From Art Therapy to AcCES to education

<< Background >>We applied for this project to strengthen our ability to support children with Special Educational Needs (SEN), especially in the emotional and relational areas. While the WONDER Center had already developed a strong cognitive intervention program through non-formal education, it lacked a structured methodology for emotional support. Co-creative art therapy offers effective tools to address emotional suffering, heal trauma, and build resilience. Through this project, FDP specialists and teachers were trained to use art therapy as a communication and support method involving SEN children, parents, and teachers. The goal was to create a collaborative communication model at school level to help maintain SEN children in mainstream education. The project also supports early detection of SEN cases and provides professionals with tools to foster social integration and long-term emotional well-being. It filled a critical gap in our work and provided a sustainable path forward for supporting the holistic development of SEN children.<< Objectives >>The project aimed to develop a new inclusive learning-teaching approach for children with Special Educational Needs (SEN), based on art therapy methods. Know-how was transferred by the French partner with expertise in this field.O1. Increasing FDP’s capacity of using art therapy as an inclusive method to be used within WONDER Day care Center for 63 SEN children and their parents and at organizational level for other children involved in FDP programs. O2. Equipping 40 teachers with skills and knowledge in art therapy through a VET training program, for early identification of learning difficulties of SEN children, at early ages in primary school. O3. Disseminating art therapy as an efficient method of identification and support of SEN children among teachers at national level through www.eduaccess.ro platform, an educational platform managed by FDP.<< Implementation >>The following key activities were implemented during the project:Design of the ToT (Training of Trainers) Curriculum: A structured curriculum was developed, integrating co-creative art therapy methods tailored to professionals working with children with Special Educational Needs (SEN).Implementation of ToT Pilot Modules in Romania: Modules 1, 3, and 4 of the ToT training were piloted in Bucharest, involving FDP professionals (psychologists, educators, and social workers) who later applied these methods in practice.Implementation of ToT Pilot Module 2 in France: Romanian professionals participated in Module 2 in Rennes, France, where they gained direct experience with the methods used by Accord Emeraude and engaged in cross-cultural learning.Vocational Education and Training (VET) for Teachers: Four training groups were organized in Bucharest, where approximately 60 teachers learned how to use art therapy tools in educational settings to better support SEN students.<< Results >>Output 1: A co-creative art therapy ToT curriculum was developed by Accord Emeraude, structured in 4 modules—3 in Romania and 1 in France—tailored to the needs of social and educational professionals. 9 FDP specialists filled in an initial questionnaire to guide content development.Output 2: 8 FDP professionals completed Modules 1, 3, and 4 in Romania and Module 2 in France, gaining practical skills in art therapy for working with SEN children. One participant left the program due to health reasons; another FDP psychologist with relevant experience joined for Modules 3 and 4.The training improved FDP’s institutional capacity and was integrated into their core services. It enhanced the therapeutic support for over 60 SEN children at the Wonder Centre. The ToT curriculum is now a sustainable tool for internal staff development and future replication.