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The Museum as a Space for Therapeutic Art Experiences for Adolescents with High Functioning Autism (HFA)

Museum education and art therapy collaborations have emerged to work together to achieve simultaneous education and therapeutic goals for adolescent populations (Peacock, 2012). There is a need for research in the area of improving the services and quality of lives of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). This study explored the responses of adolescents with high functioning autism (HFA) as they engaged in therapeutic art experiences in the museum setting. Four adolescents ages 13-17 participated in two hour-long sessions twice weekly over the course of ten weeks. They created thematic exhibitions with artist statements that were displayed in a university-based art museum in an exhibition titled My Own Expression. A thematic analysis identified four themes that emerged to describe the therapeutic benefits of utilizing the museum as a space for art therapy sessions with this population. Participant responses indicated four areas of development that occurred across the cases: cognitive and language development, adolescent identity development, socioemotional development, and sensory and affect regulation development. Keywords: art therapy, art museum education, high functioning autism (HFA), joint attention, cognitive and language development, socioemotional development, sensory regulation / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Art Education in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Spring Semester 2018. / April 2, 2018. / Art museum education, Art therapy, High functioning Autism (HFA), joint attention, sensory regulation, socioemotional development / Includes bibliographical references. / David E. Gussak, Professor Directing Dissertation; Holly Hanessian, University Representative; Pat Villeneuve, Committee Member; Barbara Parker-Bell, Committee Member; Ann Rowson-Love, Committee Member.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_647235
ContributorsHartman, Ashley (author), Gussak, David (professor directing dissertation), Hanessian, Holly (university representative), Villeneuve, Pat, 1955- (committee member), Parker-Bell, Barbara Faye (committee member), Love, Ann Rowson, 1967- (committee member), Florida State University (degree granting institution), College of Fine Arts (degree granting college), Department of Art Education (degree granting departmentdgg)
PublisherFlorida State University
Source SetsFlorida State University
LanguageEnglish, English
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeText, text, doctoral thesis
Format1 online resource (276 pages), computer, application/pdf

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