Performing the Opportunity Space of Therapeutic Art Education for Autistic Children

Abstract

This research aims to explore expressive art approaches to enhance communication in autistic children in opportunity space settings. The study discusses the process of therapeutic exploration in an online-based practice and how the space setting plays a significant role in this process. The research methodology involves a mixed-method approach, including case studies conducted at TT-ArtCourse in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, and a questionnaire to determine parents' responses to the influence of the spatial setting. The study shows that online treatment has initial challenges in adaptation time for parents, teachers, and autistic children. The main obstacle is the lack of intimacy, which is crucial in offline interactions. However, in the end, parents can see the effectiveness of the online mode, allowing them to set up their treatment room according to their child's wishes. The study also found that the communication processes in the online-based opportunity space therapeutic ecosystem are similar to offline schools.