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TIAC Presentation Revised
Art therapy can help individuals with autism spectrum disorder in several ways. It allows for increased self-expression, fosters intellectual development, and helps integrate emotions. Additionally, art therapy develops communication skills and helps build relationships.
TIAC Presentation Revised
- 1. A R T TH E R A P Y Treatment for individuals with autism spectrum disorder
- 3. Art therapy hasthe power to: – Increase self expression – Foster intellectual development – Integrate emotions – Develop communication skills – Build relationships
- 4.
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Editor's Notes
- #2 On behalf of the Wisconsin Art Therapy Association, I’d like to thank you for the opportunity to speak to today to advocate for art therapists and their clients across the state. Art therapy treatment for these individuals was jeopardized when the committee ruled in July 2014 that no recent relevant research had been conducted exploring the efficacy of art therapy and autism spectrum disorders. We strongly believe that art therapy provides these individuals with unique and profound opportunities for self-expression, relationship building, and self-regulation. I would like to thank the Rene, the president of the Wisconsin Art Therapy Association, for taking the lead in compiling nearly 200 pages of recent research exploring the effectiveness of art therapy with in individuals with autism spectrum disorders and developmental disabilities. We are confident the research presented to the committee in late 2014, as well as the powerful stories you will hear today of two individuals whose lives were profoundly impacted by art therapy services, will provide more than enough support for reinstating proper funding for art therapy services that are essential for this population.
- #3 Joining me today are a number of colleagues from the Wisconsin Art Therapy Association Board of Directors, as well as professionals whose practice relies on decisions made by the Treatment Intervention Advisory Committee. [Brief introductions of those in attendance]
- #4 Art therapy is recognized as an essential tool in treating autism by the likes of Autism Speaks and Dr. Temple Grandin. A letter of support from the American Art Therapy Association was submitted with other recent research. I will read their words directly, as I could not have said it better myself: “Art therapy uniquely provides a means of communicating for those who cannot find the words to express anxiety, pain or emotions as a result of trauma, combat, physical abuse, loss of brain function, depression, and other debilitating conditions. As a result, art therapy offers an effective treatment for people of all ages and backgrounds who experience physical, developmental, learning, and psychological impairment.” By encouraging use of art materials, the art therapist provides a familiar and secure environment in which a child with autism can leave his or her inner world, if only temporarily, to experiment with creative expression, integrate emotions, and experience intellectual development. Art therapy seeks to develop basic communication and socialization skills that can help facilitate other autism treatments. Its efficacy in treating autism is abundantly documented in the literature, and is recognized by national autism advocacy organizations, philanthropic and educational institutions, and leaders of the autism rights movement. Kathleen Kaufman is a registered art therapist who founded Healing Thru Art, which serves individuals on the Autism spectrum and with developmental disabilities. Kathleen devotes her professional life to improving the lives of these clients and their families through art. She is just one of many art therapists whose practice was affected when funding was pulled. Thankfully, generosity of members in the community have allowed many of Kathleen’s clients to continue to receive valuable and essential art therapy services. Unfortunately, this business model is not sustainable. Today, rather than reviewing with you the enormous amount of research submitted to the committee in late 2014, I would like to take this opportunity to share the stories of individuals whose lives have been profoundly impacted by art therapy services. Kathleen has been gracious enough to share with me the powerful stories and photos of two of her clients. I am privileged to share these with you today.
- #5 David was a nonverbal man in his mid-30s who lived in a group home. Creating art with an art therapist allowed David to express an evolving understanding of the world around him. The staff at the group home felt David’s self stimming behavior was disruptive. They would give him crayons, send him to a table in the corner, and ask him to draw. Staff at the group home used crayons as discipline for David. He would spend many hours at this table in the corner, creating drawings that captured on paper his back and forth self stimming movement.
- #6 Kathleen’s art therapy interventions with David served as a means of behavioral modification that allowed David to begin to associate crayons as a reward instead of a punishment. When Kathleen first began working with David, he would look up at the lights and scribble in white back and forth. This choice in color signaled that he could decipher lights from ceiling, but he was so busy self stimming with crayon that he was losing his subject as a result of the vigorous movement.
- #7 Kathleen began presenting David with objects to draw in an effort to focus his attention. They began with a small car. David’s attention span was initially short. There were small periods in which he was able to focus on the object at hand and create a discernable subject in his drawing before the self-stimming began and he drew over it. In the top left image, you are able to decipher the engine he drew underneath the back and forth marks. He began focusing on small details of the car, but would cover each up with a back and forth movement. - on the bottom left, the fender; and on the bottom right, the flame on the top of the engine- but would cover each up with his back and forth movement.
- #8 Kathleen began developing a pattern and routine with David in an effort to boost his productivity and reduce self-stimming behavior. She began by providing him with a pencil and asked him to draw an outline of the subject, which was initially a can of Pepsi. When the outline was complete, he was rewarded with crayons. After enhancing the drawing with crayons, David was rewarded with a sip of soda- his favorite. Kathleen would remove the drawings before the self-stimming motion began. This routine continued for hundreds of drawings. In this early drawing of the pepsi can, you can see that David focused on the simple stripes of blue and red.
- #9 With each drawing, David was better able to decipher colors and shapes. His drawings became more detailed and colors more accurate.
- #10 In this drawing, the top and tab of the can can be seen. After another hundred or so drawings, David was able to shift his focus from close up imagery of the can to the can in its entirety.
- #11 Although he was unable to read or write, David then began to draw what he perceived as shapes, but what were actually letters.
- #12 Here, you can see David’s drawings becoming more complex and detailed.
- #13 And here, David depicted an entire can. The word “Pepsi” can be clearly seen across the top of the can.
- #14 As this process continued over hundreds of drawings, Kathleen began to incorporate additional materials. David was able to use collaged tissue paper and tempera paint with great success. His drawings and paintings grew in size during his year and a half in art therapy. The routine that Kathleen and David developed through regular art therapy sessions over a year and a half- drawing, reward, coloring, reward, painting, reward- greatly reduced David’s self stimming behavior both in and out of art therapy. He was eventually able to learn the signs for various colors.
- #17 Near the end of his year and a half in art therapy, David began to fall ill but still participated in services. It was at this time that David drew a box of crayons, with a clear number “8.” What a perfect representation of all he had learned during the course of his treatment. This drawing encompasses his improved drawing skills, control over his materials, and inside the box are all the colors he’d learned signs for. Unfortunately, David’s health continued to deteriorate and he was no longer able to participate in art therapy services. As his time with Kathleen came to an end, his aggressive self-stimming behaviors returned at great frequency until he passed away. David’s story is full of many examples of why art therapy provides unique experiences and opportunities for this population. Art therapists serve as advocates for those who are unable to advocate for themselves. David’s self-stimming behavior was seen as disruptive by group home staff, but it took an art therapist to harness that behavior and transform it into something positive. David’s art therapist provided positive reinforcement that he likely received rarely elsewhere. Art therapy allowed David to build a relationship with another individual that was based on mutual respect and collaboration. Throughout treatment, David’s drawings evolved to include greater detail, he learned sign language, and he was better able to self-soothe. The trusting relationship David built with Kathleen, the success he experienced throughout treatment, and the reduction in behavior are all things that most likely could have never occurred with the limited resources available to him at the group home.
- #18 Megan is a 21-year-old young woman who has undergone quite the transformation in the past few years, largely in thanks to art therapy treatment. Megan is diagnosed with severe autism and developmental disabilities. Kathleen began providing Megan with art therapy services 5 years ago while Megan was living with her parents. Five years ago, Kathleen stated they were lucky to complete five minutes of treatment in each session. Megan was self-abusive and regularly hospitalized. She displayed classic acute autistic behaviors such as biting, rocking, and hitting. Her father had to restrain Megan to maintain her safety at times. She hit herself on the head so frequently that her hair began to fall out. Megan had to wear a helmet to prevent injury to the shunt that is in her brain.
- #19 At the beginning of treatment, Megan was so heavily medicated that she frequently fell asleep during art therapy sessions. Despite these challenges, Megan still worked hard to create art for the short time she was able.
- #20 Over time, Megan’s self stimming behaviors decreased during the artmaking process. It became evident that Megan was creating art as a means connecting to the world around her. Megan began creating her own cartoon characters. These began as birds, drawing in black sharpie and filled in with paint. Megan would typically draw 10 birds during each session, each isolated on its own canvas. Her sense of humor began to unfold through the art process. Her birds were expressive and goofy.
- #21 Kathleen met Megan for a session on a particularly cold and snowy winter day. Their routine unfolded as usual, with Megan drawing her expressive birds in Sharpie. On this day, Megan paused after finishing the bird’s outline. Before she moved on to add paint, Megan drew a large icicle hanging off the bird’s beak, which she subsequently covered with paint. Megan was beginning to express an understanding of her surroundings that would not have been possible without the artmaking process.
- #22 Soon, Megan’s artwork evolved from cartoons to sculptures. She began by creating clay sculptures of her bird characters. The clay birds’ large bodies were often too heavy for their spindly legs to support. Each time a leg fell off, Megan looked at Kathleen and said, “Haha!” You can see in this photo that Megan is no longer in need of the helmet, as her self-stimming behaviors had reduced greatly.
- #23 Through these humorous interactions with Kathleen, as well as the characters she was beginning to create, Megan showed that she was beginning to look outward to others.
- #24 As time went on, Megan’s attention span lengthened and self-stimming behaviors decreased. Her artwork evolved to include other animals and characters. Her use of materials became more complex. In addition to sharpie and paint, Megan began creating detailed and layered pieces. This layered and textured piece shows her growth in use of materials from her initial bird paintings.
- #25 Her work also evolved to include sculptures of other animals. I find the large eyes in each of her pieces to be particularly striking. To me, they seem to reflect her newfound ability to communicate that she is very aware of the world and relationships around her. As you recall, her early artwork included many solitary creatures. Rather than completing individual birds, she began creating sculptures in pairs.
- #26 Megan’s arwork also evolved to include full landscapes. The increasing complexity in the materials and images used are a testament to the increased length of time with which Megan is able to focus.
- #27 Upon returning from a trip to Florida, Kathleen gave Megan a postcard of palm trees illuminated by a fiery orange sunset. Megan’s next piece was a recreation of this postcard. Not only had art therapy services resulted in a profound improvement in Megan’s ability to focus and safely self-soothe, but over the years was able to foster a strong relationship between client and art therapist that might not have been possible otherwise. Rather than responding to Kathleen with physical aggression as she did at the start of treatment, Megan now responds with high fives.
- #28 Through her five years of regular art therapy treatment, Megan has begun to thrive. The reduction in harmful self-stimming behaviors has resulted in fewer injuries and hospitalizations. Megan no longer needs to wear a helmet to protect herself. Megan’s subject matter continues to expand. For some time, Megan worked at a job site earning $1 an hour. However, Megan’s artwork has allowed her contribute meaningfully to society, resulting in greater independence and self-worth. Megan sold her first piece, this cow, for $65. She would have had to work for 65 hours at a job site to earn that much money. Megan’s artwork is shown regularly throughout the community and will be highlighted in a physician’s office this month with the support of Very Special Arts. Megan’s artwork has been shown at Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee for the past two years. Last year, Kathleen felt Megan was still too self-involved to understand the significance of this achievement. This year, however, Kathleen has noted a spike in Megan’s excitement regarding the show.
- #29 The income generated from her artwork has allowed Megan to move into her own apartment this past year where she receives round-the-clock care. Prior to receiving art therapy services, this never would have been possible due to her dangerous behavior and physical aggression. The medications Megan has been prescribed have even decreased as she has become better able to self-regulate. She regularly goes to the YMCA and attends events in the community. Megan is about to graduate from high school. Kathleen describes her senior photo as a “happy picture” in which Megan proudly stands in front of one of her paintings. The more Megan creates art, the less she self-regulates in unsafe ways. Art therapy has had an undeniably positive impact on Megan’s life these past five years. At the beginning of treatment, nobody could have guessed that this self-abusive young woman would one day be able to go on to become an independent and meaningful contributor to society. Art therapy has allowed Megan avenues for self expression, opportunities for independence, and allowed her to form meaningful relationships with those around her. Art therapy has given Megan a unique and powerful voice. Megan’s father has been gracious enough to join us today to lend his support to reinstating funding for art therapy services. It is important to note that the positive effects of art therapy spread far beyond the client and influence the entire family. He is happy to answer any questions you have regarding his daughter and family’s experience in art therapy treatment.
- #30 David and Megan are just two of many who benefit from art therapy services. We are very grateful for the opportunity to speak to you today as advocates for art therapists and their clients across the state. We welcome any questions you have, and look forward to continuing to foster a strong relationship with your committee in the years to come.