That One Place

When I turned 18, my first job was working with special needs kids in the school district.  (a pretty big job for someone who had never worked with anyone with any kind of disability in their life if you ask me!)  

Anxiety overwhelmed me as I arrived for my first day.  What would I have to do? How do I talk to these children? Can they even understand me? All these questions and many more filled my head until I was paired, one on one, with a little girl.

She was 9 years old and suffered from extreme seizures on top of multiple other problems.  She couldn't speak, couldn't walk, and had to be fed by a feeding tube.  

We looked at each other, not knowing what to do or how to act, for quite some time before finally warming up to eachother.  

Children where all around.  In wheel chairs, walkers, laying down because they were immobile, or just sitting.  

More anxiety snuck in.

The days passed and I became buddies with all of the kids. It was so easy to because they were the most loving people I have ever met. I learned how to communicate and care for them and my anxiety was finally lifted.  

I think about my first job almost every day and how those kids are doing now.  Every once in a while I'm lucky enough to run into some of them around town and catch up.  They still remember me after 3 long years...  

I can't help but wonder though,  where is their outlet? The place where they can go and release any anxiety they have or stress that they may have to bottle up because there is no other option?  Then I think about every child, disabled or not, who doesn't have an outlet.  And then every adult...

Around the city, there are hardly any places dedicated to the expression of children through fine art, whether it be therapy based or not.  Sure, there are summer camps for disabled kids to "express themselves" or group homes that may offer some arts and crafts.  But there isn't one shop completely open to anyone (especially those who are disabled) for creative expression, at any time they choose to drop by.


This thought has stuck with me and has finally made me realize why I was put on this planet. I was put here to help.

I am dedicating myself to fix this.  Over the next few months, I will be accumulating the supplies, license, grants, marketing and networking needed in order to attain a solid foundation in which to grow an open studio that will be open to the public.


I am already so encouraged by the positive responses I have received after telling those close to me about this endeavor I am pursuing.  I can feel something inside of me telling me this is what I'm meant to do.  And if I fail, at least I can say I tried.


All I'm asking for are prayers and positive vibes, especially while I'm getting started.  


If you would like to, you can join our mailing list by visiting our website at www.thatoneplacekc.webs.com and click "Contact Us" to get updated on our progress.  If you have a smart phone, you can check out our mobile site on there too!


I hope you're as excited about this as I am, because this is where my heart will be for a very long time.


Love.
-A