Neurodiversity & Alternative Learning

Art by Ama Amponsah

“When I couldn’t learn the way the system taught, I built a new way of learning — and brought others along with me.”

Eight years ago, I founded the Rivers Art Foundation, a social enterprise rooted in the belief that art is not a supplement to learning, it is a transformative tool for education. What began as a personal response to my own learning challenges has since evolved into an international movement dedicated to improving the quality of life and learning outcomes for children with learners who learn differently.

Our work centers on developing arts-based, alternative education programs that are as inclusive as they are creative. We believe every child deserves to learn in a way that honors their strengths, sensory preferences, and imagination, not just their ability to memorize and recall.

At Rivers Art, color, rhythm, texture, movement, and storytelling are woven into curriculum design. Whether we're guiding a child with autism through visual routines or helping a learner with dyslexia express their thoughts through painting and collage, or teaching life skills through recycled arts for children from low socio-economic backgrounds the goal remains the same: to empower children to understand the world and themselves through art.

 Moments That Matter

• In 2023, one of our students was honored with the GUBA Rising Star Award in the UK, a moment that validated the power of alternative education in unlocking unseen potential.

• In January 2024, I had the privilege of co-leading a collaboration with The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health Journal (UK) through Arts in Medicine Ghana, where twelve of my students helped design monthly cover art that reached audiences around the world. Each brushstroke was not just creative expression, it was advocacy, visibility, and healing.

Why This Matters

Traditional education systems often overlook learners who don’t "fit the mold." At Rivers Art, we design programs that don’t ask children to shrink themselves to fit the system, we adapt the system to fit the child.

As an educator and curriculum designer, I continue to advocate for models that integrate creativity, well-being, and accessibility, not just in West Africa, but in learning environments across the globe. Because every child deserves to thrive, not just survive.