The effect of art education on a student with learning disability : opportunities, empowerment and self-expression

Abstract

Art can provide a great means of self-expression and creativity. As a result, art can be a way for people with disability to cope with life's challenges. In fact people with disability have successfully expressed themselves imaginatively through art. The main aim of this study was to investigate the effects of art education on a student with a learning disability in terms of opportunities, empowerment and self-expression. The main tools for this qualitative research included a one-to-one semi-structured interview which was conducted with the mother of the participant with disability. A Let Me Learn - Learning Connections Inventory was filled in order to discover how the participant with disability would prefer to learn. Then four participatory observation sessions were conducted with the student with a learning disability using art education as a medium. Then two semi-structured interviews were held with the participants involved to saturate the amount of data obtained. The data gathered was analyzed by using thematic analysis. This method helped the researcher in identifying the main themes dealing with art as an educational experience. Themes that emerged included: finding balance through art; holistic outcomes - motivation and empowerment; opportunities and limitations, technology and support; social inclusion and independence. Results showed that students with disability could be empowered and highly motivated through art education if considerable adaptations were made and if their learning style were addressed. In this respect, every student, irrespective disability, had an equal right to educational and future opportunities.