It has been well documented through the centuries that art has a calming effect on people.  Music and art are sensory and tactile; they help to convey emotions that could otherwise go unstated.  The arts are a hands-on way of learning that allows students to express themselves differently than through tests or term papers, which rely on proficiency with research and historical data. 

By integrating the arts into a whole curriculum, educators can foster better comprehension within and across subject areas. New material usually presented to students in isolated units can be tied together through the arts, which also aids in highlighting the interrelatedness of learning and knowledge. Additionally, it gives students the chance to reflect on what they have studied and to create something that demonstrates their learning. (Using the Arts as a Vehicle for Educational and Emotional Success, Anderson, 2000)

Many research studies have found more evidence of the advantage gained by including art instruction for children of all ages. Some findings include:

• Being taught to “read” art through a “visual thinking” curriculum helped 9 and 10 year-old students develop their reasoning based on visual evidence.  This increased ability translated into better “reading” of evidence in science.
• Assessments of 6th graders understanding of history using drawings as well as writing helped students reveal more of what they knew than using just writing.  This held true for both English language proficient and English limited students.
• 7th grade boys who were “reluctant readers” but were interested in visual art were given several visual art exercises that resulted in them taking a more active role in reading and interpreting the text rather than just passively reading it.
• Elements of music and reading are highly related in first graders. Students were tested on various elements of music and reading and a strong relationship was found between a student's awareness of pitch and their ability to sound out material in reading—material that included standard language and phonetic material
  
  (source: americansforthearts.org)

These studies demonstrate that different methods of teaching are absorbed differently by each student.  E/BD students are capable of learning in ways outside of mainstream curriculums, and the arts can be a primary tool for helping them achieve in the classroom.