arts

ArtThread Making a SPLASH! in Special Needs Community

I am a writer. I string words together to communicate information, persuade, amuse. I express my creativity by thoughtfully using language to paint vibrant pictures and performances in your mind, making you feel, think, react. It is my art. When I write I am filled with light.

For people with special needs, their ability to communicate, to express their feelings, to ask for help, to explore what is possible are often stymied by physical or mental limitations. Without an expressive outlet, their inner light is burdened by darkness. They can’t easily find a way out, so they may never become their best selves.

Art can be the switch that fills the darkness with light, and Jay Klein (founder and CEO) and Rob Rothschild (president) of the ArtThread Foundation, are making artistic expression easy and accessible with an online art program centered on a “digital Etch-A-Sketch” tool called SPLASH! And it is doing wonders for people of all ages who had been limited by their own minds, bodies, or environments.

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Try SPLASH! It’s free! Just set up an account and click “Create Art Online.”

“Our mission is to make art and creative expression more available to everyone, especially those impacted by social circumstance and physical limitations,” says Jay. Through the ArtThread Foundation, teachers are using SPLASH! in schools across the country to help children learn, express themselves, vent their frustrations, discover their creativity, and build self-esteem. “This is an adaptive technology that enhances success for students with disabilities,” says Jay.

The Power of Expression

Alonna had the opportunity to try SPLASH! when she was in her early 20s, shortly before aging out of the Florida school system. She lives with spina bifida, a spinal birth defect that affects her ability to walk and learn. She made it through high school in St. Petersburg and entered a transition program called Project 10 to prepare for living in the adult world. Project 10 is an ArtThread “pARTner” and uses the program to help students explore their artistic side.

“She really took to it in a special way,” says Rob Rothschild, president of ArtThread Foundation. Alonna was one of  a small group of Project 10 students who were selected to participate in Work of Art (WOA), an ArtThread program that teaches participants how to turn their love of art into an online business.

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Alonna in her SPLASH! studio

Developed in conjunction with VSA Florida and funded with a grant from The Able Trust, WOA helps students set up e-commerce businesses through which they can sell products featuring their original art. Through a custom portal to the online marketplace Zazzle, the artists create and sell shirts, coffee mugs, and other items featuring their work.

 

Rob showed Alonna how to set up and manage her store and design products on the Zazzle platform. “Alonna was very shy,” says Rob. “Learning how to create art and sell it in her own online store really boosted her confidence. She really took to it in a special way.”

“I love to paint and draw and be creative,” she wrote after launching her online store. “When I do art I am free from all the challenges that I face on a daily basis.”

How It Began

The initiating concept for ArtThread was born from Jay’s National Institute of Health, National Cancer Institute, and U.S. Department of Commerce funded research at the University of Florida. “I was studying the effects of artistic expression on symptom management in children undergoing cancer treatment,” says Jay. “I found that they had a better quality of life because they found meaning in the art. People who are more resilient have been able to attach positive meaning to their journey. That positivity displaces the negativity of their circumstance.”

“Then it dawned on me that it could help people with disabilities as well,” he says. “That’s when we came up with the idea to create the ArtThread Foundation as a way to develop the tools and partner with organizations that would benefit from it.”

“Any place there is no darkness there is light.”

Jay used the power of creative expression as a survivorship tool himself when he battled and beat cancer as a young man, and he is passionate about using technology and creative expression to foster self-esteem and community among children with disabilities, health challenges, and difficult social circumstances. The foundation partnered with Carnegie Mellon University to develop SPLASH! and the platform for the online art galleries.

Amazing Results

ArtThread has taken root in Florida with organizations serving people with special needs such as VSA and Project 10, and in Sonoma County, CA, with the Early Learning Institute. It is also used at the Shriners Hospital for Children in Tampa, FL, where young patients can create art with SPLASH!, providing a way to express themselves and bring light into their lives.

At VSA, Bonnie Hammer is a teaching artist implementing the program in schools in and around Sarasota, FL. Special education teachers apply for grants through VSA to implement an 8-week program. At the start of each program, she works with the teacher to use the online art tools to enhance the curriculum, whether it’s learning colors and shapes, combining shapes to build things, or learning math and science.

“It’s like a giant coloring book,” says Bonnie. “Once the students see me using it, they get very excited and want to try it.” The program also helps students develop fine motor skills and can help students focus, relax, and express their feelings. “I’ve even used the program with young offenders in a juvenile prison,” she says. “They have a lot of anger and other issues, and through the creative process they’re able to work through them.”

wow

ArtThread opens limitless possibilities for people of all abilities.

Karen Holtman tested ArtThread with kindergarten students at John B. Riebli Elementary School in Santa Rosa, CA. “Jay asked me to collect data to document how effective the program was with 5-year-olds. It had only been used with older children and adults, so he was skeptical it would be successful.”

“It was extremely popular with the kids,” says Karen. ArtThread provided the hardware for three SPLASH! stations in her classroom! She used it to teach the children colors, shapes and patterns. She paired them up and had them copy what one another created, teaching them how to work together. “It really helped lay the foundation for using technology in a fun way.”

Turn on the Light

Jay and Rob would love to see ArtThread in every school, particularly those that have eliminated the arts because of budget constraints, so students can use art to discover their abilities and unlock their full potential.

“When you remove art, you remove not only an individual’s ability to express himself, but you also remove a society’s ability to express itself,” says Jay. “Creativity is a key part of our wellness.”

If you would like to begin a program in your school or organization, contact ArtThread to become a “pARTner.”

You will be amazed at how quickly the light chases away the darkness.

About me: I am Pete Resler, a dad of two boys with special head and shouldersneeds. I created this blog to tell stories of exceptional people, including those with special needs and those who give of themselves to make life better for them. My hope is that these stories expose more people to what’s good in the special needs world and inspire them to give of themselves to make life better for those with special needs.

You can help:  I’m always looking for new ideas. If you know someone you think should be featured, shoot me a note at specialopstories@gmail.com.

Unique Vision

Little Earl Rivard wasn’t expected to survive. The 4-month-old had been in a coma for a week after the vehicle in which he rode was hit by a drunk driver. He would awaken and he would live, but the damage was irreversible. Fortunately for Earl, now an adult, he was too young to have memories of the accident or what it was like to see.

Today his students don’t care that he is blind. To them, he is a caring, talented teacher who helps them read, helps them sing, and helps them achieve what others assumed they would never achieve. Like Earl, his students have unique abilities. And, like Earl, they want to make the most of those abilities and do what they love.

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Earl Rivard leads the College of Adaptive Arts concert choir during the 2015 graduation ceremony. (Photo by Linda Krakow Eaman)

Sheltered success

Earl grew up like most other kids. He attended a public school that had a program for blind students in a nearby community, attending regular classes and getting help with adaptive skills such as Braille. He was very active in drama and music, and even played some sports. He excelled academically and attended the University of California – Berkeley, graduating in 2001.

As he grew, he learned what he needed to get along, and he was provided various required accommodations in the classroom to insure he had the same access to education as his peers. But, as an adult, he found that the real world wasn’t so accommodating. “The road got a lot bumpier after college,” he says. “I really didn’t have a sense of what it’s like going through life with a disability, without the supports I had growing up.”

He tried to find work, but he soon learned that his ethnic studies degree wasn’t going to put food on the table. He had crossed the stage at UC – Berkeley graduation and hit a wall. He had to find a way to make a living, a way that minimized or negated his disability. Music seemed to be the logical choice.

Breaking through

“Music was always in the background of my life,” Earl says. His father played the guitar and had a collection of vinyl LPs that provided the soundtrack.

At 14, his family moved to Argentina, his mother’s homeland, for a year. Music is a rich part of that culture, he says, and the spontaneous, participative playing and singing sparked his passion. He’d always enjoyed singing, but something changed for him there. “It was during that year that I found the joy of performance,” he says.

Back in California, Earl got involved in high school musical theater and taught himself to play guitar. In college he sang in an acapella group. So when he had to find a way to put food on the table, he grabbed his guitar and started stumping for gigs.

He did well, performing often and recording three solo albums (“Troubadour Blue” and “Underground Railroad” are available online), collaborating on several others. He’s written some of his own songs and co-wrote others with his father. “My dad is really the songwriter in our family, and many of the songs I have recorded are his.”

While he enjoyed his chosen career, it was physically and emotionally draining. “I love performing for people,” he says, “but I never knew where the next gig would come from.”

Earl Rivard - CAA performance

Rivard’s love of performance shines on stage and inspires his students. (Photo by Linda Krakow Eaman)

Spreading his wings

Little did he know that his next gig would take him down a very different path. His scheduled had slowed enough that he agreed to help produce a musical program at a day program for disabled adults called Futures Explored in Lafayette, CA, where a friend was working.

It worked out so well that they asked him to teach a music class. It quickly grew from once a week to several days a week and suddenly he was a teacher. “It was the closest thing I’d ever had to a real day job,” he says with a chuckle. “I found real joy working with these special people.”

He also got married and moved to San Jose, adding a lengthy work commute to his daily schedule. It quickly became apparent that he no longer had time for performing, so he put that chapter of his life on hold.

He also started looking for a teaching opportunity closer to home and found The College of Adaptive Arts (CAA), an innovative school where adults with disabilities can explore and learn a variety of artistic and educational disciplines, much like a traditional college. (Read my blog about CAA here.)

“It’s very joyful, very rewarding, and very surprising,” he says. “I love what a supportive environment CAA provides,” says Earl. “It’s a deeply human place.”

Earl leads the concert choir and teaches Music Appreciation. He also assists with a variety of other courses and program, such as music recording, poetry, public speaking, and the student council.

“We’re going to ask you to spread your wings and grow, but we meet you where you are,” he says, offering the Reading Partners class as an example. “The students read to one another based on their level. One person might read three paragraphs, while another might read five words. Regardless of their ability, we always ask them to do a little bit more each time, and we celebrate their success.”

“I get profound joy and satisfaction teaching people where they are and celebrating their accomplishments.”

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Rivard performs during a CAA Staff Showcase. (Photo by Linda Krakow Eaman)

Once a performer…

While Earl loves sharing his passion for learning and music with his students, he is still drawn to the stage. He hopes to return to performing; he just needs to figure out how he can fit it into his life again.

He loves the troubadour style of musical storytelling, just a man and his guitar. “It creates a beautiful give and take with your audience.”

“My dream would be to find a way to reach a large audience with the interweaving of storytelling and music. I trust that at some point it will come together.”

head and shoulders

About me: I am Pete Resler, a dad of two boys with special needs. I created this blog to tell stories of exceptional people, including those with special needs and those who give of themselves to make life better for them. My hope is that these stories expose more people to what’s good in the special needs world and inspire them to give of themselves to make life better for those with special needs.

You can help:  I’m always looking for new ideas. If you know someone you think should be featured, shoot me a note at specialopstories@gmail.com.

A Creative Heart

Like anyone, Jenny Unrein has her ups and downs. “I like to draw and make people happy,” she says, but “I don’t like people staring.”

Jenny is the 27-year-old artist behind JennyLU Designs, an original art business in Topeka, Kansas, that she co-owns with her step-mother, Wendi Unrein.  Born from a desire to help others, the business is doing well, but it’s not easy.

Sure, any business will go through ups and downs, but Jenny is not just any business owner. She has Williams syndrome (WS), a rare genetic disorder related to the absence of several genes in the 7th chromosome. People with WS have developmental delays, health issues, and distinctive facial features, sometimes referred to as “elfin”, thus the frequent staring.

JennyLU Wendi and Jenny

Wendi and Jenny clown around at the JennyLU Designs booth.

Inspiration

“I used to make cards for my mom and for other people to make them feel good,” says Jenny about her life-long love of drawing. Cats and dogs, hearts and flowers are her favorite subjects.

“The thing that caught me was that her drawings were so passionate,” says Wendi, an artist and art teacher. She noted that Jenny rarely draws just to draw: “For her to do art, it has to be for a purpose, for someone else.”

“One day I asked her to draw a picture with a Sharpie, then I colored it in. It was very cute,” says Wendi. That first collaboration grew into a fun activity for them both.

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Jenny with the Topeka Easter Seals Capper Foundation program, featuring her original artwork

“One day I was watching Oprah and I saw a girl who had a lemonade stand to help people with cancer, and I wanted to do something to help, too,” says Jenny. So she and Wendi decided to create pictures to donate to fundraiser auctions.

“We took some of the pictures to Jenny’s school and the teachers bought all of them,” Wendi said. “That’s when I realized people would actually pay for Jenny’s pictures.” And JennyLU Designs was born.

That was eight years ago and since then the pair has traveled around the country to conferences and art shows where they sell prints, called “Jennydoodles”, and a variety of other products featuring Jenny’s art, such as note cards, jewelry and calendars. The products are also available on the JennyLU Designs website.

But it’s not always easy for Jenny. She struggles with anxiety, common among people with WS, and it’s often hard to keep her motivated to create new pictures. “Jenny really likes going to the conferences, so when she knows there is one coming up, she stays motivated,” says Wendi.

“We do well at conferences related to disabilities,” says Wendi, giving all the credit to Jenny. One of the most noticeable traits of people with WS is their social, endearing personality. They are very personable, caring, and aware of others’ feelings. “When they see Jenny, they buy,” says Wendi.

And Jenny has become a popular speaker at those conferences, as well, delivering workshops on owning a business and educating others about Williams Syndrome.

JennyLU plaques

Whenever they meet someone with cancer at a show or convention, Jenny and Wendi give that person a Love Life plaque as a show of support.

Art for good

But Jenny has remained true to her original motivation, regularly donating her artwork to a variety of non-profits, both locally and nationally, such as the American Cancer Society. “If I see someone with cancer, I think it’s important to help them. It makes me sad,” says Jenny.

She also creates the cover artwork for the program at the Easter Seals Capper Foundation annual fundraiser in Topeka and donates artwork for the auction. “We donate to a lot of the organizations that help our kids,” says Wendi. In 2015 they also began donating proceeds from card sales to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

People love Jenny’s work so much many have commissioned original works, some from overseas. Her work has also hung in the White House and the Kansas State House.

“My favorite part is seeing people’s reaction to my artwork,” says Jenny. “I love having the business because I’m making a difference.”

Having the business has also made a big difference for Jenny, giving her confidence and purpose. “It doesn’t matter what kind of disability you have,” she says, “you can run a business.”

head and shouldersAbout me: I am Pete Resler, a dad of two boys with special needs. I created this blog to tell stories of exceptional people, including those with special needs and those who give of themselves to make life better for them. My hope is that these stories expose more people to what’s good in the special needs world and inspire them to give of themselves to make life better for those with special needs.

You can help:  I’m always looking for new ideas. If you know someone you think should be featured, shoot me a note at specialopstories@gmail.com.