They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and that adage rings true for students at High Point School of Bergen County (HPS) enrolled in the school’s expansive art program.

The Lodi-based school for students with disabilities and learning challenges offers year-round visual arts instruction for middle- and high-school students. HPS Supervisor Cindy Pulido notes that art is incorporated into the educational program both as academic and therapeutic experiences.

The High Point tweens and teens participate in either art classes or art therapy to learn painting, drawing, and mixed media, as well as do fun seasonal projects. If they want to be challenged at a higher level, they can enter their work into school-wide art exhibitions throughout the year.

“Our art program is much more than teaching painting techniques — it serves as a powerful form of communication and self-expression,” Pulido explained. “Many of our students experience challenges expressing their thoughts and emotions through words. Art provides a safe, creative outlet to communicate feelings, ideas, and personal experiences in meaningful ways.”

HPS students enrolled in art are provided with accommodations to help nurture success. That includes step-by-step visual demonstrations; modified art tools and adaptive equipment; tailor-made instruction; repetition of lessons; sensory-friendly materials and classrooms; flexible pacing and seating; plenty of positive reinforcement and encouragement; and opportunities to communicate through assistive technology, gestures, or their artwork if they can’t or don’t want to verbally.

High Point students have also showcased their work outside the school walls. And some have even won awards over the past two years in the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) National Student Art Contest, with artwork published in a book through the organization.

High Point’s emphasis on art for its student population is on point: research has found such programs can have a significant impact on learning for students with special needs.

One report out of Orange County, California, showed that levels of the stress hormone cortisol went down in 75% of children with behavioral and other issues when they are creating art, according to Art & Creativity for Healing.

An analysis of several national and international studies published by Sage Journals found seven common areas where art interventions can help children with learning differences, including improvements in social interactions for those with ADHD and autism. Researchers also found an increase in effective self-expression; a reduction in disruptive behaviors like hyperactivity and lack of focus; an improvement in cognitive skills; better overall emotional well-being; enhancements in general development; and closer bonds with caregivers.

Other schools and art institutions across the U.S. have embraced the power of art when it comes to enhancing communication skills for students with disabilities.

In South Carolina, for example, the Greenville Center for Creative Arts has found that “for children with special needs, engaging in artistic activities can be particularly transformative, providing not only a creative outlet but also a means to develop vital skills.” Those include self-expression via drawings, pictures, and other visuals.

High Point school leaders see those kinds of benefits and results firsthand in students participating in art classes and therapy programs.

“For many of our students, artwork becomes a bridge between emotions and communication,” Pulido noted. “Every painting tells a story, allowing students to express themselves in ways that celebrate their individuality while supporting their overall emotional well-being.”

And some High Point students have even turned out to be extremely talented artists.

“We have several students who demonstrate exceptional artistic ability and continue to produce original, thoughtful artwork that reflects both technical growth and emotional expression,” Pulido added. “It is so rewarding to witness students discovering abilities they never realized they had.”

High Point School of Bergen County is a New Jersey State Department of Education-approved private special education school for students in grades 6-12. It serves kids with a variety of needs — such as autism, emotional/behavioral disorders, and specific learning disabilities.