At Autistry Studios we help teens and adults with Autism, Asperger's and other learning differences become successfully independent by leveraging their interests and talents while creating a community.
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Posted By Janet Lawson, MFT on December 6, 2011
Check out our wish list on Amazon - a range of items from saw blades to mixers, robot bits to green screen set ups! Gift certificates at local hardware and lumber stores and art supply stores are hugely appreciated.
Posted By Janet Lawson, MFT on November 7, 2011
November marks the end of our first year at 37 Duffy Place. And what an incredible year it has been. The program has been growing exponentially from the day we opened the warehouse doors and we are having a fabulous time! I thought the warehouse would be too big, too loud, too overwhelming but it has proven to be the perfect place for us. Large and messy, filled with power tools, paints, fabrics, computers, cameras and everything needed to create strange and wonderful projects – even carving pumpkins!
Thanks to a very generous donation from the Moran family work will begin on the kitchen this week. We will start with installing a sink and a dishwasher – no more carting home the dirty dishes. Then we’ll hang the cabinets and put in a good floor. And, finally we will be able to cook together. I am looking forward to working with our Autistry students to create new recipes and to share old favorites – like my Grandma’s pot roast.
In the News:
Autistry member, Julia Pozsgai was featured in an article in the Petaluma Argus-Courier. Julia has been working with Dan and Anna to create furniture. She is now taking custom orders and is working on a doghouse based on the Storybook Playhouse design for her first customer.
Owen Bragg will be reading from his latest book, Ketinga the Cat at Book Passage in Corte Madera on Sunday Nov. 20th at 1pm. Please join us for this very special event. You can purchase both of Owen’s books online at the Autistry Book Store.
Last month Robyn Steward dropped in to visit Autistry. She was on a speaking tour and wanted to see for herself what was going on at Autistry. Robyn is a young adult with Asperger’s and she felt right at home in the Friday Workshop. She even painted a WarHammer figure!
REMINDER: The Parent Support Group meets on Thursday, Nov. 10th at 7pm at Autistry Studios. This is a great group of people with lots of stories to tell and advice to share.
Looking forward to another great year at Duffy Place!
Posted By Dan Swearingen on November 5, 2011
Petaluman Julia Pozsgai, 22, has autism, but has excelled in the craft of woodworking. Among her many projects is this coffee table.
www.Petaluma360.com
In Julia Pozsgai’s bedroom is a large purple chair. Though she made it herself out of heavy cardboard, its tall back, exaggerated zig-zag design on the back and feet, and royal purple hue make it look more like a whimsical throne than a large piece of cardboard. [see more]
Posted By Janet Lawson, MFT on October 21, 2011
Autistry publications take-off!
Owen Bragg will read from his new book, Ketinga the Cat, at Book Passage in Corte Madera on Sunday, November 20th at 1pm. Ketinga is a delightful children’s book about a cat and a mischievous mouse!
Owen is a fabulous graphic artist and a prolific illustrator who has developed over 100 original characters. This year at Autistry Owen worked with Suzi Musgrove of SLM Creative to produce two full-color children’s books.
Owen will also be signing Eunice the Unicorn the adventures of a brave little unicorn fleeing from an evil tyrant. Both books are available online here: Buy Autistry Books.
Book Passage
51 Tamal Vista Blvd
Corte Madera
(415) 927-0960
(800) 999-7909
Posted By Janet Lawson, MFT on October 17, 2011
Sibling Support Group
with
Sara Gardner,
(under the supervision of Janet Lawson, MFT)
Thursdays: 6:30pm – 8:00pm
October 27th – December 22nd 2011
37 Duffy Place, San Rafael
(415) 945-9788
Email: janet@autistry.com
The Autistry Studios Sibling Support group provides a place for teens who have a sibling with ASD to experience understanding and peer support, learn coping skills, highlight positive interactions and have fun!
We will meet on Thursday evenings from 6:30-8:00 beginning October 27th and concluding December 22nd with a break for the week of Thanksgiving.
We will also work together to plan at least 2 outing activities depending on the interests of the participants. These excursions may be on Saturdays.
Sara Gardner, an educator and MFT trainee will lead the group. She will use art materials, games, and mindfulness exercises, but primarily focus on giving these special teens time that is all their own. The group activities will develop to meet whatever needs the members present individually and as a group.
Group Fee: $50/session (1.5 hours). Meets weekly for 8 weeks.
Course Schedule: 6:30pm to 8pm on Thursdays beginning October 27th
Activity Fee: Additional fees may arise depending on cost of outing activities.
Ages: 13 and older
Sara Gardner is a graduate student at Dominican University pursuing her Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology. Sara has years of experience working with families and children on the autism spectrum. Sara is skilled at leading role-playing games and is developing a therapy model for working with young adults using role-playing scenarios. She will be supervised by Janet Lawson, MFT (#MFC 44746).
Posted By Janet Lawson, MFT on October 3, 2011
This week we launch the first Autistry online commercial enterprise: the publication of Owen Bragg’s first children’s storybook, Eunice the Unicorn. Owen wrote and illustrated the story. And, with the guidance and professional support of Suzi Musgrove of SLM Creative, he has produced a gorgeous full-color hardcover book. We have a limited number of these special signed editions available at: Buy Eunice the Unicorn. Owen’s second book, Ketinga the Cat will be available later this week!
Owen is also featured on the online journal WordGathering in an article by local poet, Rebecca Foust. You can find the article here: Owen Bragg: Artist and Author.
The publication of Eunice is the first step toward the fulfillment of the Autistry vision: building a community that supports the development and creation of entrepreneurial enterprises based on the interests, skills and talents of our members. In our Core Workshops students explore their wild ideas and learn skills to make those ideas real. To become an independent and productive member of a community we also need to market our ideas and skills.
We have many more wonderful enterprises in the works – custom furniture, original artwork, greeting cards, culinary creations! The possibilities are endless as the talents at Autistry are ever increasing. If we were launching a hi-tech product with the dream of huge financial returns we would be seeking huge venture capital investments. Our dreams are more modest and our need for start-up funding is correspondingly modest but nevertheless real. Creating these small social enterprises is an essential component to building a working community. To support our efforts please visit our Donation Page.
It’s Spin Time: the 3rd annual Autistry Spin ‘n Sizzle happens Sunday, October 16th. This is a great way to support the Autistry programs. If you can’t make it on the day or you aren’t up for a spin – sponsor an Autistry member to spin for you. This year we will have several Autistry items available for sale and lots of of projects on view. To reserve your bike or sponsor a rider go to our Donation Page or email Janet: janet@autistry.com.
This month we had a wonderful visit from Rudy Simone, an author/jass singer and Aspie! Rudy has written several great books for and about individuals with Asperger’s. Read more about Rudy on her website: Help 4 Asperger’s. We are making plans to host an evening with Rudy in January – stay tuned for details.
Posted By Janet Lawson, MFT on September 5, 2011
When Dan and I started Autistry Studios we wanted to create a place for our son, a place where he would thrive after we were gone. With the help of our students, their families, our staff and the community, Autistry is becoming more than we could ever have imagined.
At Autistry we love to build things – models, swords, movies, books, armor, dragons…just about anything! But underneath the projects what we are building is community. We are learning how to help each other reach our goals and how to ask for help when our own goals seem out of reach.
We hold the other end of a board while our classmate saws. We wrap a friend in plastic to help him make a mold for his armor. We give encouragement, praise and critical feedback. And we laugh together, eat together and play together.
Autistry Studios is becoming more than a program for learning skills. It is becoming a community of individuals who understand and accept each other.
Last week a young boy told us he likes Autistry because here he gets “real help from real people.” We are proud of our staff members. Each one is kind, educated, experienced and quirky! Autistry attracts people with wild ideas and boundless energy – both staff and students. Though we are very different there is a like-mindedness that holds us together.
Our vision is to see this community grow wider and deeper – more members, more programs, more opportunities for growth. We want to insure that our students not only acquire vocational skills but create personal bonds that will span a lifetime. Those bonds will be their safety net, giving them strength and support as they grow older.
Posted By Janet Lawson, MFT on September 2, 2011
We’re doing it again! The 3rd annual Spin ‘N Sizzle happens on Sunday, October 16th from 10am to 3pm. Great exercise. Great food. Great people. Hosted by Michael and Christine Lopez of Body Image Personal Fitness Center.
Everyone has a blast at the Autistry Spinathon. Here is a link to some photos of last year’s fun! This year our goal is “A Butt on Every Bike!”
Hope to see you there!
To buy seats online go to our Pay for Spin and Sizzle Page
Posted By Janet Lawson, MFT on August 16, 2011
Wow – did that summer go by quickly! Schools are starting back up and Autistry is beginning our 4th year. We just posted the 2011 Fall Workshop Schedule. We are very excited about the new Theater Workshop led by our Clinical Director, Liz McDonough. Liz has years of theater experience and is a registered drama therapist. Students in the Theater Workshop will develop characters and scenes and experience different forms of theatrical expression. There will be a performance for friends and family at the end of the semester. All the Autistry students will be lending a hand to build Liz a stage!
We are also happy to announce that Courtenay Bell will join us for more workshop fun this year. Courtenay will be working with Dan in the Thursday and Friday Build Workshops and with Liz in the new Theater Workshop. She is also planning a Paint with Courtenay Day for sometime in the fall. In addition to her MA in Special Education and her Autism Certification Courtenay has a BFA in Painting from San Francisco Art Institute. She also skates with the Bay Area Derby Girls!
Sara Gardner returns to Autistry as an MFT Intern. Sara is working toward her Counseling Psychology Masters degree at Dominican University. She is an avid gamer and equestrian. Sara will lead two new groups at Autistry: The Gamers Group and the Sibling Support Group. The Gamers Group is closed but there is still space in the Sibling Group. Email Janet for more information: janet@autistry.com.
We also welcome a new face to Autistry: Anna Dow. Anna has been working with us in the Tuesday Build Workshop and will now join us on Saturdays with the Train Group. Anna is in the MFT program at Sonoma State. She graduated from Lesley University with a degree in Ecological Leadership and Education. Anna is originally from Mobile, Alabama.
The Autistry Summer Camp (also known as Camp Bear Bait) was a success. All campers returned with no snake bites, no poison oak scratches and no injuries! This was the first Autistry getaway and we are ready to plan some other excursions. A big THANK YOU to the Magnotti/Porter family for hosting the event on their property. The place was amazing – complete with pond and woods. Photos of the camping trip can be found here.
We are looking forward to another great year at Autistry Studios!
-The Autistry Team
Posted By Janet Lawson, MFT on July 8, 2011
Tomorrow we are back from vacation! I hope you all enjoyed a little time off from your projects and are ready to get back to work. The 2011 Summer Session Schedule is now posted and can be found here. Most of the workshops are continuing with little change. Note that the Saturday Build Workshop now starts at 11am and ends at 3pm. The Film Workshop will start again in the Fall.
The addition this summer is the new class taught by Dan and Liz – Build/Drama Workshop. This is a 6-week workshop starting Sunday July 10th and running through August 14th. The workshop will include some acting improvisation and character building as well as theater prop construction. We are excited about this new approach and Liz will be developing new theater workshops for the fall.
The Autistry Storybook Playhouse was delivered to Grattan Elementary in San Francisco. The Playhouse was built by Autistry students and purchased at the fundraising event in March by Becky Foust. Becky donated the Playhouse to Pamela Wolfberg’s Autism Institute of Peer Socialization and Play. Pamela has been working with Grattan Elementary to create an ‘Autism Friendly” play space. The Storybook Playhouse will be an awesome addition to the new playground.
Watch for news of Eunice the Unicorn by Owen Bragg.
Copies of this first book project by Autistry Studios and SLM Creative will be available for purchase from the Autistry website very soon. Suzi Musgrove and Owen did a fabulous job on this. Owen’s new book, Ketinga goes to print next week. A few more of these projects and we will have created Autistry Publishing!
Kudos to Daniel M. who finished the first Autistry musical instrument project! Daniel worked very hard on his acoustic guitar – lots of sanding and many coats of shellac. This was a long process as it took lots of time for each layer of shellac to dry. But last week Daniel put the bridge on, inserted the tuners, attached the strings and tuned it up with an online program. Now for the music lessons…
Ken Pontac visited Autistry last week. Ken is a writer of graphic novels and film scripts. He is also the creator of Bump in the Night , an animated program for ABC TV. Ken will return to Autistry later this year to do a ‘show and tell’ of his work for our Autistry students. We’ll send out an announcement when we have more information.
Last week Nancy Dow Moody and Barry Benda of Lifehouse gave a presentation to our Autistry families about residential services available in Marin County. This is an issue that is very important to our families – where will our children live when they are ready to leave home? The presentation got us all thinking of creative solutions for our very creative kids.
The Autistry Parent Support Group will meet next on Thursday, July 14th at 7pm at Autistry Studios. This is a great place to discuss issues and to get feedback from others who have been there, are there now or will be there soon. The meetings are free for Autistry members (families currently enrolled in workshops) and $10 for others. Email Janet at janet@autistry.com if you plan to attend.
