Art is opening up a whole new world to students with learning challenges at Oak Forest High School.
It’s also teaching the school community every student has a lot to offer.
The artists, who are part of the Southwest Cook County Cooperative Association for Special Education, recently created artwork centered on the school mascot. Both are housed in a glass case in a heavily trafficked area outside the main office and near the gym and cafeteria.
By all accounts, the artwork, dubbed “Designs by DESTINY” is getting noticed, which is just what administrators and teachers wanted.
“We have a lot of great students asking questions — it’s kind of opening eyes to the different populations we have at Oak Forest High and creating a sense of belonging among our students,” said Mike Boniface, assistant principal of teaching and learning.
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Boniface said prominently displaying the artwork meant a lot to the Southwest students.
“They’ve been super excited about it,” Boniface said. “These kids are used to seeing kind of other students’ work displayed. Now for them to go through to see their stuff showcased is an enormous accomplishment for them.”
In October, the students helped the schools marketing-focused DECA Club paint pumpkins for a Halloween fest.
The student artists, some who have cerebral palsy, Down syndrome or autism, have complex learning needs. The DESTINY program helps teach them daily living skills, functional life skills, enabling them to be as independent as possible, according to Liz Wegner, who teaches about 23 students in the program.
Lately another focus has been cleaning up after lunch, keeping their work area clean and washing dishes. Before the pandemic, students also helped out in the school kitchen, cooking, taking orders and handling bake sales and recycling.
“You can kind of see them brighten up a little bit,” Wegner said of the students when they walk by their art. “Sometimes our kids communicate with facial expressions and you can definitely see a change.”
Painting and crafts have always been a big part of the curriculum for DESTINY. Wegner said the students get to sometimes research and purchase supplies, get the projects ready and then spend several days doing the art.
There will be more art from the students showcased in months to come, with the next project possibly involving photography. Wegner said that would give them a chance to use their creativity with their computer tablets, which they’ve already used to take pictures of themselves.
“Sometimes if you give them a different creative output, they’ll surprise you,” Wegner said.
Lisa Schouten, Destiny Program supervisor with South Suburban Cooperative, said art can help the students learn other skills while at the same time enjoying what they are doing.
“You can work on so many skills with that, fine motor, social communication, while being creative,” Schouten said.
Schouten said she was delighted to see their work displayed.
“I think it sends a wonderful message of inclusion and being part of the school,” Schouten said.
Janice Neumann is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.