Creativity in Learning Disabilities

I recently researched information regarding children diagnosed with ADHD, focusing on their abilities and characteristics. The main characteristics of ADHD (inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsive) are highly correlated with creativity. Because I've been studying creativity in a class this semester and I am working towards becoming a teacher, this information was very useful. Creativity is also correlated with defocused attention and cognitive dishinibition. Because children with ADHD have a natural ability to defocus their attention, they tend to be highly creative. Children with ADHD are able to generate original and unique ideas that can be useful in problem-solving or classroom activities. I am a firm believer in cooperative learning, especially in elementary education, so I was pleased to learn how children with disabilities can contribute to general education students' learning! While researching I came across a study that grouped two general education students with a child diagnosed with ADHD. Once grouped, the children needed to build a contraption that would allow them to drop an egg from six feet and have the egg land safely, without breaking. Groups that had children with ADHD in them were more successful than groups with only general education children. This egg experiment then reminded me of a project I made in elementary school. While in school, I had to build a leprechaun trap that would allow a leprechaun to enter and then be trapped inside some type of building. This was a great project for children to use their creativity. Done individually, children with ADHD may excel, but if completed in diverse groups, all types of learners would benefit. Simple, engaging projects such as these were great examples of cooperative learning that aid in the development of a child's creativity!