American Art Therapy Association has quoted that “Art therapy is a mental health profession that uses the creative process of art-making to improve and enhance the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of individuals of all ages. It is based on the belief that the creative process involved in artistic self-expression helps people to resolve conflicts and problems, develop interpersonal skills, manage behavior, reduce stress, increase self-esteem, and self-awareness, and achieve insight.”There is no single way to provide art therapy; as a result, there are some factors to consider. It can look very different when practiced by and with different individuals. It can be free-flowing or structured, open-ended, or goal-oriented. For children and adults with autism, It can be a wonderful way to open doors to self-expression and engagement. Although, it may seem cliche that art and autism are a great combination for people with autism of all ages. For those of us who cannot always get words to come out of our mouths, art offers a way of self-expression. For children, it allows their imagination to run wild and come to life before their eyes. As I’ve mentioned so many times before about the characteristics and traits of autism a major aspect of autism is difficulties in communication. This can be anywhere from completely non-verbal to having a hard time processing language and turning it back into a smooth conversation for others around them. Though communication may be difficult, we still want to express it ourselves. Art allows those with autism to speak visually.   WHY USE ART THERAPY TO TREAT AUTISM?   One of the hallmarks of autism spectrum disorders is difficulty with verbal and social communication. In some cases, people with autism are literally nonverbal and unable to use speech to communicate at all. In other cases, people with autism have a hard time processing language and turning it into smooth, easy conversation. People with autism may also have a tough time reading faces and body language. As a result, they may have difficulty telling a joke from a statement or sarcasm from sincerity around them.         Meanwhile, many people with autism have an extraordinary ability to think visually “in pictures.” Many can turn that ability to good use in processing memories, recording images and visual information, and expressing ideas through drawing or other artistic media. Art is a form of expression that requires little or no verbal interaction that can open doors to communication. All too often, it’s assumed that a nonverbal person or a person with limited verbal capabilities is incompetent in other areas. As a result, people on the autism spectrum may not be exposed to opportunities to use artistic media, or the opportunities may be too challenging in other ways (in large class settings, for example). Art therapy offers an opportunity for therapists to work one-on-one with individuals on the autism spectrum to build a wide range of skills in a manner that may be more comfortable (and thus more effective) than spoken language.   HOW ART THERAPY IS DIFFERENT FROM ART CLASSES?   Art therapy is a tool for helping clients to access their emotions. By contrast, art classes are intended to provide students with instruction on how to achieve specific artistic effects or goals. While art classes may be appropriate for individuals with autism, they are not a substitute for art therapy.   WHAT ART THERAPISTS DO FOR PEOPLE WITH AUTISM   The research is somewhat sketchy regarding the impact of art therapy on people with autism however to let you know. The literature consists mainly of case studies and papers describing the observed impact of art therapy programs. Some of the papers written and presented on the subject, however, suggest that art therapy can do a great deal. In some cases, it has opened up a whole world of opportunity for an individual with autism who has significant artistic talent. In other cases, it has created a unique opportunity for personal bonding. Other possible outcomes include:​ improved ability to imagine and think symbolically improved ability to recognize and respond to facial expressions improved ability to manage sensory issues (problems with stickiness, etc.) improved fine motor skills THE BENEFITS OF ART FOR AUTISTIC CHILDREN   There are a lot of benefits but these are just a few I came up with. They are as follows: *Offers a visual communication *Improves communication skills: Art therapy can help stimulate the diffuse part of the brain and also help children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in expressing non-verbal conversations. For example, children with Autism Spectrum Disorders can produce a painting or describe something as a way for them to communicate using symbols or icons. This process can help develop communication directly and can help in their thinking process. This method can also train children with Autism Spectrum Disorders to focus more and can directly engage in interacting with their peers and others around them. It is also a good way to reduce anxiety and help improve their emotional development.   *Easy way to help resolve conflicts they can not verbally express. Build and develop feelings and emotions using art Art therapy is also good for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders because they are sometimes challenged in maintaining emotional stability around them. Hence, by drawing or making a craft, it can train them to express feelings through drawing or drawing activities such as making collages and crafts alone. This therapy is also used to train their endurance and patience in solving an art task other than helping to improve their expression and feelings. *Reduces Stress               *Helps with imaging and thinking symbolically *Improves the ability to recognize (and respond) to facial expressions *Helps with Self-Esteem and Self-Awareness.               *Can be used to help with Sensory Processing Issues *Improves fine motor skills *Help with social skills – As mentioned in one part of my video that most autistics struggle to read body language and