My eyes were caught by a crafts exhibit just outside the Department of Trade and Industry’s One Town, One Product (OTOP) Negros Occidental Provincial Trade Fair Showroom at the first level of Ayala Malls Capitol Centrale in Bacolod City.
I was drawn to a table that displayed hand-painted banig bags. Just beside it were handcrafted semi-glossed placemats and photo frames made of brown and white coconut shells in brown grout and Capiz shell strips in black resin respectively.
My jaw dropped when I learned that these and many other products on display were made by the creative hands of children with autism.
Yasss! Everything on display and for sale at the recently-opened weeklong exhibit is handcrafted by 20 students with autism who belong to the Transition Class of Happy Beginners School of Learning, Inc.
Aside from banig bags, native foot-stools and trays, a variety of sandwich spreads and some pastries can also be bought from the display.
During the opening program, 16-year-old Joemel Bernard Arroyo showcased his talent in painting before the audience while eight-year-old Felipa Madsen and 18-year-old Brent Nighel Anzano showed guests how they make native trays using wooden boards, glue and Capiz Shells.
Parents of students who are actively involved in the pre-vocational program were all smiles while watching their children perform and display their handicrafts and goodies.
“These activities helped Joemel develop and improve his art skills since art is our family’s passion. He started painting on canvas and paper. Now, I am happy to see him painting on bags. He feels good whenever he is productive,” shared Joedy Arroyo, elder sister of Joemel.
According to Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrician Dr. Mark Anthony Talatala, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental condition that involves poor communication skills and certain repetitive behaviors. “However, let us understand these children, with proper recognition and proper intervention, we can actually give them the best functional capability and skills that they can have in this world,” emphasized Dr. Talatala who is also a prime mover of the Autism Society in Bacolod.
Meanwhile, School Directress Precious Geronimo said the pre-vocational program aims to provide job opportunities to students with special needs. “With this kind of program, they have exit points as we call it, where they can find livelihood like starting a business with the help of their families,” added Geronimo.
While preparing to write this piece and researching about ASD, I came upon an article about Artistic Spectrum which was founded in January 2013 by Emma Wilson, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. It aims to help children and adults with ASD to discover their creativity. Wilson founded this non-profit organization in Thorne, South Yorkshire, that is now an award-winning art as a therapy for people with autism.
But even before I learned about Artistic Spectrum, I was more than convinced that the local endeavor and collaboration of the school, DTI, Tumandok Crafts Industries and Ayala Malls is very laudable and must be emulated as it makes people and institutions see how great people with ASD are and not to simply focus on their limitations, so that their skills can be maximized.
In his speech during the opening of the exhibit, Dr. Talatala stressed the importance of equipping children with ASD with life skills, to widen their creativity and make them functional in order to build opportunities for them.
“Certain skills and certain abilities are very important for our children. Such activity as this one, is a good venue to showcase and to let other people know that these children have abilities more than what we can imagine as long as we give them the best venue to exhibit what they can do,” said Talatala.
The treats served after the opening ceremony were such a delight. Guests were all smiling and happy while savoring the delicious spread on bread slices and brownies. I for one felt blessed to have partaken of it knowing that the goodies were products of the little hands of angels with ASD.
The exhibit which is part of the 44th National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week, educates and reminds us that autism is not a hindrance for children who have it, to enjoy what the world has to offer.
After witnessing how talented, skillful and productive these children are, ASD for me now stands for Artistic Spectrum even with Disability!*
