The experiences of art therapists working with clients with physical disabilities who communicate using Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)

Background: People with physical disabilities who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) may face complex psychological difficulties. Traditional psychotherapy approaches are challenging for this population, creating a need for alternative therapeutic modalities. Art therapy offers potential benefits for this population, yet research remains limited. Aims: This study examined the experiences of art therapists working with clients with physical disabilities who communicate using AAC, mapping therapeutic advantages, disadvantages, and challenges. Method: Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 12 art therapists to better understand their working methods and the challenges involved. The interviews were analysed according to the principles of thematic analysis. Results: The findings revealed three central themes: working with AAC as a means of communication in art therapy, working with art materials, and the therapists’ experiences of working with this population. The therapeutic advantages and disadvantages of each of these therapeutic components are described. Conclusions: The findings highlight the significant potential of art therapy for clients with physical disabilities using AAC, while pointing to the need for specialised training and adapted therapeutic approaches for this population. Plain-language summary: This study explored how art therapists work with people who have physical disabilities and use special communication devices (Augmentative and Alternative Communication, AAC) to help express themselves. Twelve art therapists were interviewed about their experiences working with these clients, their therapeutic methods, the challenges they face, and the outcomes. The study revealed three main themes. Although the AAC devices helped the clients communicate their needs and feelings, they did not enable the clients to express complex emotions well. The art materials provided enjoyable sensory experiences, but were often not adapted to meet the clients’ access needs, making them difficult to use independently. The therapists found their work very meaningful but were concerned about the impact on the therapeutic process of helping their clients with their artwork. These findings highlight the potential of art therapy for clients with physical disabilities using AAC. However, therapists need specialised training to effectively combine AAC with artmaking for this population.