“Some Heart Stopping, Wonderful Things”: Arts and Wellbeing for People With Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities and Those Who Support Them
Emily Underwood‐Lee, Steven J. Walden, Hiroko Uenishi, Gray HillABSTRACT
Background and Aims
This article examines the impacts of the arts on the lives of people with learning disabilities, in particular Two Rhythms, an arts charity based in South Wales, UK, whose work with people of all ages with learning disabilities has had a profound impact on promoting wellbeing for all involved. This article addresses a significant gap in the literature around arts and wellbeing in relation to the arts for those with profound and multiple learning disabilities.
Methods
Focus groups were held with 17 key stakeholders including the kin and community of Two Rhythms' service users and staff. This was combined with observation of Two Rhythms' sessions. An inductive reflexive thematic analysis was conducted on transcripts of the discussions and observation notes. This method was chosen to efficiently organise the data set and to describe it in detail, through ongoing reflexive interaction with the data.
Results
The Two Rhythms method was found to have significant benefit for all of their community, including supporting the development of creativity, friendship, and transferable life skills.
Conclusion
The unique elements of Two Rhythms' work create benefit for the whole community engaged with Two Rhythms including people with learning disabilities, the people that care for them, and the professionals who support them. There is potential for extending this understanding to others who may benefit. In particular, attending Two Rhythms sessions created community and connection, developed transferable life skills, developed communication and enhanced emotional regulation, all of which leads to enhanced wellbeing.