All problem-solving is essentially creativity. When I was a behavioral therapist, I was continually challenged to solve the problems of toilet training, introducing letters and animals, giving sounds and words to wants and needs, developing social awareness...life's lists are endless. I began to find that creativity in the midst of these challenges was my greatest ally. I saw miracles worked through the repetition and consistency of behavioral methods and practices. But I did not always feel that the relationship between the child's experience and learning were in dialogue with one another. I needed different access points, so the child could engage with his or her community and environment in a more cohesive and integrated way. These new access points came through the expressive arts. What we learn from experiencing is often easier to absorb and recall. An expressive arts therapist engages an individual's three levels of experience—physical, mental and emotional—to notice the disconnect and continuity in their experience. Playful, experiential exploration is key to human health and learning and at the heart of expressive arts. Connecting with ourselves and others and solving problems in nonverbal, imaginative, and embodied ways produces different results and is an alternative experience from typical verbal and mental routes of communicating and being. The expressive arts shift from one art medium to another, so that interplay between them gives participants tools to access and express what is happening physically, emotionally and mentally. Each art medium is its own unique language. We grapple with different emotions,...

Expressive Arts Therapy uses creative methods to help children learn and engage, providing alternative ways to express and connect.

Expressive Arts Therapy

All problem-solving is essentially creativity. When I was a behavioral therapist, I was continually challenged to solve the problems of toilet training, introducing letters and animals, giving sounds and words to wants and needs, developing social awareness...life's lists are endless. I began to find that creativity in the midst of these challenges was my greatest ally. I saw miracles worked through the repetition and consistency of behavioral methods and practices.  But I did not always feel that the relationship between the child's experience and learning were in dialogue with one another. I needed different access points, so the child could engage with his or her community and environment in a more cohesive and integrated way. These new access points came through the expressive arts. What we learn from experiencing is often easier to absorb and recall. An expressive arts therapist engages an individual's three levels of experience—physical, mental and emotional—to notice the disconnect and continuity in their experience. Playful, experiential exploration is key to human health and learning and at the heart of expressive arts. Connecting with ourselves and others and solving problems in nonverbal, imaginative, and embodied ways produces different results and is an alternative experience from typical verbal and mental routes of communicating and being. The expressive arts shift from one art medium to another, so that interplay between them gives participants tools to access and express what is happening physically, emotionally and mentally. Each art medium is its own unique language. We grapple with different emotions,...

Not every 13-year-old girl with a powerful singing voice gets the opportunity to record it on an album. It is even less likely that she would have a single written for her by a noted producer. Rarer than that is when that girl wants to give a percentage of her album earnings to a special needs charity. It seems that Shayla D, who embodies all these things, is truly remarkable. Shayla's father, Bobby Degregorio, certainly thinks so. He and his wife always knew their daughter had talent, but it wasn't until his wife saw a contest on Facebook that they really had an idea about what to do about it. The contest appeared to be sponsored by a local radio station in Charleston, SC, where the Degregorios live. Bobby Degregorio took a closer look and discovered that it was actually a station in Charlotte, NC, about four hours away. The contest also stated that singers must be at least 15 years old to enter. Shayla was only 12 at the time. Degregorio was undeterred. He noticed an email address for Chris Clay of Platinum Vybe Recordings, the record company producing the album. Degregorio sent him a link to Shayla's YouTube page, saying he knew she was too young to enter the contest, but he just wanted to know what he thought of her voice. A couple of weeks went by before Degregorio received a response. Clay thought maybe he was onto something. He invited them to come up to Charlotte...

13-year-old singer Shayla D records a single featured on an album, with part of the proceeds going to a special needs charity.

13-Year-Old Singer Has a Special Needs Cause

Not every 13-year-old girl with a powerful singing voice gets the opportunity to record it on an album. It is even less likely that she would have a single written for her by a noted producer. Rarer than that is when that girl wants to give a percentage of her album earnings to a special needs charity. It seems that Shayla D, who embodies all these things, is truly remarkable. Shayla's father, Bobby Degregorio, certainly thinks so. He and his wife always knew their daughter had talent, but it wasn't until his wife saw a contest on Facebook that they really had an idea about what to do about it. The contest appeared to be sponsored by a local radio station in Charleston, SC, where the Degregorios live. Bobby Degregorio took a closer look and discovered that it was actually a station in Charlotte, NC, about four hours away. The contest also stated that singers must be at least 15 years old to enter. Shayla was only 12 at the time. Degregorio was undeterred. He noticed an email address for Chris Clay of Platinum Vybe Recordings, the record company producing the album. Degregorio sent him a link to Shayla's YouTube page, saying he knew she was too young to enter the contest, but he just wanted to know what he thought of her voice. A couple of weeks went by before Degregorio received a response. Clay thought maybe he was onto something. He invited them to come up to Charlotte...

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Special Needs
Articles

Expressive Arts Therapy

13-Year-Old Singer Has a Special Needs Cause

Find Providers Near You

Special Needs Articles

Expressive Arts Therapy

13-Year-Old Singer Has a Special Needs Cause

Find Providers Near You

Special Needs
Articles