When my family launched this website for our son Jackson, he was still in middle school. He’s now entering his senior year of high school. Time flies doesn’t it? To date, Jackson has gained several accolades for his art: winning a VSA Artist of the Year award in 2018 and gaining professional gallery representation from […]
Working Artist Goals: Jackson signed to professional representation
When a person with a disability begins to “age out” of school, this can be a very stressful time for everyone. One of the ways that families/schools work together to help someone like Jackson or anyone that is enrolled in special education within the United States is to create a “transition plan.” We (his family […]
Great Gifts for the holidays! and Gratitude
Jackson’s website has tons of new gift ideas for the holidays. Check out holiday-themed travel mugs. bathmats, cards, posters, framed art, notebooks and tons and tons of great ideas. But…the way that all of this was possible was because of the dedication of a local Austin photographer—Sarah Teveldal. Our shop lives on Society6’s website and […]
Jackson wins statewide art award
On September 16, our family and friends gathered to celebrate Jackson along with a packed audience at the First Ever VSA Texas Artist of the Year Awards. Jackson was awarded the VSA “Director’s Commendation,” as a young emerging artist in Texas with a disability. VSA is a wonderful organization that provides access and classes for […]
First Job for Jackson
Vocational research on special populations shows that young adults with disabilities that hold paid employment by age 18 have a much greater chance of being employed as an adult. With this in mind, even though it was a stretch goal for Jackson, he signed up to be a part of our community’s Goodwill summer jobs […]
End of the Year Thoughts
Well, friends, it’s the end of another school year. At this time of year, I always take stock of how far we’ve come and how much we still have to accomplish, Jackson and me, on his march to independence. We have three years left to achieve this before we are done with public school. All […]
Art show a BIG success
Imagine a room full of acceptance, a place where the artistic spirit is revered, a place of celebration of differences, where families and people on the spectrum, regardless of intensity of symptoms, are fawned over for the creative gifts that they bring to the community. Well, now you are picturing the art opening for “Viewpoints: […]
Art Opening for “Viewpoints: Artists with Autism”
Please join our family this Sunday, February 11, in supporting Jackson in his quest to be a “big artist” with his FIRST GROUP SHOW at the Austin Public Library Yarborough Branch from 3 to 5 p.m. Drop in anytime during this window to meet the artists, view the work and grab a snack. The event […]
A New Year’s Resolution and Wish
I like to ask Jackson about his new year’s resolutions each year. This year’s surprised me! Jackson, do you have any resolutions? “I think I might try going nut-free. I’m not allergic to nuts, but I’m devoting myself to stay away from nuts.” What else do you want to say about the New Year’s: “I […]
The Future is Autism
To be encouraged by the chances of people on the autism spectrum being gainfully employed one day, read “Why the Australian Defence is Recruiting Cyber Analysts on the Autism Spectrum,” written by Robert D. Austin, Michael Fieldhouse, Aiyaswami Mohan, and Peter Quinn in the December 07, 2017 issue of the Harvard Business Review. This is one […]