By: Emily Graham
When you think of a child with learning disabilities, you might envision one who is timid, quiet, and shies away from the spotlight. But the spotlight may be exactly what this child needs in order to thrive and overcome their cognitive obstacles. All 4 One Learning Solutions seeks to empower young learners and parents alike, so make sure to visit the blog for learning resources. Here we make a case for art-focused strategies to counter learning disabilities.
What are learning disabilities?
The most common learning disabilities are dyslexia, ADHD, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, and processing deficits. The Masters in Special Education Degree Program Guide explains that learning disabilities come in degrees with some students only suffering a minor impairment in their ability to retain and manipulate knowledge. Most children with learning disabilities have an average — or above-average — IQ.
Intellectual disabilities are different in that these students have a diminished capacity for learning. A child with an intellectual disability may have a learning capacity of one-half their age. Children with intellectual disabilities can still benefit just as much from exposure to the arts, but perhaps not in the same ways as an average intelligence child that struggles with reading or numeric comprehension.
Why the arts?
The arts can be defined as any endeavor that allows an individual or group of people to pursue creative endeavors. This could be drawing, sculpting, or performing. While often looked at as leisure activities, artistic pursuits have a host of benefits for learning-disabled children. In London, the Art Therapy Centre uses visual arts to help those with learning disabilities come to terms with their emotions and be understood by others. Elsewhere, instructors have tailored dance classes to children with both physical and other disabilities. Children with writing disabilities, such as dyslexia, often turn to dance as a means of self-expression.
Auditory processing and music
Children with auditory processing disorders can benefit from music therapy, which combines sound and movement to help them understand, retain, and later relay information that might otherwise get lost in the confines of their memory banks. It’s theorized that music triggers specific parts of the brain that affect memory and emotions. That’s why music is used in a high number of clinical settings to help Alzheimer’s patients regain lucidity, even if it’s only temporary.
It’s not just listening to music that can have an impact. Students with ADHD and other learning disabilities can learn to play music, even if they must learn “by ear.” The saxophone is a particularly beneficial instrument for teaching students to slow down and take in the moment. A saxophone player must control their breathing and body movements during practice. These actions may be taken into the classroom. All instruments have the power to give a child confidence and an opportunity to prove to themselves they can achieve seemingly difficult tasks. Picking the right instrument is a matter of preference, budget, and physical abilities.
Getting started
Getting a child involved in the arts isn’t just as simple as signing up for a class and letting nature take its course. As a parent or educator, you must determine first their level of interest and arrange for any modifications necessary. For example, a child with ADHD may need private instructions to avoid disrupting a group music class. Your local arts council, board of education, or special needs foundation should be able to point you in the direction of a nearby program that caters to students with special needs. Perhaps most importantly, give your child options. If possible, let them try a variety of programs from music to theater to art.
If you can’t find a class suitable for your child and you have some experience with the arts, why not teach them yourself? You can even amp up the fun factor by bringing in other neighborhood kids to participate. Before long, you could even branch out and begin teaching others on a professional level, especially if you have a gift for helping children with learning disabilities. Just make sure you have a business plan in place and that you’ve taken the right steps to make sure your business is legally recognized by the state. Read up on Maryland LLC laws, for instance, and consult with a professional service like Zen Business whenever necessary.
Children with learning disabilities often thrive outside of the classroom. By giving them the chance to excel in an area they enjoy, you give them the confidence to press on in their academic pursuits and overcome challenges that lie ahead.
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