The Creative Growth Art Center of Oakland, California has been on the cutting edge of treatment for over thirty-five years; they have been serving artists with developmental, physical, and mental disabilities since the 1970’s and they are proving that simply because certain people do not communicate in traditional ways, doesn’t meant that they have nothing to say.
There are a number of patients at the center who, even though they are non-verbal, are telling their stories through their art… art which sells for thousands of dollars. The proceeds of the sale are split 50-50 between the artist and the Center in order to help it remain funded. Some artists and their families however decide to give 100% of the profits to the center to ensure that the program remains strong and vibrant.
I encourage you to check out the links below and see the amazing things some of these people are doing. And hopefully this will serve as a reminder that simply because some people express themselves in non-traditional ways, does not mean that they do not have an amazing story to tell.
Thoughts?
NBC Nightly News Story http://www.nbcnews.com/id/3032619/#VpFlash
Creative Growth Home Page: http://creativegrowth.org/category/news/