classes should be a high priority. The arts can level the playing field, because children with difficulties in academic subjects might excel at drawing, painting, acting or dancing and singing.”
She goes on to say that good art programs may even lead to some type of employment in the art industry and that the arts can help build self-esteem, bring joy, and provide motivation for struggling students to stay in school.
Scholar and author Jane Piirto, in her book Understanding Those Who Create, discusses analyses of famous people that included artists (sculptors, painters, actors, composers, film directors, dancers and performers). This study, done in the 1970s by Goertzel et al included artists like Renoir, Charles Ives, Georgia O’Keefe and others. They found these common traits in the artists that they reviewed:
- They were not known for being good students
- They were not likely to be great
- They had special schooling
- They were less likely to have gone to college.
And we need not look far for modern day artists with disabilities for inspiration.
Paul Smith: Also known as the Typewriter Artist. Born with spastic Cerebral Palsy, he used a manual typewriter as his medium and went on to create over 300 works of art.
Stephen Wiltshire: Best known for his panoramic cityscapes, which were often drawn from memory. Stephen is on the autism spectrum.
Peter Longstaff: Born with a congenital anomaly of no arms, he managed a farm successfully for many years before turning to his childhood hobby of painting (with his foot!). He is known for his landscape images.
Building Important Skills through Art Education
As art educators, it’s important to remember that art for children with special needs helps in many ways including:
- Building fine motor and problem-solving skills
- Enhancing communication and expression
- Promoting self-esteem and motivation to succeed
Whether your budding artists will have their work hanging in a museum or just on a refrigerator, you will know that YOU have made a difference! Thank you for bringing the joy of art into the life of a child with special needs!
Cecilia Cruse
Cecilia Cruse, MS, OTR/L has a BS degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Florida, and her Master’s degree in Education from Georgia State University. She is SIPT certified and has over 25 years’ experience in pediatrics with school-based services, acute care, and outpatient pediatric settings.
Read more posts by Cecilia Cruse–>
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As someone who has worked with students with special needs, I can attest to the incredible impact that art can have on their lives. I particularly appreciated the way you highlighted the ways in which art can help students with special needs develop their fine motor skills, build confidence and express themselves in a unique and creative way. It’s amazing to think about how something as simple as drawing or painting can have such a profound effect on a child’s self-esteem and overall well-being.
If I were to offer any suggestions for future posts, I would recommend exploring the ways in which art can be adapted to meet the unique needs of students with special needs. For example, using assistive technology or alternative materials to make art more accessible. Additionally, highlighting more examples of successful art programs or initiatives that are already making a positive impact in this area would be incredibly valuable. Overall, I think your post was informative, engaging, and inspiring. Keep up the great work and thank you for shedding light on this important topic.
Art’s awesome for special needs kids! It boosts creativity, builds confidence, and helps with communication. Plus, it’s super fun and relaxing. Win-win!