Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are becoming an increasingly common diagnosis in children. I came upon a website this week that discusses ASD and art therapy, www.arttherapyandautism.com .Compiled by Nicole Martin, the site has a variety of information about ASD and art therapy as well as provider information and links. Sky’s The Limit, Nicole Martin’s art studio was founded in 2007. Nicole Martin is a registered art therapist and artist living in Lawrence, KS.

Martin states that art therapy is beneficial to children with ASD due to intense sensory needs and non-verbal nature. She goes on to describe six major ASD treatment goals art therapists are best qualified to treat. They are:

1. Imagination/abstract thinking deficits

2. Sensory regulation and integration

3. Emotions/Self-expression

4. Developmental Growth

5. Recreation/Leisure skills

6. Visual-spatial deficits

More so than not everyone is seeing the benefits of non-verbal therapies for children who have ASD as well as Pervasive Developmental Disorders. I will cover that in upcoming posts. Great work Nicole.
Be Well,
Laura