After watching two Ted Talks with speakers Loretta Claiborne and Matthew Williams who have intellectual disabilities, I found myself drawn to their advocacy for Special Olympics. They described the many benefits of Special Olympics, but the one thing that truly stood out to me was when Williams talked about how the physical health of many people with intellectual disabilities suffer because they are not given the opportunity to participate in physical activities. It seems as though many people with intellectual disabilities need the opportunity to use their body’s as a tool to physically and mentally grow. Because many physical tasks that use gross motor skills do not rely on high cognitive abilities, it is the easiest method for inclusion among peers to support their social and emotional development. Opportunities for social and emotional growth foster the advancements in academic work as they boost confidence in their abilities.
I suggest implementing a lesson on performance and kinetic art to give these students the opportunity to use their strengths to flourish. An introduction activity for this lesson would consist of going outside and using chalk to create art through movement. They can use the playground as a way to see motion translate to a 2D concept. Providing a group project with performance and kinetic art can also allow for inclusion. Although this suggestion is not a day to day method of helping students with intellectual disabilities, I think it is a wonderful lesson to use at the beginning of the school year to provide inclusion for a welcoming and comfortable environment throughout the year. Additionally, it can have students get outside to get some fresh air and feel more connected with the outside environment, which they can use as inspiration in other projects. If there are students with physical impairments in the class as well, they can discover new ways to work with their bodies to create art.
Jackson Pollack is famous for using his body to create art, and I admire a contemporary artist by the name of Heather Hansen who also uses her body to create art. Heather Hansen is a performance artist who creates large drawings with charcoal through the use of her body movement. I really enjoy watching her work and being able to admire it as a 3D performance and as a developing 2D piece. Her method for making art serves as a strong foundation for introducing the strength of physically using one's body to create magnificent pieces of art work. I highly recommend sharing her process when doing this lesson with students.
Placing an emphasis on the strength of physical ability, which often gets neglected for those with intellectual disabilities, creates a mindset where students can build confidence and self-esteem. This attention on strengths makes students feel capable of doing anything they set their mind to.