The overarching aim of Mind Canvas is to support students with SEN (Special Educational Needs) by helping them build strengths to deal with challenges they may face, while also discovering their own strengths and interests for the future.
Additionally, we aim to provide support to the various contexts students are part of (schools, peer settings, family settings, etc.) to help create healthy, supportive environments around them.
SEL (Social and Emotional Learning) is an educational methodology that helps students of all ages develop essential social and emotional skills. This methodology aims to help students develop healthy identities, manage emotions, and achieve goals. It also aims to help students feel and show empathy for others, maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible decisions.
Although there has been growing awareness about students with SEN, there is still a lack of support available to them, which significantly affects their quality of life, which can be assumed by high co-occurrence of emotional disorders among them. Providing various services to these students is therefore highly meaningful, enhancing their well-being and helping them make various achievements in the future.
We plan to provide students with regular SEL (Social and Emotional Learning) programmes to aid their social and emotional development. We will also provide in-school activities to promote the concept of neurodiversity, helping students understand each other and build healthy relationships. Additionally, we will offer a range of art courses, giving students the opportunity to express themselves and discover their talents.
Considering that schools are where students with SEN spend much of their time and interact socially, it’s important that schools have an in-depth understanding of their needs. Therefore, Mind Canvas will hold regular talks and in-school activities to enhance teachers’ understanding of neurodivergent conditions and promote the concept of neurodiversity, offering insights into how to best support students in the classroom.
SEL (Social and Emotional Learning) is an educational methodology that helps students of all ages develop essential social and emotional skills. This methodology aims to help students develop healthy identities, manage emotions, and achieve goals. It also aims to help students feel and show empathy for others, maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible decisions.
Based on the CASEL framework, there are five core competencies that make up SEL: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. Our activities address all of these competencies through various exercises, including identity mind maps, positive self-talk, perspective-taking role play, group-based games with reflection, and more.
Mind Canvas aims to help students with SEN, but our SEL programmes can benefit all students. The core components of the programme support emotional and social development, which are essential for everyone. Therefore, we expect the programmes to cultivate socio-emotional skills that empower all learners.
To ensure our services are effective for students with SEN and the environments around them, we plan to conduct brief pre- and post-assessments to evaluate impact and identify areas for improvement. We also collect feedback from students, caregivers, and teachers to better align our services with their needs. Our programmes will be developed with advice from experts across multiple fields to ensure they support the social and emotional development of students.
Mind Canvas plans to work with special education scholars and art therapists to provide a range of art courses to students. Activities will include flower arrangement, pottery, painting, crafting, and more. These courses give students opportunities to express themselves and build confidence. Additionally, by incorporating therapeutic elements, we expect the courses to help reduce stress and support emotional growth.
SEL programmes often rely heavily on verbal communication, which may limit some students’ ability to fully express themselves. In these cases, art courses offer alternative forms of expression, helping relieve stress. Furthermore, the therapeutic nature of these courses can support students with SEN who may experience co-occurring psychological difficulties.
Supporting students with SEN also means supporting their parents and caregivers, who play a critical role in their development. Each month, we will invite parents to networking events where they can connect with others. We also plan to host expert-led sessions to deepen parents’ understanding of their children’s needs and experiences.
Beyond supporting parents in their caregiving roles, we also focus on their well-being. We will host regular mental health talks for caregivers, focusing on emotional regulation and coping strategies to help manage daily stressors more effectively. Additionally, we plan to offer activities such as meditation and yoga to support their psychological health.
We are planning to hold regular art exhibitions featuring the work of students with SEN, showcasing their potential and raising public awareness of neurodivergent conditions. We also plan events such as parent-child runs and caregiver activities to strengthen family bonds and increase understanding.
One of Mind Canvas’s core visions is to help build a more inclusive society for students with SEN and their families. To achieve this, we promote neurodiversity through community-based activities, raising awareness and understanding of neurodivergent conditions among the public.
Neurodiversity is the term to describe the idea that there is no single right way of thinking, learning, and behaving. It recognises that individuals with neurodivergent conditions are not “wrong” or “less than,” but simply different from neurotypical individuals.
Mind Canvas takes a multidisciplinary approach to developing effective support for students with SEN. We work with professionals across educational, developmental, and clinical psychology. We also engage directly with students and families to ensure our services reflect real-life experiences and needs.
Supporting students with SEN means considering the broader environments they are part of now and in the future. We collaborate with other organisations supporting neurodivergent individuals, as well as community partners who work to improve well-being and inclusion.
While improved educational outcomes may result from our support, they are not our primary focus. Our goal is to help students navigate challenges, discover their strengths and interests, and develop the skills they need to thrive in life—not just in school.