Introduction
Imagine that the routine experiences of every-day life came to a sudden, grinding halt. Imagine that those routine experiences—e.g., arising in the morning, getting dressed, grooming, completing errands, cleaning the house—became laborious, arduous, time-consuming tasks such that what previously was considered mundane, in an instant, became a crippling physical exercise. Envision the social, emotional, and spiritual deflation that would occur inside of you. Though long-term disability may afford the apparent luxury of not working—this would not be the kind of retirement you always imagined. In this reality, there are no Caribbean cruises; no exploration of various hobbies; no free and uninhibited enjoyment of your twilight years. Every day there are adults that are suffering through a debilitating physical disability—whether it be through birth, an illness, treatment of an illness, or a life-altering accident—who do not have the benefit of the normative routine or mundane.
According to Reynold and Prior (2003), “chronic illness often has deleterious effects on the person, not only because of physical symptoms and discomfort, but through its wider effects on self, familiar roles, paid occupations and lifestyle” (p. 785). Contemporary research has found a positive correlation between the mental state of the individual and access to art therapy techniques. According to Wood (2009), “the physical act of art-making was also significant to participants, because it contributed to the task of meaning making . . . [in which] art therapy enabled the women to see their experiences more clearly and prompted behavioral change” (p. 142). Research has found that individuals participating in some form of art therapy self-report an increase in both self-esteem, and a stronger sense of purpose in their lives. Alike, individuals partaking in group art-therapy sessions experience a sense of community that is separate and apart from the commonality of medical needs. That is, individuals who take advantage of group art therapy share a common purpose that is unrelated to their shared medical needs. “It is well recognized that people with chronic illness cope better if they have good social support . . . new relationships [are developed] based on mutual interests rather than issues connected with illness or caring” (Reynold & Prior, 2003, p. 791). A 2014 study also revealed an increase of socialization among those that took part in the process of creative-making verse those that had not. According to Tsutsumi et. Al (2014), “the numbers of people who went out often and held conversation frequently were greater in . . . people [who engaged in creative processes] than I those who did not” (p. 20).
Along with the social, emotional, and cognitive benefits of art therapy, Adrian Hill and other prevalent art therapist, doctors, and medical personal have revealed through their research and publications that art therapy has prolonged the lives of a significant number of their patients that were suffering from varying chronic-illnesses, such as tuberculosis. According to documentation, “for Hill, who had discovered the therapeutic benefits of drawing and painting while recovering from tuberculosis, the value of art therapy lay in completely engrossing the mind (as well as fingers). . .[and in] releasing the creative energy of the frequently inhibited patient. . . [enabling] the patient to build up a strong defense against his misfortunes” (Hill, 1948, pg. 103). Thus, the process of creative-making and self-expression has powerful physiological properties on the body. In conclusion, research has shown that art therapy benefits both the mental and physical health of the individual holistically.
One cannot deny the wealth of research that solidifies the benefits that art therapy can have on the human mind, body, and spirit. Knowing that we, as a society, have a cure, a healing mechanism for individuals within our community, how can we not strive to create, integrate, and provide programs that promote a sense of healing, and unification?
Credentials
Working with USA Volleyball (USAV) through the Sitting Volleyball Pipeline[1] gave me experience working with adults that had a physical disability due to birth, illness, or an incident. Through the Sitting Volleyball Program, these adults are able to take back a part of their life that they thought that they might have lost forever. The program focuses on teaching players how to adapt and efficiently work with their own physical disability to get the outcome that they desire—in this case, passing, setting, blocking, and spiking a volleyball.
Since I began working with USAV, my mother had undergone treatment for cancer that had left her physically disabled on the left side of her body—requiring her to be bound to a chair, and requiring the help of others for all of life’s basic necessities. I have watched my mother transform from a confident, self-sufficient, and happy woman to a woman filled with sad despair. My experience with USAV and my own beloved mother, in conjunction with my master’s program with University of Florida, inspired me to find an art program in South Florida that focuses on art therapy and/or teaching art to adults that have a physical disability. Although there are a small subset of programs in the nation that focus on Disability Art, most of the research and programs are geared to individuals with a learning impairment or delayed processing time. The conclusion of my research found that there are no programs in South Florida that offer group art classes for adults with a physical disability—unless they want to sign-up for a one-on-one art therapy session with a well-paid psychologist.
Program Description
H.ART is a program that specifically focuses on healing, creative expression, and creating a sense of community through the conduit of art for those that are physically disabled. As a program, H.ART’s mission is committed to increasing the participation of physically disabled people in our communities through art classes and exhibitions. We believe that physically disabled individuals deserve to fully participate in our culture and immerse themselves within the art field through direct participation. At its core, H.ART believes that the physically disabled community deserves the right to express and create a sense of belonging within the community through the creation of art. Alike, H.ART strives to create an equitable community—where everyone is welcome to participate. In partnership with ArtServe, H.ART will provide weekly art studio workshops that focus on a different art medium/media each week. The workshops cover the length of an hour and a half, and will act as both welcoming space to create and a therapeutic community support system with a licensed-art therapist.
H.ART will be working in partnership with ArtServe and the Broward County Florida Cultural Division. Through their partnerships, H.ART will have: access to classroom space for creating art; insurance coverage for the program under the coverage of ArtServe; and access to gallery exhibition space, art professionals, and the marketing department of both ArtServe and the Broward County Florida Cultural Division to promote the program to the Broward County area. H.ART will create an exhibition that broadcasts artwork created within the program and outside of the program by individuals involved with H.ART.
In partnership with ArtServe, H.ART will provide easels, desks, drawing boards, access to the kiln, and drying space for the art created within this program. H.ART will also acquire art materials through donations from ArtServe, Broward County Florida Cultural Division, local art programs, and benefactors of H.ART. The art sessions will be free to all; however, the one stipulation is that the participants will be required to be a member of ArtServe at the price of thirty-five dollars per year.
Location:
ArtServe Facility 1350 E Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
Board Members:
Founder & CEO of H.ART Nicole Russell
Chief Executive Officer of ArtServe Jay Abbate
Community Leader of ArtServe Jason Hughes
President of Holy Cross Hospital Patrick A. Taylor
Executive Director of DisArt Jill Vyn
Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Robert W. Runcie
Funding
Although H.ART will be benefiting from their partnerships with both ArtServe and the Broward County Florida Cultural Division, additional funding will need to be acquired to hire a part-time licensed-art therapist to lead and guide the fifty-two art sessions through H.ART. The average cost of hiring a licensed-art therapist is $75 per hour. Thus, for the weekly session, it will cost H.ART $112.50 per week. For a total of 52 weeks, H.ART will need to have $5,850.00 in order to make the program available for one year.
Throughout the first year, with the assistance of ArtServe, H.ART will host multiple fundraisers to raise money to continue, and expand the program for years to come. H.ART will participate in ArtServe’s annual exhibition Reflect: Healing through Art and host both a silent and live auction to raise money that H.ART will use to fund the maintenance of the program. Down the road, H.ART intends to collaborate with local artists to create a Drawing Party! fundraiser that entails bringing well-known artists in the South Florida area in to draw live models in front of an audience.
H.ART will be applying to the National Endowment for the Arts Our Town grant that will match monetary donations from other benefactors and entities. The grant focuses on supporting programs within local communities that strive to better the community socially, emotionally, or physically. H.ART would be a great candidate for the Our Town grant since the purpose of the program is to create an equitable community that supports the direct participation of all.
References
Bilgin, E., Kirca, O., & Ozdogan, M. (2018). Art therapies in cancer — A non-negligible beauty and benefit. Journal of Oncological Sciences, 4, 47–48.
Chesson, R., Moir, E., & Tavendale, A. (1999). More than a sympathetic ear? A report on the first year of a writer in residence in a unit for young, physically disabled people. Clinical Rehabilitation, 13(4), 310–321.
Cohen, G. D., Kelly, J., Chapline, J., Firth, K.M., Simmens, S., & Perlstein, S. (2006). The Impact of Professionally Conducted Cultural Programs on the Physical Health, Mental Health, and Social Functioning of Older Adults. The Gerontologist, 46(6), 726-734.
Fortuna, J. (2018). DisArt: Redefining the Construct of Participation. Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT), 6(2), 1-7.
Kim, S.H., Kim, M.Y., Lee, J.H., & Chun, S.I. (2008). Art Therapy Outcomes in the Rehabilitation Treatment of a Stroke Patient: A Case Report. Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, 25(3), 129-133.
Like, R.C. (2001). Culture, Health and Illness: An Introduction for Health Professionals. Public Health Reports, 116, 369-370.
Reynold, F., & Prior, S. (2009). A Lifestyle Coat-Hanger: A Phenomenological Study of the Meanings of Artwork for Women Coping with Chronic Illness and Disability. Disability and Rehabilitation, 25(14), 785-794.
Sigman, K. (2015). Releasing the Inner Artist: Approaching Activities Programming in Long Term Care from a Creative Arts Therapies Perspective. Kansas State University Master’s Theses, 1-43.
Tsutsumi, M., Hirose, H., Nogaki, H., Kinoshita, H., Mizuta, K., Yamaguchi, K., & Yoshimura, T. (2014). Effects of Journal Writing on Cognitive Function in Older People. Bull Yamaguchi Med School, 61(1-2), 15-22.
Vazquez, S. (2008). Using Art Therapy to Express Your Self. Counselor Education Master’s Theses, 109, 1-48.
Wood, M.J., Molassiotis, A., & Payne, S. (2010). What Research Evidence is there for the Use of Art Therapy in the Management of Symptoms in Adults with Cancer? A Systematic Review. Psycho-Oncology, 20, 135-145.
[1] USAV’s Sitting Volleyball program is open to disabled and able-bodied athletes alike, and permits persons struggling with a physical disability to enjoy the excitement of volleyball with some differences in rules. For more information, see https://www.teamusa.org/usa-volleyball/usa-teams/sitting-volleyball/about-sitting-volleyball.
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