Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify if creative arts therapy positively affected children’s with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) social skills. Individuals with ASD face day to day struggles due to the challenges of their diagnosis so this study aimed to discover if creative arts therapy was therapeutic and illustrated a positive growth within the individuals introduced to the therapy. The overarching research question in this study was: Do children transfer the strategies learned in art therapy in the school setting to the general aspects of their lives outside of school? The research discovered that once introduced and established a relationship with creative arts therapy, individuals with ASD were able to use the strategies to make sense of the world around them and express themselves.This study utilized qualitative research principles along with a phenomenological design. The participant interviewed in this study is an art therapist who has worked with individuals with ASD in school settings within the North of Boston area. The observations and artifacts collected revealed the impacts creative arts therapy has on individuals with ASD and how it supported them during difficult times.

Link to thesis