AOD launches Young Creatives Program for students with special needs

From left: Young Creatives Program Creative Lead Maria Perez, AOD Founder and Chairperson Linda Speldewinde, Neurodiversity and Inclusive Education Adviser to AOD Zara Esufally, and Internal Program Lead Ashanthi Handunge

A two-year creative education program for students aged 13 and above, with special learning requirements. Giving every young person a real place at AOD and enabling them to progress as far as their potential can take them, whether that leads to a degree or to the confidence to create

AOD has announced the launch of the Young Creatives Program for Students with Special Needs, a two-year supported education program that opens the academy’s creative teaching, studios and wider community to young people aged 13 and above who learn differently.

The program welcomes students with additional learning and support needs who demonstrate an interest in art, making or design. Students attend the AOD campus three days a week and learn through practical art, craft and design activities, supported by a dedicated team and taught at a pace suited to each individual. Alongside the creative curriculum, students may also follow English and Mathematics tuition, working towards London O-Level examinations where this is appropriate for them.

What sets the program apart is its refusal to define success in a single way. Every student is understood as an individual rather than by a diagnosis, with a personal learning plan developed around their strengths, interests and needs. Some students will use the two years as a stepping stone into AOD’s Foundation program and, in time, a BA (Hons) degree. Others will complete the program with practical creative skills, a portfolio of their own work, and greater confidence and independence to carry forward. Both journeys are recognised as equally worthwhile.

“Inclusion has always been part of AOD’s belief in the transformative power of creativity,” said AOD Founder and Chairperson Linda Speldewinde. “Creative education is uniquely able to recognise difference not as a limitation, but as a source of individual strength and possibility. This program is a natural and important extension of who we are, creating an environment in which every young person is supported to discover what they can do, express who they are, and progress as far as their potential can take them.”

Students will explore drawing, painting, craft, sculpture, textiles, digital creativity and more, while being introduced to the design disciplines for which AOD is known, from fashion and graphic design to photography and spatial design. Throughout the program, they will build a portfolio and learn how to discuss and present their work.

A distinctive feature of the program is the involvement of current AOD BA (Hons) students, who will serve as Young Creatives mentors. Working alongside teachers, learning support staff and counsellors, these mentors will provide participants with relatable creative role models while embedding inclusion within the everyday life of the academy, rather than treating it as a separate activity.

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

Students will have opportunities to showcase their work through Young Creatives Exhibitions at AOD, while those who complete the two-year program will be recognised at a dedicated graduation.

The Young Creatives Program reflects AOD’s long-held belief that creativity is for everyone and that a design education can be a powerful tool for growth, confidence and possibility.

“Neurodivergent students are often forced to fit into learning environments that have not been designed to accommodate them, affecting their performance, increasing dropout rates and diminishing their self-esteem,” said Neurodiversity and Inclusive Education Adviser to AOD Zara Esufally. “This program 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. Giving our students the opportunity to discover what they are capable of is central to who we are as an institution.”

Schools, parents, guardians and professionals interested in learning more about the Young Creatives Program for students aged 13 and above can contact AOD on 077 308 7782.