ART FOR ALL ABILITIES

A post by Social Work Graduate Intern, Stacy Hower

Stephan Wiltshire didn’t learn to fully verbalize his thoughts until he was 9 years old.

However, he had been using art to express himself long before that. Now, at age 49, he is a renowned artist and has been his entire life. The definition of art is “the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination…to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.” This form of expression is important for people of all ages, and for some exceptional students it is especially vital. Oftentimes, these students express themselves in a way that is not considered typical and may have their needs overlooked as a result. Art enables these students to flourish, and I’ve seen it first-hand. 

In 2022, I worked in a support role in a 3rd grade classroom. I met a child that struggled socially and academically. He struggled to communicate his thoughts and feelings. His body would often burst with energy during times when the class needed to be still. His mind would refuse to follow directions even when his facial expressions revealed that he was truly trying to. He spent most of his day in an internal battle between the parts of him that wanted to follow along and the other parts of him betraying his attempts to fit in, to sit still, to listen. This constant struggle led to him getting outwardly frustrated and oftentimes was sent to the principal’s office. The only time there was a cease fire within him was when he was painting. When he was painting, he was calm, he was focused. When his hand was busy guiding the paint brush, his mind could engage in a conversation and communicate his thoughts and feelings. This student had a kind heart and a thoughtful mind. He was smart and capable, but those things could be difficult for others to see if he didn’t have art to anchor him. For this student, art was essential.   

For one elementary school student on the autism spectrum, art has been an outlet to express his feelings and feel more confident. His mom, Jessica, shared with us how art has impacted his life. She said he first found relief through art because he “struggled to show what he feels when he can’t communicate. It also helped increase his hand strength…which affects his writing stamina [in school]. Art has helped him grow in so many areas.” When Jessica’s son was asked how he feels when he makes art, there was one word that came to his mind, “happy”. For this student, art is essential.  

An article from the Kennedy Center reported that art helps students with special needs “increase independent decision making, increase attention span and develop social skills.” These skills are critical for all children and will shape the adults they grow into. Children identified to have ‘special needs’ have a vast range of abilities and while some may have an official diagnosis such as ADHD or Autism, many do not. Regardless of any label, art is essential for emotional regulation, for learning to think differently, for self-esteem, self-expression and self-discovery. 

“Art is a way for us to know ourselves and connect with others. Young people need a space to construct their inner selves and creating provides them a safe space to explore who they are.” This is what Robin, mother, art teacher, and longtime Paint Love supporter, said when asked why art is essential. Art and its exploration will look different for each person. For some it may be doodling to help their focus and for others it may be a lifeline to peace of mind. Regardless of what shape it takes, art has the power to enhance students’ lives in seen and unseen ways.