Term
Summer 2026
Capstone
Capstone Project
Degree Name
MAT
Facilitator(s)
Suzanne Gikas and Shelley Orr
Content Expert
Hannah Radant
Abstract
This capstone examines the use of arts integration interventions in special education services. Art is inherently adaptable and can be used to create engaging lessons accessible to all learners. Grounded in inclusive education, constructivist, social-emotional learning, disability identity, and self-determination theories, the literature review examines how arts-integrated activities can support students with disabilities in communication and expression, emotional and behavioral development, and cognitive and academic engagement, as well as impact students’ identity, autonomy, and social development. Building on this research, the author studied the Welsh school system at Aberystwyth University, visiting five local schools and interviewing twelve teachers of students with additional learning needs. This qualitative study investigated how integrating visual and theater arts into Welsh classrooms supports lower-primary students' social-emotional development. Findings indicate that visual arts were used more consistently across school settings, with the strongest impacts on curriculum engagement, self-regulation, communication, and identity development. Arts-based activities were reported to work best when embedded in person-centered planning rather than used as a stand-alone intervention. These findings informed the development of a digital resource, "Arts Integration for All," created for educators of primary-age students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Rooted in Universal Design for Learning, the website provides research-based strategies, goal-area resources, and teacher tools to support students' communication, self-regulation, social skills, and self-advocacy through visual and theater arts integration.
Project Type
Website Creation
Keywords
Special Education, Arts Integration, Social-Emotional Learning
Recommended Citation
Sanderson, Emily, "Arts Integration in Special Education" (2026). School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects. 1195.
https://digitalcommons.hamline.edu/hse_cp/1195
Type
text
Publisher
Hamline University
Format
application/pdf
Source
School of Education Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations at Hamline University