Art Speaks: Museum Offers Arts Program to Elevate Voices of Neurodivergent Adults

The Fairfield University Art Museum recently launched a unique program for adults in the community who are neurodivergent, providing opportunities for self-expression and social connection. 

Upon joining the Fairfield University Art Museum in the fall of 2024, museum educator Elizabeth Vienneau spearheaded the development of an initiative that seamlessly aligns with the museum’s mission to make art accessible for all: an arts program focused on supporting individuals who are neurodivergent. Since September, the program has provided a space for adults with various intellectual challenges to learn about and create art.

With a master's degree in applied behavior analysis, Vienneau's distinctive blend of professional experience — as both a photographer and a substitute teacher in special education — has made her incredibly passionate about how the arts can enhance the quality of life for neurodivergent populations. She especially recognizes the need for programs that support adults over the age of 22, which is when eligibility for special education through the Connecticut State Department of Education ends.

Vienneau described how adults who are neurodivergent can feel isolated, especially because programming for them is frequently overlooked, leaving limited options for engaging in activities during the day. "This is a population of people who are often ignored by society and need someone to advocate for them. They just aren't seen," she said, "and I think it creates a lot of anxiety for the person.”

Each class is comprised of about 15 students between the ages of 22 and 32. Vienneau has observed how participants’ focus on their art projects can foster a sense of calmness. The museum program also provides a consistent place for her students to feel a sense of belonging through engagement with peers, greater community connection, and a safe place for creativity and self-expression. "A lot of the people I work with are nonverbal or they have limited verbal behavior. And they can express themselves through art,” she said.

Her class gathers three times per month in the museum's classroom to work on a different project each week; they've made birdhouses, treasure boxes, and faux stained glass orbs. Vienneau often accompanies her students on field trips through the galleries at Fairfield University, as a way to nurture other essential life skills. Since launching the program, she has observed positive improvements in participants’ comfortability and engagement, which has deepened her own appreciation of how the arts can help individuals engage in self-expression and build confidence.

“I have seen some start, who maybe in the first class did not want to really engage and were kind of just looking and watching,” Vienneau said. “And now, they are actually really creating art and participating. They come into the classroom so excited and are proud to share the work they made that day.”

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