Teaching Visual Skills and Coordination by Painting with a Fly Swatter!

​​At The Center for Autism & Dyslexia in Findlay, Courtney is doing her regular class with the students who have a wide variety of Autistic spectrum disorders. She has been teaching at Awakening Minds Art since last May, after graduating from Bluffton University with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Art. “This is a perfect job for blending my education and skills.”
She meets with the students at The Center for Autism & Dyslexia three times a week for an hour (each) where AMA has a designated classroom for the classes on site.  Her students at The Center for Autism & Dyslexia range from sixth graders through high school aged students. (Other AMA instructors come into the center for other age groups & classes.)  Courtney had several students today as she taught them visual skills and coordination by painting with a fly swatter! The students had fun as they created their masterpieces of art under her direction and close guidance.  Awakening Minds Art excels at creatively disguising work and developmental skills through art.
 
Courtney not only teaches at The Center for Autism & Dyslexia. She spends much of her day traveling to different sites such as nursing homes and public schools. She also spends time in the studio, especially on Saturdays, when she runs the Saturday Morning Painting Class that is open to the public!   Courtney is on the Therapeutic Instructor Team, which also means she instructs private, one on one programs to special needs individuals focusing on developmental goals that aid in success outside of the studio.

Courtney is excited about moving into the new studio for several reasons, but at the top of her list is having private rooms for her one on one students that she works with.  Majority of Courtney's one on one students are distracted very easily and struggle to maintain focus in the main studio room.  The phone, the administration, people walking in, parents viewing close by... all of these make it extremely difficult to work on the goals set for each individual student. 
Having more room to do lesson planning and having a space that is more handicap accessible are two other items at the top of her list! 

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