Art Activities for teen with Cerebral Palsy? Help!?

Question

I am a HS Art Teacher and I have a teen with limited use of his left hand and nearly no use of his right. He's mentally on a third grade level so I have to keep that in mind too.

We're on clay now and he asks so often to work on the potters wheel but I'm not sure how this is possible with his limited us in one hand and no use in the other. Also he is in a wheel chair and pushing down on the wheel doesn't seem workable. Should I let him try just to see?

Any fresh ideas would help! Thanks!

Answer 1

Yes, let him give it a try.  That will give him an opportunity to have the experience, and it will give you the chance to observe what exactly he can do, and what you might be able to do to assist him.  Perhaps someone can sit behind him and help him to position & move his hands.

Your student's perception of a successful and satisfying experience is probably far different than yours.  Chances are that the process has far more interest to him than the product it produces.

Partial participation is better than not getting to participate.  In Special Education, and in recreation for people with disabilities, we try to find ways that people can be a part of & enjoy the activity.  Maybe he will be able to throw a pot on the wheel with some assistance.  It might not be thin and symmetrical, but he may be very pleased with the result.  He may also be able, even with very limited use of his hands, to do some really interesting texturing of the clay, using different objects to press into it.  There is always a way for a person do participate in some part of an activity.

Answer 2

Is there an Aid who can help-maybe a peer helper to press on the wheel-an Aid could support his hand to help him mold the clay

Answer 3

I would try to give him a try.. Some people can even wright with there feet so there is hope.. or a paint brush in his mouth.

But finger painting, What we call CRAYOLA is when you layout a piece of paper pick out like 5 crayons and just learn to be a kid again in our view but for him it could be fun like drawing crazy lines and circles maybe he ould try to do this with paint and his mouth..  Simple things like Draw him a Heart vor valentines day and let him glue little pieces of colored paper on the inside of it.

Good luck! :)