Being an Artist: Impact of Creative Environments on Self-Concept for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities

Background and Purpose:  Maintaining multiple identities (also referred to as identity complexity), related to various social roles, activities and ideas enhances a person’s self-concept and has implications for emotional defenses and protection against environmental challenges.  Individuals with developmental disabilities (IWDD) may have fewer opportunities for exposure to varied and enriched social contexts than general populations.  Identifying mechanisms that enhance the complexity of self-concept may allow social workers to promote sense of well-being (SWB) and improve life quality experiences among IWDD.  A facilitated arts program, as an example of an enriched social context, may provide opportunities for IWDD to adopt additional socially valued roles impacting identity complexity and self-concepts.

Research questions include:

1)  How do IWDD make meaning of their identity?

2)  What types of experiences enhance life quality for IWDD?

3)  How does participation in a facilitated arts program impact SWB and identity complexity?

Methods: In-depth interviews were completed with a purposive sample of 20 IWDD (aged 19- 56) diagnosed with: Lesch-Nyhan Disease, cerebral palsy or spina bifida.  Cognitive levels varied from borderline normal intelligence to mild cognitive impairment.  Communication styles also varied from high verbal expression ability to individuals who were non-verbal by conventional means but able to communicate by assistive technology.  Participants were exposed to a facilitated arts program which included: painting, sculpture, wheelchair ballet and creative writing.  The interviews focused on IWDD’s experiences with having disability and the perceived impact of participation in the facilitated arts program.  Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and coded in ATLAS-ti.  Open-coding, constant comparison and thematic analysis were utilized to generate theory surrounding the processes involved in the development of identity complexity.

Findings: Participants enact different identities activated by the particular social contexts to which they are exposed.  One powerful identity emerged for those who participate in a facilitated arts program, ‘Being an artist’.  By enacting their ‘artist identity,’ IWDD in this study appear to gain a sense of control, productivity and self-determination over their life circumstances. Three overarching themes emerged:

1. self-expression 
2. coping 
3. being productive  

Processes impacting life quality for IWDD as reported by participants include freedom of gaining autonomy/control in addition to adopting socially valued roles which become incorporated into IWDD’s self-concepts.  By exhibiting their art in public venues, participants are admired by others as accomplished artists/performers.  This enhances the quality of contact between IWDD and the general public which may break down stigma and stereotype associated with negative perceptions of IWDD on the part of others who are nondisabled.

Conclusion and Implications: Findings underscore the importance to IWDD of engaging in creative activities which enable them to be seen by others who are nondisabled in more socially valued domains facilitating social acceptance in the general community.  This study provides information on specific social barriers impacting interpersonal relationships and societal attitudes.  By becoming aware of previously unacknowledged barriers and providing opportunities for IWDD to engage in productive, valued activities, social workers can develop strategies to educate, counsel and ultimately enhance life quality for IWDD.