Research archives
Creative Arts Therapies for Austic Children
As part of a research project, two groups of 6 children, aged between 10 and 12,with Autism Spectrum Disorder, were offered either art therapy or drama therapy for 21 weeks on Saturday mornings. The project also offered a concurrent support group for the parents of the participating children, wherein they had the opportunity to address their concerns or issues related to their child's behaviors, development and education in a supportive environment. The children were recruited in partnership with the West Montreal Readaptation Centre’s Children’s Services Department. A professional art and drama therapist were hired to run the groups with a graduate student in art therapy and drama therapy co-leading the sessions with them.
The objective of this project was to provide a therapeutic setting for the children to discuss some of the difficulties they experienced in their social interactions, whereby they have the opportunity to develop a better understanding of appropriate ways to respond in social situations. By using expressive modalities in a group context, the children were able to develop and practice social skills, experience positive social interactions with other individuals who share similar experiences.
Culture issues and the Creative Arts Therapies
Using the technique of ethnodrama, in the Centre for the Arts in Human Development explored the meaning of culture in the lives of disabled people. Over a six-month period, participants at the Centre acted as co-researchers in this process. The culmination of this process resulted in the performance, Our World: A Musical Ethnodrama, which was performed in front of audiences in June 2012.
Aspergers and the Creative Arts Therapies
Creative arts therapies were offered by the Centre for the Arts in Human Development to individuals diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome during the 2010-2011 year. Participants in this unique pilot project were offered music therapy, art therapy and drama therapy with the general goals of facilitating emotional expression and ameliorating self-confidence and self-esteem through the group arts therapies format. This pilot project included a research component, designed to look at the impact of the creative arts therapies on self-esteem with this clientele.
Nutrition Project
In 2008, a nutrition program was offered to participants in the three-year program to raise awareness of good nutrition and encourage better food choices. Participants learned about the different food groups, portion size, and sampled a variety of nutritious foods to concretize their understanding. The impact of this program in understanding and changes of attitudes was simultaneously researched.
Follow-up study to performance ethnography
This research, conducted in 2009, assessed the impact of a documentary video developed through the research on performance ethnography on attitudes towards people with disabilities. The 30-minute documentary was presented to 222 students at five schools in the Lester B. Pearson School Board, giving them an opportunity to better understand disability and to provide an educational experience in de-stigmatization and social inclusion.There was also a question and answer period after viewing the film with some of the actors. The research was conducted through anonymous pre- and post-test questionnaires which were analyzed to see if there were any differences in reported attitudes toward people with developmental disabilities.
Drop-in Program
From 2005 to 2007, a drop-in program was offered to individuals who had participated in the Fels Arts and Friendship Program. Building on the socialization skills practiced in the Fels Program, participants were encouraged to take on planning and leadership roles for the group’s activities to enhance their self-esteem and autonomy.
Dancing to Beethoven
In conjunction with Place des Arts impresario, Sam Gesser, the Centre co-produced the play Dancing to Beethoven in 2005. Dr. Stephen Snow directed a new group of novice actors–those with visual disabilities–to give them the experience of performing in front of an enraptured audience. The process of mounting the play was the topic of the National Film Board of Canada’s documentary, Acting Blind.
Developmental Drama with School Children and Centre Participants
This eight-week project in 2005 used a technique called developmental drama to build interaction and promote understanding between elementary school children and Centre participants with disabilities. The process of overcoming stigmatized attitudes was captivatingly illustrated in a video documentary of the experience, titled Building Bridges.
Drumming Circle Project
Adolescents identified as being “at risk” were selected to participate in a one-year project in 2005 involving group drumming to address anger management, reduce stress, enhance motivation and promote group cohesiveness. The efficacy of the intervention was studied as part of a research project.
Creative Arts Therapies for persons with psychiatric diagnosis
The efficacy of the Creative Arts Therapies with individuals who have been given a psychiatric diagnosis was evaluated over a two-year period. The research showed that individuals participating in these therapies felt it was a positive experience that provided new motivation and interaction with others.
