Alanna McNight is an 18 year old with Cerebral Palsy, but she loves art, and was happy to show off her painting entitled "Deep".
150 works of art were on display at the HMS School of Art Show and Expressive Arts Festival Wednesday.
The 127 year old school in West Philadelphia educates those with Cerebral Palsy, and instructors say art is very a very important part of their learning experience.
"Many of our kids are spoon fed each meal, and they need to do something from their own power, and art we let them be," said art teacher Eiko Fan.
Another student showed off her masterpiece called "I like happy".
The performing arts were also part of the festival. Every week a dance troupe of high school students come to HMS to work with the students.
And the Walnut Street Theater's Outreach Program also sends performers to HMS once a week for drama.
"It's not just entertainment for them. It's really giving them purpose for carrying out their activities and for learning to participate as a group," explains Diane Gallagher, Executive Director of HMS School.
The activities highlighted in Wednesday's festival go beyond the art work and the theater and dance. It is about education and motivation.
"They are constantly getting stimulation and excitement and friends. It's a great environment for them to be in," said Nora Corbett, who is a Physical Therapy student.
"We look at the children as what they can do, not what they can't do," said Physical Therapist Vicki Van Artsdalen.
