| Art forms such as painting or music are powerful | | | | normal hearing. Some of these students are able to |
| developmental tools, improving brain function and | | | | communicate through music. They easily understand |
| memory skills. Creative expression and appreciation | | | | song lyrics even as they struggle to understand |
| are invaluable parts of any educational program but is | | | | normal speech. |
| especially beneficial as part of adolescent special | | | | Other students can use art as a non-traditional |
| education. | | | | communication medium. They can better express |
| Art As Education | | | | themselves through visual imagery than they can |
| A number of studies have demonstrated that schools | | | | through the limits of traditional language. After all, art |
| with strong art programs have higher academic | | | | is at its core a form of communication and exposing |
| performance records than schools with less or no | | | | these students to media outside written and spoken |
| emphasis on art classes. There are several theories | | | | language may reveal new possibilities for interaction |
| as to why this is true. | | | | with their peers. |
| Learning was once considered a logical, left-brain | | | | Art As Therapy |
| activity. However recent thought is that learning also | | | | It is common for parents and even other therapists |
| involves the creative right half of our brains. As | | | | to assume that the activities described above are art |
| students participate in artistic endeavors, they | | | | therapy. However simply listening to music or painting |
| strengthen the neural connections in the right brain. | | | | a picture is no more art therapy than walking down |
| They are more open to new ideas, learn faster, and | | | | the street is physical therapy. Art therapy is a |
| retain memories better. Art also helps thinking and | | | | directed exercise that uses the art as both a |
| problem solving, helping students to understand and | | | | motivator and a therapeutic tool. |
| relate to new subjects more easily. Finally, art | | | | Traditionally art therapy has been used in the |
| engages students more than many traditional | | | | psychiatric field to allow patients get in touch with |
| teaching methods. | | | | inner feelings they may be unable to express through |
| These facts do not just apply to adolescent special | | | | other means. Today it is growing in popularity as a |
| education. Typical students in general education | | | | development tool, helping students in childhood or |
| environments benefit from art as well. | | | | adolescent special education programs grow in ways |
| Art As Communication | | | | that they might not be able to through other |
| Many students in adolescent special education, | | | | therapeutic means. |
| particularly those with neurological disorders, have | | | | Children who have been considered "unreachable" |
| difficulty communicating through traditional means. | | | | may suddenly blossom when exposed to painting, |
| Some of these kids don't relate to the world in the | | | | music, poetry or other forms of creativity. Art should |
| same way as traditional students and are unable to | | | | always be included in an adolescent special education |
| grasp the concept of spoken language despite having | | | | setting. |