AOD Launches Young Creatives Program for Students with Special Needs

The Academy of Design (AOD) has launched the Young Creatives Program for Students with Special Needs, a two-year supported education programme designed to provide young people aged 13 and above who learn differently with access to creative education, specialised support and a welcoming learning environment.

The programme is open to students with additional learning and support needs who have an interest in art, making or design. Participants will attend the AOD campus three days a week and engage in practical activities spanning art, craft and design, supported by a dedicated team and taught at a pace suited to their individual learning needs.

Alongside the creative curriculum, students may also receive English and Mathematics tuition, with opportunities to work towards London O-Level examinations where appropriate.

A key feature of the programme is its personalised approach to learning. Rather than defining students by a diagnosis, AOD will develop an individual learning plan based on each student’s strengths, interests and needs.

For some participants, the programme could provide a pathway towards AOD’s Foundation programme and eventually a BA (Hons) degree. Others may complete the two years having developed practical creative skills, a personal portfolio, greater confidence and increased independence. AOD considers both outcomes equally valuable.

“Inclusion has always been part of AOD’s belief in the transformative power of creativity,” said Linda Speldewinde, Founder and Chairperson of AOD. She noted that creative education can recognise differences as sources of individual strength and possibility while giving young people the opportunity to discover their abilities and reach their potential.

Students will explore areas including drawing, painting, craft, sculpture, textiles and digital creativity, while gaining exposure to disciplines such as fashion, graphic design, photography and spatial design. They will also develop portfolios and learn how to discuss and present their creative work.

The programme will further bring AOD’s wider student community into the learning experience. Current AOD BA (Hons) students will serve as Young Creatives mentors, working alongside teachers, learning support staff and counsellors. The initiative aims to provide participants with relatable creative role models while making inclusion part of everyday life at the academy.

“Our starting point is always the individual, never the label,” said Maria Perez, Creative Lead for the Young Creatives Program. “When learning is built around what a young person can do and what they love to do, remarkable things can follow.”

Participants will also have opportunities to showcase their work through Young Creatives Exhibitions at AOD, while students completing the two-year programme will be recognised at a dedicated graduation ceremony.

Zara Esufally, Neurodiversity and Inclusive Education Adviser to AOD, said the programme seeks to challenge traditional learning environments that may not adequately accommodate neurodivergent students.

“This programme challenges that narrative from the ground up by intentionally creating a learning environment that supports the needs and builds upon the strengths of every individual student,” she said.

The Young Creatives Program reflects AOD’s belief that creativity should be accessible to everyone and that design education can play an important role in building confidence, skills and new possibilities for young people.

Schools, parents, guardians and professionals seeking further information about the programme for students aged 13 and above can contact AOD on 077 308 7782.