VSA Arts New Jersey gives children with autism a voice through music, movement and art classes.
By: Hilary Parker
What if children had no words would bonds be formed? Would they communicate with their parents and siblings, their teachers and friends? Could some of life’s greatest pleasures music and the arts be treasured and learned, created and shared?
"Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent," noted writer Victor Hugo.
Since 1978, VSA Arts of New Jersey, an organization dedicated to promoting the creative power of people with disabilities, has been helping children with autism say that which needs to be said through its free parent/child workshops in music/movement and art for children with autism and autistic-like behaviors. The 10-week spring session, with classes at multiple locations throughout New Jersey, runs Feb. 4 through April 8, and registration is being taken on a first-come, first-served basis until Jan. 12.
"I believe the organization recognized a need for programming designed specifically for those children with autism," says Vanessa Young, executive director of VSA Arts since 2000. "The program is designed to introduce students to the arts, but they also focus on the development of behavior, motor and cognitive skills. There is an increase in communication, and they try to work on language as well."
VSA Arts of New Jersey is affiliated with the national VSA organization, which was founded by Jean Kennedy Smith in 1974. VSA Arts is recognized by Congress as the lead agency responsible for arts programming for individuals with disabilities, and is affiliated with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. Cosponsored by the Middlesex County Cultural and Heritage Commission, VSA Arts of New Jersey is funded by a variety of sources, including state agencies, non-governmental organizations and private foundations.
The music/movement classes are taught by music and dance therapists, while art therapists conduct the visual arts classes. The emphasis is on the family experience, and each class typically consists of nine children with autism and their family members. At least one parent must attend with each child, and siblings and other family members are encouraged to attend.
"We view it as a family unit that’s participating," Ms. Young says.
The children, ages 3 to 17, are grouped by age, not ability, for the classes. In addition to the trained therapists, a number of volunteers from area colleges help conduct the individual and group activities. The arts classes include everything from sculpture to painting, and teachers create and modify activities based on the needs of the specific children in the class. In the music classes, families learn a variety of songs and group activities and dances to accompany them.
"Typically, the children really excel in the program," says Ms. Young. "We see improvement in communication, and a comfort level with the arts activities themselves. The arts are another means of expression and children who may face difficulties in terms of language often find that the arts are a way that they can express themselves."
At the culmination of each art class, the children are encouraged to share their artwork with the entire group. In the close-knit and supportive atmosphere, many of the children are clearly happy with their creations and enjoy sharing them in whatever way possible, and Ms. Young says that they often see an enhancement in self-esteem over the course of the 10-week sessions.
For some children who are non-verbal, an increase in gesturing or eye contact might be a dramatic breakthrough, and for those who are tactile-defensive, a comfort level with arts materials is a dream come true. The families who return year after year and the waiting list for openings in the classes is testament to the fact that the classes at VSA make these breakthroughs and dreams come true.
Ms. Young points to one group as an example of the power of the creative force. The "graduate group" is a group of children with autism who have repeatedly enrolled in the classes, and have stayed together over the years. Now working on more advanced activities and communication skills, the members of the graduate group have formed bonds with each other and their teachers, despite their disabilities.
The parent/child workshops for children with autism are only one of the many diverse arts programming options available through VSA Arts of NJ. From the annual Arts Achievement Awards for children with disabilities to the Unlimited Potential Theater Company comprised of actors with and without disabilities, the organization is dedicated in its mission to make the arts accessible and meaningful to all individuals.
"For many, this is the first art and music experience that they’re having," Ms. Young says.
The spring session of parent/child workshops in music/movement and art for children with autism and autistic-like behaviors runs Feb. 4-April 8. Music/movement classes: Mason Gross School of the Arts, 33 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick. Arts classes: Elks Lodge, 40 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick. Registration is required by Jan. 12. Free. To register and for information, call VSA Arts of New Jersey at (732) 745-3885 or e-mail [email protected]. VSA Arts of New Jersey on the Web: www.vsanj.org