Sensory and arts practice
Sensory methods exchange at ACPDI’s national headquarters.
Sensory methods exchange at ACPDI’s national headquarters.
On 8th January 2026 we spent a wonderful morning at The Cuban Association of People in Situations of Learning Disability’s national headquarters. In a practical workshop, we shared a range of sensory creative activities based on Attenborough Art Centre’s SENsory Atelier methodology, as well as how they have been developed by provincial ACPDI representatives and arts specialists, with the Universities of Holguín and Granma, into the sensory arts projects ‘Dibujando Sonrisas’ (Drawing Smiles) and ‘Prisma de Luz’ (Prism of Light).
Attendees included ACPDI leadership and families, along with representatives of the Enrique José Varona Institute of Pedagogical Sciences, teachers and support workers from special schools, the Centre for Research into Aging, Longevity and Health, the Ministry of Work and Social Security and the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (FLACSO).
Some testimonials:
Reynelis Pereira Pérez: Auxiliar pedagógica escuela especial
I, a person on the autism spectrum, was pleased with the work that was carried out in this workshop because it addressed topics that directly involve us.
Lissette Rubio Medenos, Universidad de Ciencias Pedagógicas Enrique José Varona
Excellent learning meeting. It provides contributions for the treatment of people with disability that benefit families and specialists of the different institutions. This type of exchange should be disseminated and extended to other training institutions where the professionals who work there need training and development in these areas.
Yanitza Riccardi Sasania: Coordinadora Nacional de Comunicación e Información de ACPDI
It has been a very beautiful experience… Working with objects, their textures, and colours, helps us to understand the behaviour of people with learning disabilities and their need to transmit emotions, feelings and tastes. These experiences can be generalised in the environment of the ACPDI association and could also be applied in special education schools or in community project environments. These workshop experiences allow improving preparation for the people who work with ACPDI, and we can apply it in developmental activity rooms and municipal cities throughout the country.
