Freedom of Expression for All
What is freedom of expression and how would you feel if you were unable to express yourself freely? For a child who is speech and/or language impaired, being able to express ones self and be heard can be a challenging event. Feelings of insecurity, anxiousness, frustration and depression are just a few ways a student can feel in a classroom when faced with a disability. It’s important for all students to realize that speech impaired students have value and want to be heard and accepted just as much as their piers.
Speech therapy, which is offered in schools, teaches children with both speech disorders and language disorders. What is the difference between these two? A speech disorder is a problem where a child can’t seem to get out the physical sound needed to speak. A language disorder is more of a impairment where children have difficulty putting words together to create a sentence or express a feeling.
There are many services and tools available today to help aid the speech and/or language impaired.
There is:
- Speech/Language therapy
There are many services and tools available today to help aid the speech and/or language impaired.
There is:
- Speech/Language therapy
- Body language (gestures)
(non electronic and electronic graphic devices)
Communication boards can incorporate either just visuals or combine letters, words and imagery to help self express. They are available in many languages so that all students can take advantage of its benefits. This is where the application of art can become a valuable tool of expression. Artists from our past and present who were either speech disabled from birth or became disabled have been able to overcome their disabilities through this form of expression. For example, the movie “My Left Foot” is a perfect example of a boy, Christy Brown, who is born with cerebral palsy. He is so determined to be heard and accepted that he learns to write and paint using only his left foot. Chuck Close is another example of man who is already an artist and acquires a terrible illness leaving him quadriplegic. He still continues to paint today with a special brace he uses on his wrist that holds a paintbrush.
In conclusion, art can bring therapeutic results in the aid of those feelings and doubts that children may address in a world that is verbal and communicative.
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Created by Lacy Byers & Michelle Greene