How to Teach Art to Special Needs Students

by Elizabeth Catanese

Overview

Schools are filled with students who have different strengths and difficulties. Thus, when teaching art you may encounter students with special needs. Teaching art to students with special needs can be both exciting and rewarding. For some students, like those with autism, art may be an outlet for creative expression that no other subject can provide. For others, like those with fine motor impairments, art may provide challenges that may seem deeply frustrating. If you follow the steps below, you will be on your way to helping all students to have productive art-making experiences.

Step 1

Determine the types of special needs had by students in your classroom. This information can be found on students IEPs or Individualized Education Programs. These documents will allow you to get a preliminary reading of what your students strengths and difficulties are.
Step 2

Select a project. Since your students have special needs, they may not all be able to create the project in the same way. Thus, having a project that is broad enough to accommodate all learners is key. A lesson that aims to help students understand the idea of landscape is easier to teach than a lesson that aims to teach students how to replicate the perspective in a particular landscape painting.
Step 3

Differentiate instruction. Differentiating instruction means making sure that each learner is being stretched to his or her own potential. Differentiated instruction takes into account the diversity of learners and is an especially effective practice for teaching art to those with special needs. Instruct students about the general project. Give them art materials based on their areas of strength rather than their disabilities. Give a a student with limited hand-eye coordination a camera rather than a pen. Give students who are interested in bright colors tissue paper or paint.
Step 4

Walk around the classroom. Give students encouragement. Ask students who are strong at one aspect of the project to pair up with others who may be less strong at a particular art skill.

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Individualized Education Program (paper document) Camera Pens Paint Tissue Paper Classroom
Individualized Education Program (paper document)
Camera
Pens
Paint
Tissue Paper
Classroom
Ask other teachers about strategies they use for working with students with special needs. Read books about the particular needs of your students. Ask your students themselves what is working for them. Working with students with special needs involves constantly thinking and rethinking your teaching practices with the help of those around you.
Ask other teachers about strategies they use for working with students with special needs. Read books about the particular needs of your students. Ask your students themselves what is working for them. Working with students with special needs involves constantly thinking and rethinking your teaching practices with the help of those around you.