The need for mentally retarded adults to achieve their maximum abilities is increasingly being recognized by educators and therapists. The literature, although limited, suggests that a comprehensive art program, both educational and therapeutic, could serve as a means of providing activities for the development of needed skills to help mentally handicapped adults become more educated; therefore, to become more independent (Shaefer-Simmern, 1948; Wilson, 1977; Klager, 1977; Kunkle-Miller, 1978; Levinson, 1978). Such an art program could help make the entire educational process become of maximum value to these adults. / Mentally retarded adults who are multiply handicapped and exhibit a low self-esteem, poor communication skills, learning difficulties, and/or behavioral problems need additional opportunities for self-expression, and the building of personal strengths. Art activities may provide mentally retarded adults with a chance to create freely, to feel a sense of individuality, and to experience mastery, success, and acceptance of who they are and what they are. Such activities may enable a client to cope more effectively with the demands of his/her physical, mental, and social deficiencies. Thus, the development of a conceptual framework of art may be needed in order to provide art programs for mentally retarded adults. Therefore, the objectives of this study focus on: (1) an examination of the literature, (2) an examination of the process and information collected from the three exploratory studies, and (3) the development of a conceptual framework of art education and art therapy. / The conceptual framework for use in the development of art programs for mentally retarded adults who are multiply handicapped and are living in a restricted environment includes: (a) approaches to art therapy, (b) assessment procedures, (c) methods of implementing art activities that are educational and therapeutic, and (d) ways of incorporating art into an Individual Program Plan. There seems to be evidence that an art program for mentally retarded adults consisting of the elements cited in the framework would be a service to the mental retardation field. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 52-04, Section: A, page: 1183. / Major Professor: Marylou Kuhn. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1991.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_76388 |
| Contributors | Ochipa, Donna Testa., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 209 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
Page generated in 0.0018 seconds