Inclusion questions

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Art Teachers Chatboard

Inclusion questions

by Josie

Apr 4, 2014

I have a student who is in a wheelchair and is not able to use his arms/hands. He is non-verbal but understands what you say to him. He tries to speak, but it is extremely difficult to understand. He is sent to art class with his regular ed 6th grade classmates, but no matter how much I modify a projcet, he is unable to participate and the aid ends up doing the work for him. I recently asked his teacher if I could have him do something in the room completely different.... fingerpaint or shaving cream. He can't open his fists, but I thought he could at least try to move his fists around in the paint and that the tactile sensation would encourage him to move his hand. (He can grasp a paintbrush but will just sit it on the paper unable to move it.) His teacher says he does not want him to do a separate activity (it would have to be at another table) becuase he is in the room mainly to socialize with his peers, but the students have a difficult time interacting with him. What can I do to g...See More

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ArtsyFarty I would advise doing what you can, but if he's in there mainly to socialize, try to create ways that the other students can interact with him. Check with his teacher to see if having other students try some hand over hand or including him some art games (maybe paired with another student) would be okay.

Also realize that your goals and hi...See MoreI would advise doing what you can, but if he's in there mainly to socialize, try to create ways that the other students can interact with him. Check with his teacher to see if having other students try some hand over hand or including him some art games (maybe paired with another student) would be okay.

Also realize that your goals and his goals are probably not the same. I know from experience that that is sometimes hard to accept/realize/remember because you feel guilty that he's not producing art. But if his teacher is telling you that his number 1 goal for attending art class is socialization, then perhaps the differentiation that you should try to provide is more towards getting him interacting with the other kids and less about experiencing art creation. That said, I admire your quest to find something in which he can be successful art-wise. That can be a real challenge sometimes!

On 4/04/14, Josie wrote: > I have a student who is in a wheelchair and is not able to > use his arms/hands. He is non-verbal but understands what > you say to him. He tries to speak, but it is extremely > difficult to understand. He is sent to art class with his > regular ed 6th grade classmates, but no matter how much I > modify a projcet, he is unable to participate and the aid > ends up doing the work for him. I recently asked his > teacher if I could have him do something in the room > completely different.... fingerpaint or shaving cream. He > can't open his fists, but I thought he could at least try > to move his fists around in the paint and that the tactile > sensation would encourage him to move his hand. (He can > grasp a paintbrush but will just sit it on the paper > unable to move it.) His teacher says he does not want him > to do a separate activity (it would have to be at another > table) becuase he is in the room mainly to socialize with > his peers, but the students have a difficult time > interacting with him. What can I do to get them to talk > to him (even though he can't talk back...) It's hard for > them to understand. I just feel so bad for him having to > come to art and have everyone around him use chalk, paint, > clay etc. and he is not really participating. Any > suggestions would be great.

Apr 6, 2014

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