Valuing the ability in disability through art

Finding hidden value and talent in individuals with special needs happens every day at the art studio Inklude, part of Little Friends' day program for adults in Downers Grove.

The studio's mission is to guide individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities to recognize their value and grow as professional artists. It provides art therapy to 20 to 30 individuals, helping them learn to express themselves; to deal with their emotions; and to communicate better with others — in other words, to sculpt a better self-image.

“So many individuals here have such a large talent. This place allows them to discover, use and develop these artistic talents,” said Nikki Bozzano, Inklude studio manager.

A master's degree graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Bozzano says, “Studios such as these are blossoming all over the world. Everyone has an innate connection to creative abilities. And studios such as these help them express themselves in art.”

I recently sat down with Nikki and Tom Pendziszewski, vice president of adult day services at Little Friends, in the Downers Grove center. They proudly showed me the paintings, clay models, purses, cards, and garden ornaments created by their clients.

“All the artwork here is for sale,” Tom told me. “The proceeds go to the individual artist. And interestingly, all the materials here have been donated.” He said they receive boxes of art materials from as far away as Germany and Hawaii.

“Not only are we breaking down social barriers between the public and those with disabilities, we are witnessing these individuals break down barriers in their own lives,” Tom said. “While society may label them with disabilities, we see their creative abilities, and they in turn discover their own creative, artistic talents. Mindsets are changing and these artists are finding limitations falling away.”

For instance, Nikki told me about Denise: “She is amazing at designing and constructing purses. She is very intelligent and diligent in her work here. Her work is very detailed and she takes it seriously. It gives her a sense of purpose — customers commission her to make bags and she does a beautiful job. It is empowering — enabling her to surpass limitations once placed on her.”

Tom concurs: “A lady brought in fabric and told Denise she wanted a bag that fit her needs specifically — a certain place for her cellphone, etc. Denise went back into the studio and started sewing — and made a beautiful bag for this customer. The lady came in and began crying because it was so beautiful. She told them she could never buy anything like this because it was custom-made. It was a very touching, beautiful moment.”

So many of these folks have lived such regimented lives — schedules and repetitions, people telling them what to do, Nikki said, “So for them to have this opportunity to make their own creative decisions — even if it is only the picking out of a color for the designing of a greeting card — it is a huge difference in their lives and that moves over into other areas. This enables them to express much more confidence in themselves, more resilience and adaptability, more flexibility. They learn to value themselves.”

Regarding discovering one's hidden possibilities, Tom and Nikki told me about Charles. “Charles is quite amazing,” Nikki said, “Charles can look at a photograph and then paint it. He has painted beautiful pictures of David Bowie, Robin Williams, and even me!”

Tom recalled there was a person who had a dog pass away and wanted a memory. “Nikki helped one of the artists at Inklude make a ceramic dog for them using polymer clay,” he said. “That was the beginning of a whole new set of possibilities. People have ordered custom-made clay dogs of all colors and markings, purchased them, and given them away for graduation and birthday gifts. This has been a wonderful way to supplement the artist's income. We are learning to value the artist, as well as the art.”

Nikki concurs, “When you see value in yourself, you see value in the things around you.”

As my visit concluded, I just couldn't help thinking that more than just inspiring stories, these experiences may point to a lesson for everyone — that as we look past our own physical and mental limitations, shouldn't we be able to find unforeseen capacities in each of us? Perhaps instead of allowing ourselves to be defined by things we cannot do or mistakes we have made, we should consider the possibility that qualities such as creativity, hope, joy, kindness and even forgiveness, resilience and reserves of strength are innate in each of us, waiting to be discovered — that we all possess inherent spirituality in limitless measure.

Of the 20-30 different individuals Inklude serves each week, Nikki said, “I see many of them transform the way they think about themselves. Their self-esteem continues to transform, where the idea of impossible fades away leaving only opportunities of what is possible.”

To support this incredibly engaging and empowering enterprise, to order and purchase personalized greeting cards, a bag, bowling ball art for your garden, to commission a painting or a ceramic dog, or to see some of the other artwork of Inklude, visit their website at www.inklude.org. And to learn more about all of Little Friends' programs, visit www.littlefriendsinc.org.

• Thomas (Tim) Mitchinson is a self-syndicated columnist writing on the relationship between thought, spirituality and health, and trends in that field. He is also the media spokesman for Christian Science in Illinois. You can follow him at @TimMitchinson on twitter or contact him at illinois@compub.org.