DuPage woman designs ornament for White House

A DuPage County woman with special needs was one of several artists chosen to display ornaments they designed on a White House Christmas tree.

JoAnn Johnson of Woodridge is a client of the Ray Graham Association for People with Disabilities. Elizabeth Roskam, wife of U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam of Wheaton, volunteers with the organization and thought of the association's clients when first lady Laura Bush requested artists for the ornament project.

Artists were asked to design the ornaments with the unique patriotic spirit of the artist's state. Johnson's winning ornament features a violet, the Illinois state flower. Johnson flew to Washington, D.C., for a special reception with other artists that was hosted by the first lady Dec. 2. The ornament now rests on a branch of the White House's 18-foot tall Fraser fir along with ornaments from 18 other Illinois artists and scores of others from around the country.

To see Johnson's ornament visit the White House Web site: whitehouse.gov/holiday/2008/ornamentsbystate/il.html.

Roskam said he chose a Ray Graham client as his district's artist to highlight the talents of people with disabilities.

"I wanted an individual from Ray Graham to have the honor of decorating this ornament and presenting it to Mrs. Bush at the White House," he said. "Despite the disabilities people may have, many have an astonishing amount of unrecognized talent here."

The Ray Graham Association provides a broad array of services and support to area residents with disabilities. The organization was named in honor of the first director of special education in Illinois. It is based out of Downers Grove. For more information about the organization visit ray-graham.org.