on those things that bring about well- being, enjoyment in productivity, and well-
living. Dr. Judith Orloff, an energy psychiatrist and author of Positive Energy, ...
March 2013
Volume 2, Issue 3
BEACON
BLAST Beauty from Beacon!
Students of Beacon Day School have been lending their hands to contributions of artwork at recent events! Beacon art instructor Juli Inagi is happy to announce that Beacon will be participating in the Very Special Arts (VSA) Art Exhibition, which is presented by VSA California of Orange County and the Orange County Department of Education at the Westfield MainPlace Shopping Center. The dates are April 20 through May 12, 2013. This event celebrates the artistic accomplishments of individuals with disabilities. Beacon student artwork will be displayed April 20-21. The festival hours on Saturday, April 20 are 11 am-4 pm. The festivities include artistic performances by local groups and activity tables placed throughout the mall. Among the pieces that may be displayed, we are sharing these with you now: To the Stars by Brian, using string printmaking, and Floating Leaves by Coco, using watercolor salt painting.
Important dates: Tuesday, March 26, 9 am: Dr. Mary Joann Lang interviews Dr. Dan Burns on VoiceAmerica Friday, March 29: minimum day Monday, April 1—Monday, April 8: school closed Tuesday, April 2: World Autism Awareness Day Tuesday, April 9: school reopens Saturday, April 20: Very Special Arts exhibition opens at Westfield MainPlace Shopping Center. April 20--May 12, 2013
Would you like to receive this newsletter in GREEN? Sign up today to receive the paperless Beacon Blast e-newsletter! Inside this issue: Important Dates
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Beauty from Beacon!
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The Impact of Chasing Inspiration
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Douglas Baker’s Financial 3 Planning Tips of the Month Beacon Staff at the Health Freedom Expo Please visit our website at www.BeaconDaySchool.com
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THE IMPACT OF CHASING INSPIRATION
There are many venues to explore where one can pursue inspiration for the purposes of contributing to the world and making a life of well-being. This article explores “inspiration” and how individuals with ASD discovered their deep inspiration through making their art. The art of Elaine Crowder, Trent Altman, Kevin Hosseini, students at Beacon Day School, and other artists who have autism, will be featured at The Brilliance of Autism Exhibit at the AutismOne 2013 conference May 21- 26.
of shifting my perception from “this is horrible” (e.g., my son exhibiting anger) to “something good can be tried here” (pursuing an activity of enjoyment and inspiration). I visualize a person’s transition phase as a process similar to the Humpty Dumpty rhyme, but in reverse — where all the king’s horses and all the king’s men put Humpty Dumpty together again. Any life situation, regardless of how traumatizing, can be turned around and headed in a new direction on a path for the better. I know this from clients’ feedback and my own life experience with my son.
his art because of the healing nature, good feeling, and fun impressions that his art projects. Trent has acquired international status as an artist when his painting Abstract Garden II was chosen for the United Nations Autism Awareness stamp, 2012. The creative act of painting continues to enrich Trent’s life. He is an example of how someone who has significant autism can face challenges and amazingly offer his gift to the world.
Kevin Hosseini is a student who is a high school senior in California. He started painting when he was only nine years old Positively there is a remedy. I listen to my and has produced hundreds of beautiful, clients and their parents/advocates about colorful paintings. In 2012, he was honored what it is they long for . . . what inspires the to have one of his paintings Bus or Cycle young adult . . . what do they enjoy . . . chosen to be part of a VSA/Volkswagen of what activities make them feel alive? There America Exhibit at the Smithsonian's S. is no way to feel creative and be bored Dillon Ripley Center in Washington, DC. at the same time. If too much boredom His aspiration is to “paint the world.” and inactivity can lead to anger and depression, then chasing creativity can The students at Beacon Day School are optimize health, peace, and joy. Focus receiving inspirational experiences early in on those things that bring about welltheir childhood education. They are offered being, enjoyment in productivity, and music and art therapy to promote wellness, well-living. manage stress, and express feelings, with many thanks to their art teacher Juli Dr. Judith Orloff, an energy psychiatrist and Inagi. The students’ drawings are author of Positive Energy, writes about the expressionistic, colorful, and genuine. positive effects of pursuing inspiration. She explains how inspiration raises energy I think Kris Kristopherson said it best: levels, improves health, and produces a “Doing what you love to do and doing it garden where creativity blossoms. Equally with your spirit and your heart--that’s as important, inspiration emotionally triggers good as it gets.” optimism and enthusiasm.
Discovering one’s inspiration may require much work because, quite often, inspiration may not easily be revealed during a time of significant life change. Thus, it is the dark days where inspiration must be proactively sought and pursued to develop a new life. School transition is one of life’s phases that requires much work and planning, especially when young adults and their families feel uncertainty and cannot see their way. This phase demands Inspiration has indeed altered the lives of reconnection from a life that was once well- artists who have ASD, and their advocates structured and now forever gone. have beautifully described how inspiration through art-making made a positive However so frightening, it is the time to difference in their lives. create new opportunities and experience new growth and maturity. Yet, many Elaine Crowder is a young woman in her parents find that their young adult’s lives 20s who creates abstract paintings to often fall apart during this process. I reflect global environmental problems and certainly had this experience with my son, solutions. Her artwork is exquisite and and I refer to this phase as his “transition offers the world her perspective; therefore, birthday” because it is a time of rebirth. she becomes part of the solution, raising With our best intentions in creating the new awareness of the world environmental life, the in-between phase can be highly crisis. She sees her artistic abilities stressful for the young adult when enhanced by sensory processing issues depression, worry, and anger may emerge. and believes it intensifies her unique ability If left unattended too long, the individual’s to paint what she sees. Because Elaine repressed toxic energy can be hazardous relates so well to people who have autism, to health. I do not take this phase lightly. she continues to teach art to children who Yet, this is the time of life that demands have autism. constructing a new one, even for survival purposes, but, more importantly, to live well Trent Altman paints bright and soft hue and happily. abstract and expressionistic paintings using acrylic paints and an array of mixed I can share how I approached my son’s life media. According to Debra Hosseini, changes. I learned to tune in to how he “Trent’s abstract art brings a sense of responded to energy levels, both negative peace and harmony wherever it is and positive. I discovered the importance displayed. His art is pure.” Collectors like 2
My life experiences have revealed to me that no matter how difficult a person’s challenges are with autism or any other disability, there is always a hidden treasure that can be found. The “treasure” is one’s unique inspiration to pursue an interest with positive energy and enjoyment. The artistic treasure of the artists’ creations is a must see this year at the AutismOne 2013 Brilliance of Autism Exhibit. ~~Jacquelyn Marquette, PhD, autism transition specialist www.independencebound.com
[Editor’s note: An art reception will be held at the AutismOne conference in Chicago on Wednesday, May 22. For more information about attending the 5-day conference that has 100+ speakers, visit www.autismone.org.]
Sustaining Growth and Clout Inside Our Special Needs Communities
Beacon Staff at the Health Freedom Expo! Many Beacon staff members shared information at the recent Health Freedom Expo in Long Beach, CA. Here are some pictures of folks from Beacon at the Beacon Day School / Beacon BASIC exhibit booth.
Douglas O. Baker This month’s tip talks about accepting, serving, helping grow, and giving back to support the community we all are a part of. Acceptance . . . of our lives and the loved ones we care for. Autism or other special needs create unique challenges for the families and individuals affected. These challenges provide a different way of life and connections that have become very special within the families, support groups, and local special needs communities we have found our way into. Serving and Growing . . . Start finding out about the services and professions other affected families and professionals are engaged in, and start using those services, products, and organizations. Helping our special needs families and supporting professionals grow from within helps our special needs communities build a sustaining loop of economic growth. We must start to build our economic clout for future services, benefits, and new solutions for a large and growing population. Giving Back and Support . . . Having great donors and sponsors is a blessing. Having a large special needs community is even better as we are the ones who give the most to this set of families that share our common bond. It is only we who live within these communities who see those much less fortunate and realize how we can help them improve their lives. Small changes to our spending patterns, service providers, product purchases, and financial institutions can result in an everyday benefit to those special needs families, serving professionals, and supporting organizations that truly believe in, serve, and live in the special needs communities we are all a part of.
“Thank you” to everyone who helped out! Later this month visit the “Video: tab on the www.BeaconDaySchool.com website for Dr. Mary Joann Lang and Dr. Melaura Erickson-Tomaino’s video presentation titled “Take-home Autism Strategies for Your Child’s BASIC Needs.”
Douglas O. Baker is the parent of a special needs son and a lifespan special needs financial advisor with Waddell & Reed, Inc. Reach him at
[email protected].
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