Theatrical activities as the factor of adaptation of disabled primary pupils

Children who have special needs face various problems. Most of them are not able to attend school, to participate in the social life, to be a part of the community, though they have equal rights as other members of the society. Children who learn together with disabled pupils have different view points on them. Many of these pupils have a wrong viewpoint about disabled children. Most healthy children reject the other person for his disability. As a result, it is important to create special atmosphere where disabled children could be safe and develop their own personality, while the community members could be able to see the disabled ones as full-fledge personalities. Drama (theatre) education gives an opportunity to expand one’s ���ego”, to express oneself on the stage as well as in every day life. It is conveyed in different ways: speech (intonation), movement sound and performance. The object of study is Adaptation of 7-11 year old disabled pupils in a theatre activity. The first part of the work discloses such children’s psychophysical abilities, the viewpoint of the society is revealed as well as steps of adaptation which are figured out in order to carry out a research. The second part of the work discloses special theatre education features for disabled children, the function of theatre therapy for personal development is marked. The third part reveals the dynamics of disabled children’s participation in theatre activities / performance, the analysis of the case is described, the viewpoint of pupils and their parents towards adaptation of disabled in theatre activities is studied. The study confirmed the hypothesis about the ability for disabled children to be trained with the help of drama and theatre. That will ease their adaptation into society and it will help to express themselves as authentic personalities. The results of the study enable to claim that adaptation of disabled children depends on personal, social and public character. It is a long lasting process which includes some periods when personal characteristics / features come out in different ways. Training with the help of theatre enables disabled pupils to become more confident, brave, broadens expression of emotions. Participation of children with indisposition in theatre performances helps to express emotions, broadens social contacts. There are special conditions for such children which help to disperse their creativity. In such a way the opinion about disabled people is changing and that helps to adapt them into our society better. The members of our society have a more positive viewpoint for integration of disabled people after they get acquainted with their creativity skills and achievements.Švietimo akademijaVytauto Didžiojo universiteta