The effect of creative art therapy on social skills of children with Autism The case of Nehmiah Autistic center in Addis Ababa
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2017-01
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Ababa University
Abstract
In recent years, support centers for autism and professionals have expressed alarm about the
growing problem of autism in Ethiopia. While most agree that the issue deserves attention, there
are no clear consensuses reached around how to respond to the problem. This research
examined one approach to enhance social skills of children with autism: creative art therapy.
The researcher has carried out experiment on the effectiveness of creative art therapy and
suggested the need for inclusive solutions that combines social and behavioral approaches to
this complex problem and developed the treatment package in social skills and implemented the
treatment package for three months. The recorded outcome variables on social skills include;
eye contact, turn taking, imitation, recognizing self, following instruction and engaging in social
interaction. To study this experiment multiple-single subject experimental design is used. The
literature reviewed has all supported the idea that creative art therapy could be used to help
children with autism in developing their social skills. A study was then conducted in which a
group of six students with Autism engaged in creative art therapy activities and their social skill
development were tracked, supporting the idea that creative art therapy can be used to help
these students. The finding answered the research hypothesis: creative art interventions have a
positive effect on eye contact, turn taking, imitation, recognizing self, following instruction and
engaging in social interaction the results indicate that by engaging a child with autism in
creative art therapy intervention was an effective way to improving the social skills of children
with autism spectrum disorder. Based on the findings of this study, creative art therapy could be
used to enhance the social and communication skills of children with autism spectrum disorder
Description
Keywords
The case of Nehmiah Autistic center in Addis Ababa