Inclusive education art therapy and drama

1. Inclusive
education
Art Therapy and Drama

2. What is Art Therapy?

3. The importance of Art Therapy
• In more recent years, researchers have explored the benefits of art therapy
for treating a variety of physical health difficulties. Some of their findings
show art therapy:
• Helped reduce pain, decrease symptoms of stress and improve quality of
life in adult cancer patients.
• Improved ability to deal with pain and other frightening symptoms in
children with cancer.
• Reduced stress and anxiety in children with asthma.
• Stimulated mental function in older adults with dementia.
• Indicated a reduction in depression in Parkinson's patients.

4. Art Therapy in Special
Education
Art therapy has proven to be a
successful form of treatment for
special education students and kids
with other behavioral, emotional or
psychological issues. This type of
therapy can be considered a
psychotherapeutic service. It allows
kids to express themselves in non-
verbal ways using art tools and
supplies. This form of expression
can tell a counselor many things. In
fact, it provides a way for the child
to communicate things they simply
cannot say in words.

5. Types of Art Therapy
Techniques used in art therapy can
include:
• Collage.
• Coloring.
• Doodling and scribbling.
• Drawing.
• Finger painting.
• Painting.
• Photography.
• Sculpting.

6. Finger Painting
This technique would work during
the early stages of art therapy.
Children with special needs might
find it challenging to hold a crayon
or brush.
Finger painting allows them to
colour with their fingers. This is a
satisfying activity where they can
trace unique designs in the paper.

7. Music Therapy
Research has proven that music can
be instrumental in stimulating and
calming certain areas of the brain. It
increases their concentration on
learning and other activities. It
might even stimulate their interest
to play an instrument.
Teachers can attempt to find if their
kids are interested in monitoring
their response. This will help them
to hone a particular skill or talent.

8. Paper Figures
Various activities can be executed
with paper. Some of them are
simple, while others are complex.
Children can be helped to make
simple structures.
This would be instrumental in
improving their creativity.
Encouraging special children to
create shapes with objects would
improve their empathy towards the
environment.

9. • Art therapy can be a great tool for all children to express themselves freely and work
through their emotions. However, it can be especially useful for children with
communication, behavioral or emotional difficulties. It can help children work through
their trauma, fears, and anxiety.
• This form of therapy has especially proven to be beneficial for children with ADHD,
Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Conduct Disorder, as it enables them to learn coping skills
during periods of distress.

10. Drama and
Special Education
Drama is often about collaboration
and negotiation and when it is used
in mixed-ability groups it can act as
a bridge between children with
special needs and others in their
peer group. It can enable students
with particular difficulties and
provides an ideal environment to
encourage students to work
together and to develop trust and
friendships.