Art Education and Disability—Introduction

How are art education and disability interrelated?

Few in art, general, or special education would ever disagree with the statement that the arts have potential to bring forth the best in the human spirit, regardless of a person’s ability. Consider as an example the effect that the arts in school had upon artist Dan Keplinger:

“At first, the art teacher at Parkville High School didn't think I was capable of doing the work or even understanding him. The teacher (I called him "S-Man") told my mom if I would stay after school, he would work with me. He started a painting to show me how to get going. I didn't think I could do it, and I almost dropped art. Thank goodness, I didn't.
It took weeks to work things out. Plus, he found out who I was, and for the whole time I was in high school, he was my mentor. I see him in many ways as the creator of my life.
S-Man made a space in the classroom where I could sit on the floor. Charcoal or chalk or a paintbrush was attached to my headstick. My first creations were self-portraits. Each one is different, as I will always continue to change. S-Man gave me art. Art set free emotion, which had been trapped inside of me. The world could now hear that I was a person. With art I am. I am confined by my physical state and my speech. When I taste freedom, it is intoxication. Art gives me a freedom -- a way to communicate” (Home Box Office, 2003).

Stories like this are not uncommon. The power of the arts lay in their ability to help people express, explore, and celebrate their identities. The arts bolster confidence as students master media and are able to communicate issues and thoughts of personal relevance to an audience.

The importance of the arts for students with disabilities cannot be underestimated. Many of these students often feel isolated from their non-disabled peers. Also, these students may not see themselves represented in the curriculum, and therefore may view their experience of living with a disability as being “abnormal.” The opportunity to be self-expressive and creative can diffuse or even challenge this painful stigmatization.

The arts have also been shown to enhance the academic achievement of students. The arts are a viable learning modality for many students, enabling them to make learning strides that they might not have otherwise.

This section of the website addresses the many ways that art teachers can support students with disabilities in the classroom. Art educators can include art goals in a student’s Individualized Education Plan, collaborate with art and disability organizations, make adaptive art materials, and incorporate the work of artists with disabilities into their curriculum. Each of these topics is discussed in greater detail in the following sections.