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Friday, September 27, 2013
MARBLEJAM KIDS OPEN HOUSE!
Friday, September 20, 2013
BELIEVE IN WHAT IS POSSIBLE
MarbleJam Kids
An artist lives in all of us. For some it just needs to be discovered...
We are a passionate group of creative arts therapists, special educators, specialized instructors, specialized aides, and parents who truly care about children with autism spectrum disorders, developmental disabilities, learning differences, and special needs. There is creative potential in ALL children and no child should be denied the opportunity to explore their creative side. In fact, they need it. Early child development requires a growing child to explore through creative play and interaction with others, as the path to learning, communication, and self discovery.
As a parent of a child on the autism spectrum, I never underestimated my daughters' need for creative and emotional fulfillment even when she didn't show interest in these areas. I am not saying it wasn't difficult or disappointing that my child didn't want to play with me, or toys, or engage with family members. It was heartbreaking at times. I found myself wondering if I was doing something wrong. Am I just not fun enough? Maybe she thinks I'm boring?
At the age of 2 we noticed she still wasn't talking so it was recommended that my husband and I have her evaluated by a child development specialist and pediatric physician. We were told by the neuro-pediatric physician, 'Your child has pervasive developmental delay.' She told my husband and I to read about it and gave us a website address that explained autism spectrum disorders and a phone number to get her started with therapy. My first thought was relief, "Autism? Oh my God, so, then it wasn't me! My child has autism, and it all makes sense. I can blame autism!"
After reality settled in, it became clear that our lives would be taking a different course. My desire to go back into the theater after time off mothering an infant was going to be seriously delayed. I didn't know anything about autism or how to manage a child with this condition. I only thought of it as a very rare genetic disorder that is disabling with little hope for a 'normal' life. I began to panic. The internal questioning of her future started to exhaust me. Will my life now be about caring for my disabled daughter? Will she ever be able to fit into society? Will she ever speak, point, express needs and desires? Will she have relationships? I started freaking out!
I was now embarking on a long journey, a leap into the scary unknown. I waited until I was 40 to have my 1st child and she would likely be my only child. She was a perfect infant. What happened? I was determined to make her 'normal'. Normal! Why can't she be normal?!! It didn't take long to figure out that there is no normal! I realized this after meeting typical kids with similar issues but not to the extent of my child's challenges. I also noticed other young children moving through milestones while mine remained behind. Others noticed too. That was hard.
We were fortunate to have been provided with 30 hours a week of early intervention therapy for 8 months. The guest room in our home became a therapy room that held a small table, 2 chairs, and little of anything else. Our house became a revolving door of professional therapists that provided 1 to 1 therapy to help our child learn, engage, and thrive. Speech, physical therapy, occupational therapy, ABA (applied behavioral analysis) Therapy. I remember feeling like a hostage in my own home, isolated from my friends.
I longed to have my little girl play with me so I started reading and learning more about autism, different therapeutic approaches, and how to engage my child. I was discouraged. After reading a few books about developmental disabilities and spectrum disorders, I learned that innate learning or incidental learning does not really happen for children with autism. They need the direction, a nudge, focused attention, to help them understand or spark their own interests as well as the interests of others, and it takes time and a support system to help them participate in activities that may seem to most as being 'simple play'. I remember trying different ways of playing until something worked and then just repeating what worked. This was encouraging so I became driven to learn how to get her attention and keep it. I observed and consulted with the entourage of therapists that were coming to my home and utilized some of their approaches with her as well. Repetition, structure, simplifying commands, rewards, positive reinforcement, modeling the appropriate behavior, hugs, tickles, and gold fish! I learned the 'happy' voice, adding inflection and varying the pitch in my voice as a tool to give a positive response to her. I started to use it all the time, even when it was for something as simple as a look in my direction. It started working and this little personality started emerging. It took months to build a bond that gave her real reasons to want my attention but I was okay with it. She was mine and I love her!
As an accomplished professional dancer, my love for all of the arts are at the heart of who I am so I started incorporating music, art, and dance in her world whether she liked it or not. She did't like it at first. She couldn't focus or even hold a crayon. She had no interest in ride on toys other than flipping them over to spin the wheels. She would obsess over light switches, jump up and down continually, not respond to my calling her, run away, stair at trees, pull at her ears, eye brows, hair, or obsess over a plastic duck that she had to hold in her left hand. I picked up Baby Einstein DVDs and introduced finger painting and clay and eventually she took a paintbrush. I noticed that she liked to turn pages in books, so I found some with audio CD's. She really enjoyed listening and seemed to follow along but is wasn't sure. I started taking her to the library and book store where she would pick her own books and noticed that she was particular! At age 3, we placed her in a full day special education program where they utilizing an educational approach call applied behavioral analysis. It was also working for her as well. By age 4, she started speaking in sentences but I still couldn't really have a conversation with her. She would memorize audio books and recite them, pages and pages. I quickly realized that she had receptive language and could decode text in her head. She just didn't have the speaking mechanism in working order! Within 3 years, she surpassed expectations and was ready to move on to kindergarten with typical peers right on time. It took a team to make it happen.
Now she is 12 years old. She speaks clearly, sings beautifully, loves to read, write stories, draw, and she plays the flute, which she is not permitted to quit. Learning to read music and play an instrument is as important as math, science, literature, and social studies so consider the flute another subject! We have a tremendous support system of qualified professionals, educators, a loving family, and community that continues to keep her moving forward. But the influence of the creative arts expressed in everything she writes, draws, and sings, keeps her engaged, happy, and learning more effectively. She has confidence. She understands she is unique and she okay with it even when others aren't! She teaches me how to be a better person every day and I can't imagine my life with out her.
When special needs children do discover their niche, they do so with gusto and a purposeful passion offering unique creative perspectives and moments that can move you to tears. When they are given the time and support needed for them express feelings, explore, and create under less structured environments, they become happier human beings. Introducing the arts as a tool for self discovery, expression, and emotional wellness often times provides the added bonus of behavior modification. Children with autism often harm themselves and can harm others but for many, this can change when providing a customized program to meed individual needs. We see this every day at MarbleJam Kids! Creative Arts Therapy is a beautiful way to reach into the heart of a child at any age.
It has been a challenge and joy to introduce the arts as a means of meeting the extraordinary needs of young children and teens on the autism spectrum. Today, I felt compelled to share a little of my story to support other moms out there and to recommend they incorporate the arts in the daily lives of their special needs children. Not sure why the need to share overwhelmed my day but perhaps it's because we are moving our center and I'm feeling like it's a turning point for me personally and the organization. It's been six years that MarbleJam Kids has been providing creative arts therapy and supported arts programs to children with autism spectrum disorders, related disabilities, and special needs. It started with an idea to present the arts to children with autism so they too can attend after school programming but present in a way they can succeed. We are indeed building relationships, creating childhood memories and lasting friendships through shared arts experiences. I only know this because of the supportive testimonials by the moms, dads, and children who have attended our programs.
My wish is to create more meaningful opportunities that will support them as they move into adulthood, so they don't fall of the radar, so they have creative options, and remain active participants in their community. The arts can be the way and there is no reason to believe it's impossible. We simply need to try harder and believe that the potential is worth the extra effort. It feels like the right thing to do and I just can't see us not doing it.
by Anna Villa-Bager
Founder, MarbleJam Kids
Support the Arts for All and learn more at www.marblejamkids.org
An artist lives in all of us. For some it just needs to be discovered...
 |
| Group Art Project - The Dancer |
As a parent of a child on the autism spectrum, I never underestimated my daughters' need for creative and emotional fulfillment even when she didn't show interest in these areas. I am not saying it wasn't difficult or disappointing that my child didn't want to play with me, or toys, or engage with family members. It was heartbreaking at times. I found myself wondering if I was doing something wrong. Am I just not fun enough? Maybe she thinks I'm boring?
At the age of 2 we noticed she still wasn't talking so it was recommended that my husband and I have her evaluated by a child development specialist and pediatric physician. We were told by the neuro-pediatric physician, 'Your child has pervasive developmental delay.' She told my husband and I to read about it and gave us a website address that explained autism spectrum disorders and a phone number to get her started with therapy. My first thought was relief, "Autism? Oh my God, so, then it wasn't me! My child has autism, and it all makes sense. I can blame autism!"
After reality settled in, it became clear that our lives would be taking a different course. My desire to go back into the theater after time off mothering an infant was going to be seriously delayed. I didn't know anything about autism or how to manage a child with this condition. I only thought of it as a very rare genetic disorder that is disabling with little hope for a 'normal' life. I began to panic. The internal questioning of her future started to exhaust me. Will my life now be about caring for my disabled daughter? Will she ever be able to fit into society? Will she ever speak, point, express needs and desires? Will she have relationships? I started freaking out!
I was now embarking on a long journey, a leap into the scary unknown. I waited until I was 40 to have my 1st child and she would likely be my only child. She was a perfect infant. What happened? I was determined to make her 'normal'. Normal! Why can't she be normal?!! It didn't take long to figure out that there is no normal! I realized this after meeting typical kids with similar issues but not to the extent of my child's challenges. I also noticed other young children moving through milestones while mine remained behind. Others noticed too. That was hard.
We were fortunate to have been provided with 30 hours a week of early intervention therapy for 8 months. The guest room in our home became a therapy room that held a small table, 2 chairs, and little of anything else. Our house became a revolving door of professional therapists that provided 1 to 1 therapy to help our child learn, engage, and thrive. Speech, physical therapy, occupational therapy, ABA (applied behavioral analysis) Therapy. I remember feeling like a hostage in my own home, isolated from my friends.
I longed to have my little girl play with me so I started reading and learning more about autism, different therapeutic approaches, and how to engage my child. I was discouraged. After reading a few books about developmental disabilities and spectrum disorders, I learned that innate learning or incidental learning does not really happen for children with autism. They need the direction, a nudge, focused attention, to help them understand or spark their own interests as well as the interests of others, and it takes time and a support system to help them participate in activities that may seem to most as being 'simple play'. I remember trying different ways of playing until something worked and then just repeating what worked. This was encouraging so I became driven to learn how to get her attention and keep it. I observed and consulted with the entourage of therapists that were coming to my home and utilized some of their approaches with her as well. Repetition, structure, simplifying commands, rewards, positive reinforcement, modeling the appropriate behavior, hugs, tickles, and gold fish! I learned the 'happy' voice, adding inflection and varying the pitch in my voice as a tool to give a positive response to her. I started to use it all the time, even when it was for something as simple as a look in my direction. It started working and this little personality started emerging. It took months to build a bond that gave her real reasons to want my attention but I was okay with it. She was mine and I love her!
As an accomplished professional dancer, my love for all of the arts are at the heart of who I am so I started incorporating music, art, and dance in her world whether she liked it or not. She did't like it at first. She couldn't focus or even hold a crayon. She had no interest in ride on toys other than flipping them over to spin the wheels. She would obsess over light switches, jump up and down continually, not respond to my calling her, run away, stair at trees, pull at her ears, eye brows, hair, or obsess over a plastic duck that she had to hold in her left hand. I picked up Baby Einstein DVDs and introduced finger painting and clay and eventually she took a paintbrush. I noticed that she liked to turn pages in books, so I found some with audio CD's. She really enjoyed listening and seemed to follow along but is wasn't sure. I started taking her to the library and book store where she would pick her own books and noticed that she was particular! At age 3, we placed her in a full day special education program where they utilizing an educational approach call applied behavioral analysis. It was also working for her as well. By age 4, she started speaking in sentences but I still couldn't really have a conversation with her. She would memorize audio books and recite them, pages and pages. I quickly realized that she had receptive language and could decode text in her head. She just didn't have the speaking mechanism in working order! Within 3 years, she surpassed expectations and was ready to move on to kindergarten with typical peers right on time. It took a team to make it happen.
Now she is 12 years old. She speaks clearly, sings beautifully, loves to read, write stories, draw, and she plays the flute, which she is not permitted to quit. Learning to read music and play an instrument is as important as math, science, literature, and social studies so consider the flute another subject! We have a tremendous support system of qualified professionals, educators, a loving family, and community that continues to keep her moving forward. But the influence of the creative arts expressed in everything she writes, draws, and sings, keeps her engaged, happy, and learning more effectively. She has confidence. She understands she is unique and she okay with it even when others aren't! She teaches me how to be a better person every day and I can't imagine my life with out her.
When special needs children do discover their niche, they do so with gusto and a purposeful passion offering unique creative perspectives and moments that can move you to tears. When they are given the time and support needed for them express feelings, explore, and create under less structured environments, they become happier human beings. Introducing the arts as a tool for self discovery, expression, and emotional wellness often times provides the added bonus of behavior modification. Children with autism often harm themselves and can harm others but for many, this can change when providing a customized program to meed individual needs. We see this every day at MarbleJam Kids! Creative Arts Therapy is a beautiful way to reach into the heart of a child at any age.
It has been a challenge and joy to introduce the arts as a means of meeting the extraordinary needs of young children and teens on the autism spectrum. Today, I felt compelled to share a little of my story to support other moms out there and to recommend they incorporate the arts in the daily lives of their special needs children. Not sure why the need to share overwhelmed my day but perhaps it's because we are moving our center and I'm feeling like it's a turning point for me personally and the organization. It's been six years that MarbleJam Kids has been providing creative arts therapy and supported arts programs to children with autism spectrum disorders, related disabilities, and special needs. It started with an idea to present the arts to children with autism so they too can attend after school programming but present in a way they can succeed. We are indeed building relationships, creating childhood memories and lasting friendships through shared arts experiences. I only know this because of the supportive testimonials by the moms, dads, and children who have attended our programs.
My wish is to create more meaningful opportunities that will support them as they move into adulthood, so they don't fall of the radar, so they have creative options, and remain active participants in their community. The arts can be the way and there is no reason to believe it's impossible. We simply need to try harder and believe that the potential is worth the extra effort. It feels like the right thing to do and I just can't see us not doing it.
by Anna Villa-Bager
Founder, MarbleJam Kids
Support the Arts for All and learn more at www.marblejamkids.org
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