Creativity Sparks Ability Art Draws Children Beyond Disability

Creative arts open-wide the wonder of children. Their growth happens naturally in the guise of fun. Youngsters’ built-in curiosity and creativity only wait the opportunity to blossom into expression. With a bit of guidance, involvement with creative arts can even move kids past mental, emotional and physical disabilities. That’s where compassionate professionals can help.

For 30 years, Delight Lester of Grand Rapids, has given specially challenged kids of all ages ready access to the arts and seen them dance through disabilities. While her Arts in Motion Studio movement classes provide vital physical therapy, it’s the sheer joy of self-expression that touches students’ hearts. Practices and performances with her Living Light Dance Company have faces lighting up both on and off the dance floor as families delight in what they’re seeing.

"The arts are for everyone and should be accessible to all regardless of labels of limitation," says Lester. "In providing a space for creative possibilities children heal, grow and achieve. And they laugh – a lot.

"Here we all grow. Our reward is the students’ improving self-confidence, social awareness, communication skills and pride in their achievements." It works because art approaches learning and self-expression in a whole new way."

Lester’s first time using art as therapy came when she encountered a young boy flummoxed by multiplication tables. Teachers were questioning his opportunity for advancement in school. Noticing the boy’s love of music, Lester hit on the idea of setting multiplication tables to a rhythmic-patterned song. At no time at all he had them mastered, inspiring everyone, including himself. His new found confidence in his abilities spilled over into other areas of his life.

"Such stories exemplify how a bit of artistic creativity can enhance all sorts of everyday experiences," notes Lester. Since then she’s taught many genres of dance and music to students working to overcome various disabilities, from Down syndrome and autism to the wheelchair-bound.

This special teacher has found that children with disabilities can benefit as much and more than anyone who’s given the chance to explore and express their inner spirit. Seeing the world through an artist’s eye provides welcome relief from society’s typical linear mode of learning, which can be tough. Learning through art often sparks exponentially quicker progress.

On any given day, a peek into Delight Lester’s car reveals a cargo of colorful scarves, ribbons, streamers and balls along with an eclectic mix of musical instruments. As an adaptive movement teacher, counselor and medical social worker, she’s been known to characterize herself as "a dancing psychologist who wears many hats."

Movement – Learning to dance to music encourages inner expression while using adaptive tools like scarves, balls and ribbon builds children’s sense of accomplishment. Taking newly acquired skills to a performance level spurs compliments and applause for that expression. Choosing colorful props reflects their inner state and can help change hues of pain as choreography moves from black inner turmoil to incorporate rainbow tones.

Drama – Using skits to express one’s self through perspectives of different characters may bring a distant emotion into view in a more normal stance and calm fears of feeling alone in the world. Puppetry allows children’s hands to express their heart. Acting offers time to get away from one’s own life and try-on other identities for size.

Art – Just the smell of childhood crayons can bring a relaxed feeling of peace. Exploring the world through paint and paper shows what we cannot put into words. Properly guided and supported, children’s art can rise to the level of a family masterpiece.

Music – Music and rhythm are inherent in just being. Melody permeates everything from the breath we take to the internal beating of our heart. Ours is a uni-verse. We harness this energy by introducing children to ways in which they can play their own rhythms, and change the beats to which they move through life.

Children with disabilities struggle with concerns of daily living that we may never understand. But through creative arts we can come to see what they can not. We can witness their awe as they learn to share their abilities in bright and joyful celebration dance, music, drama and art.

Originally published in Natural Awakenings West Michigan September 2006 Creative Arts issue.