Terapia sztuką osób ze złożoną niepełnosprawnością na przykładzie działań arteterapeutycznych Towarzystwa Pomocy Głuchoniewidomym

Abstract

Art therapy has recently become one of the most popular forms of rehabilitation of disabled people. It is also used with people with multiple disabilities who, in spite of numerous dysfunctions, especially sensory ones, become peculiar artists. The article presents basic features of deafblindness as a multiple disability, the diversified characteristics of this disability group as well as the functioning problems of these people stemming from the sensory limitations. The differences in the level of disability and the time of its acquisition are mirrored in the creative output of disabled artists. The works are available to audiences thanks to the undertakings of the Association for the Welfare of the Deaf-blind which actively works for the rehabilitation and improvement of the situation of disabled people in every area of life. The artetherapeutic activity, whose various forms are presented in the article, has a particular character. An important role is played by artetherapeutic camps in Łucznica, which focus on art therapy, and sculpture symposia in the Centre of Polish Sculpture in Orońsko. The latter are a phenomenon on a world scale. The creative activity of the deaf-blind is expressed not only through sculpturing activities but also through literature. The Association for the Welfare of the Deaf-blind helps to publish and to propagate their literary output. The article discusses the quality of this creative work as well as its therapeutic values.