Show Finger Painting Aid in Paralysis Opens New World of Action Color for Physically Handicapped Tots DURHAM N. N C. C The C.-The The medium of finger painting is opening up a new world of action and color for phys phys- physically physically physically handicapped children who are unable to ordinate co-ordinate muscular con con- control control control because of spastic paralysis Children in the spastic dormitory of Du Duke e hospital for the first time in their lives are able to express themselves without muscular ten ten- tension sion tension sion-tension tension that sometimes can bring on a chaos of of writhing move move- ments The finger painting technique was originated by Miss Ruth Faison Shaw famous painter teacher and designer The technique is simple children dip their fingers info col col- colored colored colored ored paint and daub the colors onto a board Remarkable pictures sometimes are created by the children who are unable to hold drawing pencils or brushes in their hands Occa- Occa Occasionally Occasionally vivid and original designs are formed The designs adaptable to textile prints may be a means of some of the spastics earning a living Brushes Fail Hands Miss Isobel Moore who proposed a project in rhythmic drawing in in color for relaxation ran into difficulties difficulties difficulties when she found the patients could not hold brushes or crayons very well and Miss Shaw suggested finger painting There are no set rules in finger painting and the child is left to create as he will His senses are stimulated by the pleasant texture of the paint and pupils who could not remain interested in one subject more than a few minutes were en engrossed ed grossed gross d for hours in finger forger painting One child been unable to articulate an n individual word sa sal the other children working as aid ani pulled the hem of Miss Shaws Shaw's skin ski to attract ct her attention She and he asked Let me do it Often Miss Shaw says the real of physical shortcomings i ia a child builds up an emotional COt coi I that aggravates his condition In our experimental classes here w WI wj wI j I find that the injured birth-injured child tact tad tactfully fully but unremittingly trained trawled to lo I determination to surmount his hat has handicaps encouraged to a sense c t j jI I accomplishment by work especially especial adopted to his individual needs need I gradually acquires greater con corm confidence dence and assurance This in tun bus tunI I I helps him to be more oblivious o ohis of 01 his condition I Technique Developed Miss Shaw developed the tech tech- technique technique technique while abroad opening hei ter first school in 1923 in Rome Ii It ItI 1932 she was called to Paris to giva give I a public demonstration She lee lec at the Sorbonne instructed a athe at atI atthe I the Trocadero school and arranged arrange for six exhibitions of the work a aher d I her pupils Later she came S b SAmerica I America and demonstrated frogs finger painting at the Dalton school in Ne Nei Ne' York Patients range in age from 4 to toll H U. HOlder Older girls she said produced patterns pat patterns terns that have suggested a possible vocational aptitude in the field ol a oi olI textile design f Ii I Dr Earl R. R Carlson himself J a spastic child and author of a recen recent said when book Born That Way he was not afraid self conscious ol or overanxious about about what he was do do- doing doing doing ing he was able to move his muscles muscle successfully although usually such suet an attempt such attempt such as moving a fir fin finger to cause writhing ger was ger-was was enough He said the best medicine W fit the spastic would be to become financially self-dependent self and tt that t tit it was to be hoped finger might open a way |