This document discusses the benefits of art education for special needs students. It notes that art can help special needs students develop fine motor skills, express emotions, problem solve, and build confidence. The document also provides a brief history of art therapy and outlines Viktor Lowenfeld's stages of artistic development, showing how art can aid development from scribbling to realistic drawing. It questions whether current educational programs are fully utilizing art's potential to help special needs students communicate and express themselves.

1. Special Needs Students and Art Education

2. Where It All Began… Pratt at Munson-Williams-Proctor, Sophomore Year (Spring 2008) Albany Street Elementary School Utica, NY

3. Shape Animals

6. The School for Human RightsCrown Heights, Brooklyn

7. Sean Senior at the School for Human Rights Autistic No Art Classes

10. Challenges… Not a lot of information is available on special needs students and art education

11. Themes Within My Topic… History of Special Education - Ungraded Classes Art Therapy and Special Education - Developmental Stages Self-Expression and Special Needs Students - Understand emotions, become confident in their ideas, improve fine motor skills, complete projects they set out to do, problem solve Creative Thinking in Special Needs Students - Physical challenges may prohibit a student with special needs from expressing his imagination

12. Viktor Lowenfeld

13. Scribble Stage(18 mo. – 2 yrs.) awareness of patterns, hand-eye coordination “Pre-Schematic” Stage (4 yrs. – 7 yrs.) people are made up of basic shapes “Schematic” Stage (7 yrs. – 9 yrs.) more details- clothes, hands, fingers, etc. Drawing Realism Stage (1o yrs.) desire to depict things realistically

14. “Pre-Schematic” Stage Scribble Stage “Schematic” Stage Drawing Realism Stage

15. Is our current educational program using art to its fullest potential in terms of helping children with special needs communicate and express themselves?