Don't dis the Ability HistoryTIC SAVANTS

"Don't 'dis' the ability" lll - (April 2008): Click here for more info

"WINDOWS OF GENIUS" (September 2007 - October 2007) Artwork of the Prodigious Savant attracts hundreds from around the world to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

PING LIAN YEAK:

Ping Lian's work "Ubudiah Mosque I" was sold for RM100.000.00 to an anonymous bidder at the Grand Auction

of the RDA Charity Ball in aid of the Riding for the Dsabled Association, Malaysia...20 Nov 2004.

"Don't 'dis' the ability" - (January 2006 Exhibition)

All of these artists share the autistic spectrum disorder characteristic of an impoverished linguistic ability. Approximately 10% of autistic children have savant ability. Certain savant children whose verbal behavior skills are extremely limited can draw objects and even panoramic views from memory. Such drawings often reveal a preciseness of features and

eye for detail that is not exhibited when contrasted with the drawing capabilities of typically developing children in the same age group.

Ping Lian began drawing exquisite works at the age of 8. In March 2003, Sarah wrote in her personal diary “I know he will be an artist one day.” His work is prodigious and unprecedented regarding the vast array of portrayals from dogs, roosters, horses, fish,

flowers and people; to architectural structures in both black and white extremely detailed drawings and colorful intricate landscapes.

I would like to acknowledge Ping Lian’s mother Sarah SH Lee who has donated artworks

to various special needs populations for their specific fund raising efforts. Our mutual

mission and dedication is in creating awareness in the general population not to “dis’ the ability of individuals.

Ping Lian's art work is featured on the cover of the April 2007 issue of

Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine (The Autistic Artist, "Special Faculties", and Savant Syndrome)

"Windows of Genius" - Artworks of the Prodigious Savant:

Windover Center for the Arts; in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin - September 7 - October 12, 2007

Visit the Savant Syndrome section at Wisconsin Medical Society

If you would like to contact me regarding artwork by an individual with autism:

E-mail me at RCMPHD1@verizon.net.

Click below to read these wonderful articles by Dr. Laurence A. Becker

The Portrayal of Disability Through Film

Creative Learning Environments and 4 Savants

Autism and Nutrition - Resources Available(rev.)

A Candid Conversation About Autism and Nutrition

A WAY OF SEEING IN THE MEANTIME: BENEATH AND BEYOND (Films featuring Extraordinary People)

Dr. Becker has also recently released a "must read" awesome series of articles on

"What's Old, What's New: Books and Films Worth Knowing"

(October 2009) (November 2009) (December 2009) (January 2010)

Other Artists with Autism:

Gregory Blackstock

Esther Brokaw

Susan Brown

Justin Canha

Seth Chwast

Marcy Deutsch

Temple Grandin

MIchael Hannon

Paloma Kalisch

Amanda LaMunyon

Jonathan Lerman

A Personal statement from Dr. Rosa C. Martinez

As an educator of individuals with autism, I have come across many savant individuals over the years. I was puzzled by these exceptional abilities when I observed them in students who otherwise had no language and exhibited severe behavioral issues. Upon learning about Temple Grandin and her abilities I read everything and anything I could get my hands on about her. I read each of her books and attended every lecture I possibly could where Temple was speaking. I consider Dr. Temple Grandin to be my mentor and main inspiration for effectively working with children who initially emitted such severe self-injurious behavior that resulted in bloodied heads from head banging and open tissue damage from biting themselves. Until Temple Grandin these behaviors were seen as characteristic of autism instead of attempts at communication.

The art work of autistic savants has always intrigued me. I have studied and followed the work of Nadia (Ukraine) who began drawing at the age of 3, Stephen Wiltshire (London) who began drawing at the age of 5 and Jonathan Lerman (New York) who began drawing at age 10. In 2006 I was introduced to the extraordinary art work of Ping Lian Yeak by Dr. Laurence A. Becker (producer and director of WITH EYES WIDE OPEN, an international award-winning documentary film about Richard Wawro, an autistic savant artist from Scotland.) Together we featured the first “Don’t ‘dis’ the ability “ autistic art exhibition tour in New York City at the Henry Gregg Gallery in Brooklyn, NY (DUMBO). Ping Lian was a 12 year old boy from Malaysia with autism. Malaysian airlines and DHL sponsored round trip tickets and courier costs of Ping Lian’s artworks enabling Ping Lian and his family to come to New York for this exhibition which featured his works alongside other internationally renowned artists (Christophe Pillault, Richard Wawro, etc.). Sarah Lee (Ping Lian’s mother) is one of the strongest and inspirational people I have ever met. It is due to her and Ping Lian’s prolific work that I have sustained such an interest in “training the talent”.

In 2007 I accompanied Ping Lian Yeak with his family to participate in Dr. Darold Treffert’s amazing “Windows of Genius” – Artworks of the Prodigious Savant, Art Exhibition in Wisconsin (2007). Dr. Treffert is the world renowned expert on savants and the author of “Extraordinary People”.

Since then I have taken on a role as “collections curator” for numerous exhibitions of these wonderful works expanding upon my mission of creating awareness of the abilities within those classified as “dis-abled”. “Don’t ‘dis’ the ability” has been featured with various artists on the spectrum throughout NYC and California. In 2008 in honor of Autism Awareness, the Exhibition was featured at The New York City Board of Education and at the Manhattan Children’s Center.

On December 18, 2007 the United Nations General Assembly, by unanimous consent, passed the resolution of the Third Committee designating April 2nd World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) in perpetuity starting in 2008. “Don’t “’dis’ the ability: Artworks by Individuals on the Autism Spectrum was featured at the Inaugural WAAD at the United Nations. The concept of “Don’t ‘dis’ the ability” is to expand our understanding of the diversity of people on the autism spectrum while educating the world about the abilities and opportunities to encourage advancement in every human beyond their individual challenges. The participating artists shared their contributions with the world as an extension of this message to “train the talent” and to foster independence.

I thank Dr. Temple Grandin, Dr. Laurence Becker, Dr. Darold Treffert, Sarah Lee and all of my autistic children for the road I have taken. This journey has led me to work with some of the world’s most well known autistic savant artists and most importantly to further appreciate all that each of my personal students has to offer as members of our society.