How has art as a form of therapy helped with autism and learning challenges?

[Erica24]

How does art help with overcoming learning challenges for individuals with autism? Is it very effective or not effective? How does it help overcome any literacy challenges? What some other more effective forms of therapy that aren’t very clinical that help with autism?

[LDAutie]

Hi,I have classic autism and mild learning disability (otherwise known as intellectual disability in areas that use the DSM).

I go to an UK art studio for learning disabled artists, it is extremely popular and has been running for over 25 years.

It helps non readers and/or non writers be great at creativity and imagination which can be strong points in many of us-I cant write (physically) and predictive text on my iPad is helpful in terms of spelling for me.

It helps us access exhibitions with our strong points.

It doesn’t help you overcome learning disability, rather it helps you work with it and not have so many barriers there that you see with academic classes or therapy.

Another good side to art is it helps a person express themselves where they may not be able to do it verbally and/or through writing or any other way.

For creative types with LD and/or autism it can make them feel good that people are finally hearing their thoughts.

Other good therapies I have accessed for many years (until medications pushed me over the weight limit) was RDA horse riding therapy,and music/sound therapy.

SLT is still good as an adult to,I have accessed this through my CLDT,it has helped me with choosing the right AAC software (proloquo2go) and they made PECS for me for my schedule board.

OT has helped my staff understand me and make sure a lot of things were put in to place to support me.

[Erica24 in reply to LDAutie]

Thank you for replying to my post, it was very educational.

I have heard of equine therapy being used to help with development before. Could you explain to me how music/ sound therapy has helped you before?