Creativity in the Retarded

A diagnosis of “retardation” has generally promoted self-fulfilling expectations of incapacity. While a realistic assessment of “intellectual” and adaptive limitations needs to be provided, it is necessary to remember that a focus upon part-functions fails to capture the full complexity of being human. In the case of the “retarded,” this has led to the neglect of creativity. A comprehensive evaluation, however, requires an atmosphere that facilitates potential. The art of two “retarded” young men has been selected to demonstrate the imaginative expression which occurs in a receptive environment. These two people represent different levels of “retardation” (mild versus moderate), and varying degrees of artistic talent at the time of their first contact with the program. Both exhibit the interpersonal growth which can accompany creative expansion. Finally, the technical and compositional proficiency which these individuals display requires a re-evaluation of traditional expectations in mental retardation.