Art as Medicine for Children with Disabilities in Nigeria

Art medicine is the creative and expressive application of arts as natural health therapies. This book reveals the importance of creative arts as a valuable tool in healing. It creates awareness of the usefulness of arts beyond aesthetics. The book also discusses the positive impact of partaking in the processes of arts and the health outcomes, especially on children with disabilities. To achieve this, the
author highlights how to determine the level of relationship between the concept of disability in children, creative arts programmes and interventions and the extent creative arts therapy can help children with disabilities to heal, adjust, adapt, and be integrated into the society. It explores the relationship between the teaching and learning of creative arts and its acceptance as an effective means of helping children with disabilities in Nigeria.

The author tried to correct the misconception that creative arts do not have any connection with health and healing or the well-being and wellness of children with disabilities in Nigeria. He carefully identified different disabilities that are common with children in Nigeria and discussed the origin, types, and nature of each, and went further to suggest different creative therapeutic processes necessary for each disability. This book successfully demonstrated that indeed, artists are healers; therefore,

Art is Medicine

THE AUTHOR

Kent Onah is one of Nigeria’s outstanding artists. He is a senior lecturer and the immediate past Head of Painting Department, School of Art and Industrial Design, Auchi Polytechnic, Edo State where he has taught art since 1991. He is a prolific, versatile, and multimedia artist. Kent is as versed in art education as he is in studio art practice. Apart from his lecturing career, he has been engaged in active
studio art practice since 1988. He has exhibited his paintings and mixed media works severally within Nigeria and internationally. His works are collected in Nigeria, Africa, U.S.A, and Europe. He is passionate about exploring the therapeutic dimensions of art.