Adaptive art classes forge bonds between students

WASILLA — Wasilla High School’s Allison Little has teamed up with the special education department to form a third hour Adaptive Art class. Hand-picked art students are paired up with special needs children to work with and develop relationships, artwork, and communication skills.

The Adaptive Art class started out as a belief that every student should have an equal opportunity to experience art. Little was disappointed in the lack of opportunity for special needs students to be apart of the art world and have the one-on-one experience. These students could not meet the deadlines or follow the syllabus, the original art course was too straining.

“It is a class that is intentionally pairing two students together for socialization and art skills with longer deadlines and simpler outcomes and objectives,“ Little said about the class.

Little felt the special needs students were being excluded. But, the idea of a class mixed with both special needs and advanced art partners sat on the back burner for years. Last year, Little approached principal Amy Spargo and pitched the idea.

Spargo was thrilled with the proposal. She had Little write up a course and present it to the district’s Curriculum Board before the end of the year. It was approved unanimously as the first Adaptive Art class in the district.

Art students who wanted to be a part of this class had to approach her and show dedication as well as commitment. Once accepted into Adaptive Art, each upperclassman artist is partnered with one special needs partner. Little carefully chooses each partnership.

“This is not a class just because you like to be in art,” she said. “This is not a class just because you like the art room or need an easy credit, because this is not an easy credit.”

Senior art student Hannah Wolff said the class isn’t what she thought it would be.

“It’s way more involved than you would think,” Wolff said. “You don’t actually realize how amazing these kids are until you have a class with them and realize you have more in common.”

Wolff said in the end she thinks she’s learning more about people than art because they change your whole outlook on society.

Clara Burnett, WHS senior and Adaptive Art student, said that the class is challenging.

“You have to be upbeat and look at the positives each day for the class to work and for your partner to work,” said Burnett, said she would recommend the class to anyone who is willing to help other students in the arts.

Coalette Watchus, WHS Special Education teacher, spoke fondly of the program. She spoke about the benefits of seeing her students come back with confidence and excitement over their artwork and new friendships.

“It’s artwork made and friendships forged,” Watchus said. “It’s the Warrior Way.”

KelsieLyn Overway is a senior at WHS who sings in choir and participates in the school’s journalism program.