The use of drawing and painting in developing fine motor skills among learners with mild intellectual disabilities at Dzorwulu Special School in Accra

Abstract

The study is focused on using drawing and painting in developing fine motor skills of learners with mild intellectual disabilities at Dzorwulu Special School in Accra. The total population for the study was one hundred and seventy seven (177). However, a purposive sampling technique was used to sample four (4) teachers each having four (4) learners with mild intellectual disabilities. The study used semi-structured interviews and observations as methods for data collection. Analysis of the data revealed that painting and drawing enabled the development of fine motor skills of learners with mild intellectual disabilities. Also, acquisition of fine motor skills affords learners with mild intellectual disabilities the opportunity to live independent lives as well as making them mobile, flexible and building of joints and muscles. Demonstrations, role play, and participatory exercise are some of the strategies teachers adopted in developing fine motor skills of learners with mild intellectual disabilities using drawing and painting. Teachers complained of non availability of tools and materials for teaching drawing and painting in developing of fine motor skills of learners with mild intellectual disabilities at school. It was recommended that teachers intensify the use of drawing and painting to develop the fine motor skills of learners with intellectual disabilities. The government and other University of Education, Winneba http://ir.uew.edu.gh x stakeholders of special education should provide the school with tools and materials needed for drawing and painting.