Everyone has the potential to be creative regardless of their age or ability.
But did you know, when it comes to art, some studies show that people with a disability are more likely to create art than people without a disability?
Perhaps that’s because art is a great way to express ourselves. It can also help us to communicate with others and share our emotions through things like drawing, painting, sculpture and lots more.
Today, we are going to look at art therapy and the NDIS.
Art therapy.
An art therapist is an allied health professional who has been trained to use art to help people improve their health and wellbeing.
Most of our behaviour and many of our decisions in life are made using the left side of our brain – which controls words and language. Art therapy encourages us to use the right side of our brain to express ourselves by tapping into our creative side.
For people living with a disability, art therapy may have many benefits including:
- Improved creativity and self-esteem
- Increased sense of self-empowerment
- Increased sense of self-care and self-awareness
- Reduced stress and anxiety
- Reduced depression and fatigue
- Improved interpersonal skills
- Enhanced mind-body connection
- Increased sense of meaning and purpose.
Will the NDIS fund art therapy?
Under the NDIS, art therapy is provided as an allied health service in the same way as physiotherapy, speech therapy and many others.
If you have individual therapeutic support or group therapy support funding, you may choose to use that funding or part of that funding for art therapy.
For a quick refresher read our article on NDIS Plan budget categories explained.
We’re here to help.
If art therapy sounds like something you would like to get involved in, Leap in! can help. Wherever you are located, our crew can help you find the right allied health professionals to meet your individual needs.