School of Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts

Creativity is a cornerstone of human innovation, influencing numerous disciplines and captivating both academics and practitioners. Despite extensive research, the connection between creativity and disability has been relatively unexplored. This paper seeks to bridge this gap by investigating the interplay between creativity, disability, and difference through the lens of "mental foraging." This conceptual framework compares cognitive exploration to how animals forage for food, suggesting that disabilities and differences can act as catalysts rather than barriers to creative thought and breakthroughs. By combining qualitative case studies with a thorough literature review, the study delves into the complex interactions between mental health conditions such as schizophrenia and ADHD, and physical disabilities like deafness and blindness, with creativity. It aims to provide new insights into the experiences and challenges faced by individuals with disabilities in their creative endeavors, highlighting how these unique cognitive landscapes can foster novel problem-solving approaches and innovation. Through understanding how disabilities influence creative processes, the paper underscores the importance of embracing cognitive and experiential diversity to enrich the creative landscape.