Engaging Adolescents with Asperger's and ADHD

Ruskin Mill Educational Trust’s (RMET’s) thirty years experience of action research has shown that when young people with learning difficulties, particularly Asperger’s and ADHD, while working with the crafts-people's natural environment in real-life, the focused tasks and their personal, emotional, and social skills improves dramatically along with their physical, intellectual and cognitive health. Our work is being developed out of inspiration from Rudolf Steiner, William Morris and John Ruskin. The primary aim of this workshop is to identify and reflect on the process of this transformation, particularly the sensory integration and the development of their emotional intelligence through the benefits of a practical and hands-on education. The research currently undertaken at the Trust’s three colleges will be presented in which the leading academics have evaluated their own personal experience on the benefits of hands-on learning, and gives further insights into RMET’s practical skills curriculum. On completion of the workshop participants will have a deeper understanding of the theoretical framework and the therapeutic benefits of a practical, hands-on curriculum.