Intellectual disabilities (ID) are disorders characterised by under-average intellectual functioning and reduced adaptive functions. ID are affecting individual perceptions, ways of thinking, interactions, emotions and behaviour. According to a level of deficit persons with ID are categorised at mild, moderate, severe and profound intellectual disability. People with ID can be included in personalised or special education programs. Most people with ID have no access to the labour market and are involved in various work activities within the centres. They receive a symbolic payment for their work. They live with their parents or in special homes for people with ID, accommodation units, housing communities, or in homes for the elderly. Emotional and behavioural disorders often occur in people with ID. Emotional and behavioural disorders (EBD) are characterised by aggressive, auto-aggressive and delinquent behaviour. The occurrence of EBD is influenced by various biological, ecological, social and personality factors.
Arts therapies, as a subtype of art therapy, turned out to be useful in dealing with people with ID associated with EBD. The goal of arts therapies is to improve the quality of people's lives, which includes many areas of life for an individual. For people with ID, it is particularly effective, because it offers communication along the other path and offers the possibility of developing its own identity through the development of the painting style. Arts therapies is characterised by the triangular relationship which includes a participant, an art product, and a therapist. Their mutual relationship is significant. Arts therapies has certain phases and structure of therapeutic meetings. It can be individually, collectively or combined. Different art therapy techniques and activities are used according to the participant's characteristics and goals that we want to achieve. Knowing and adapting art materials is essential, primarily when working with people with ID. It is crucial to know the development of artistic expression and the specificity of the development of artistic expression in persons with ID.
In the empirical part, we used three case studies to determine the impact of arts therapies in the treatment of people with ID associated with EBD. The influence of arts therapies was observed in the areas of self-image, autonomy, self-initiative and perseverance, communication, social interaction and specific behavioural areas specific to individual EBD. In the study were involved three people with moderate ID associated with mild EBD, with between 18 and 37 years of age. In determining the initial and final condition, we used the standardized Adaptive Behavior Scale form The American Association for Mental Deficiency (AAMD) (Igrić in Fulgosi-Masnjak, 1991) and questionnaire customised by 'Evaluation List of Aid with Art' (Evalvacijski list Pomoči z umetnostjo) from the author E. Bizjak (2007). The scales and the questionnaires were filled by a professional who personally knows participants. The research showed that arts therapies has positive effects on participants, especially in the areas of challenging behaviour, autonomy and self-image. Arts therapies also had a positive impact on the areas of self-initiative and perseverance, social relations and communication. It has been concluded that for significant changes in this population, it would be necessary to carry out arts therapies for a more extended period, at least two years or more.
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