Abstract

With the rising population of children with autism entering into the public school system it is becoming evident that the school personnel requires services to assist with these children's integration into a school setting. This research paper identifies the intrapersonal and interpersonal challenges with which these children may be faced throughout their daily lives at school. Theory of mind is explored as a way of understanding how children with autism may process incoming information. Art therapy activities are then suggested as a concrete and visual means of addressing these intrapersonal and interpersonal challenges. The purpose of the research paper is to create an art therapy program to be used as a means of facilitating the social integration of children with autism into their school community. The program is divided into two terms, each lasting ten weeks. The first term begins with individual art therapy sessions as a way of building rapport and trust between the therapist and each child. During this time, the children are also prepared for their last ten weeks of group art therapy, where they are helped to acquire, practice, and maintain the necessary social skills required of them at school.