Frances Anderson

Frances E. Anderson is an art therapist. She is a recipient of the Fulbright Senior Scholar Award. She went on to study art therapy at college.

Education

Anderson began her educational career at Agnes Scott College, a women's college, where she started out as an English major. She decided to change her major to art during her sophomore year.

During this time, she also took several psychology courses. She supplied dozens of adaptations and suggestions for teachers of children with any kind of disability in her text entitled, Art-centered Education and Therapy for Children with Disabilities.

After she graduated, Anderson continued publishing articles. It was then that her research began shifting focus to special populations and traumatized adults and children. She completed a major research study that incorporated a review of all the published research articles involving quantifiable data in art, music, dance, and drama for people with disabilities. Funded by the National Committee on Arts for the Handicapped, the goal of the study was to demonstrate the knowledge and quality of life that the arts bring to a person. Anderson and Landgarten presented their findings in Columbus, Ohio at the fifth annual AATA Conference, and publications of the results were also included in the Bulletin of Art Therapy and Studies in Art Education.

Anderson wrote her first book: Art for All the Children: A Creative Sourcebook for the Impaired Child. In 1988, Anderson revised her first book and published Art for All the Children: Approaches to Art Therapy for Children with Disabilities.

When AATA established its first journal in 1982, Anderson became a member of the journal's committee. In 2000, Anderson became the editor for the journal. While working as editor, she was battling breast cancer, in which she survived.

Anderson is active in CHART and AATA.

Books Art for All the Children: A Creative Sourcebook for the Impaired Child Art for All the Children: Approaches to Art Therapy for Children with Disabilities Art-centered Education and Therapy for Children with Disabilities Art for the Handicapped A Review of the Published Literature on Arts and the Handicapped, 1971-1981