Exploring Tactile Art-Making with Deafblind Students and Their Families: An Opportunity for Creative Play

The impact of a deafblind diagnosis on an individual’s mental health and the well-being of the family involved can be profound. However, current research and available literature for the mental health treatment and therapy practices of deafblind persons and their families is limited (Kyzar et al., 2016; “WFDB Global Report 2018,” n.d.). This thesis used the Leeds Family Psychology and Therapy Service principles (Leeds FPTS) and the Expressive Therapies Continuum with established deafblind teaching strategies to facilitate an original arts-based community project entitled: “Things We Like.” This project provided an opportunity for deafblind students (ages three to 22) and their families to engage in creative play, and create an accessible piece of art. In addition to providing detailed instructions to facilitating “Things We Like,” this thesis also provides the author’s own arts-based reflection on facilitating the process and recommendations for future directions in working with deafblind individuals and their families