ArtSpeak: Expressive Arts & Autism
The numbers speak loudly as we respond to the explosion of children with autism. Today, as reported by the Center for Disease Control Prevention, 1 in 150 children have a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders. Our Lee County Public School system now provides services to 350 students on the autism spectrum. The need for services will continue to grow as teachers and school personnel address daily challenges to serve students with autism.
The world has a different look and feel for children with autism. They have difficulty communicating and sharing their thoughts and feelings. They often lack an understanding of what is expected of them and demonstrate varying levels of difficulty with instinctive social interactions. Children with autism tend to be visual learners, display great attention to detail, and frequently have a preferred area of interest. They may be more interested in the parts of a toy than the toy itself. In social settings, children with autism may not seek out peers for play time and fun and are more likely to isolate and distance themselves from other children in the group.
The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools, Inc. is delighted to announce a new initiative entitled ArtSpeak that will help students with autism focus on their strengths using art as a medium for self-expression. ArtSpeak is a unique intervention offered as a supplement to the daily school schedule and classroom learning process. The program will use a small group format that will support the integration of art and verbal communication to help students with autism tap into their talents and interest. Children are intrigued with art and respond to the opportunity to express themselves in new and creative ways. When using art as a medium for expression, children learn to explore new ways to communicate their thoughts and feelings. ArtSpeak will offer a new opportunity for students with autism to explore their feelings and experience delight in their ability to create art. Students enrolled in ArtSpeak will experience enjoyment, accomplishment in the process of creating art, and will engage with their peers in the small group setting. They will learn to use their hands and minds to create their images of life. They will find their “voice” through the process of creating art.
In 2008, the first year of operation, ArtSpeak will be limited to 60 students enrolled in the School District of Lee County. The program will be offered at River Hall Elementary, Skyline Elementary, and Diplomat Middle. Referrals to ArtSpeak will be made by the classroom teachers or school personnel in those schools.
The Foundation is fortunate to have an anonymous donor with the vision, inspiration, and commitment to fund ArtSpeak for five years. Our vision is to expand ArtSpeak to other schools in the School District of Lee County and provide more students with autism the opportunity to unlock their talents and creativity through art.