VALA Eastside recently showcased Austin's art at a fundraiser for Lake Wasthington Transition Academy, where Austin is a participant.
Samantha Pak of the Redmond Reporter was at the event and shares the story here...
Young adults with developmental disabilities shine at Transition Academy
by SAMANTHA PAK, Redmond Reporter Reporter
May 9, 2014
For parents with children with developmental disabilities, a common concern is their son or daughter’s quality of life once they become an adult.
This was a concern Eric and Jacqueline Reichanadter had when their 19-year-old son Austin Reichanadter, who has autism spectrum disorder, graduated from Redmond High School in June 2013.
To help with this transition into adulthood, Austin is enrolled in Lake Washington School District’s (LWSD) Transition Academy, a community-based program for young adults 18-21 with developmental disabilities, preparing them for life.
“Transition Academy has been great for us,” Eric said.
He said the program gives Austin and his peers — other young adults with developmental disabilities — the opportunity to learn various life and job skills to help them navigate throughout their communities. Eric and Jacqueline said they became aware of the Transition Academy at an important point in their son’s life as they were trying to figure out what Austin would do now that he was no longer in school. Eric said their efforts dovetailed nicely with the Transition Academy’s mission to help students become productive members of society.
While the Reichanadters were not sure what their son’s next step would be, they knew it would have to be art oriented as Austin is an avid drawer and has been since he was about 3 years old. Jacqueline said by the time Austin was 5, people began expressing how impressed they were by his artistic ability. About a decade and a half later, Austin is still drawing and it’s as if he has never put down his pencil.
Jacqueline — who, along with her husband, is an engineer — said Austin draws pretty much from the moment he wakes up to the moment he goes to bed unless he has activities planned.
“We go through so much paper, it’s unbelievable,” she said, adding that the paper doesn’t even have to be blank. “Whatever he has (in front of him), he’ll just start drawing.”
Austin, who draws mostly animals, said he enjoys drawing and art because it helps him express himself.
Through the Transition Academy, the Reichanadters had the opportunity to explore a future for Austin in art.
From 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friends of the Transition Academy (FTA) hosted a fundraiser at the VALA (Venue for Artists in the Local Area) Art Center at Redmond Town Center that benefitted the program and featured Austin’s artwork — some of which was auctioned off that evening.
“It feels great,” Austin said about seeing his artwork on display on the art center’s walls.
Jacqueline said the event came about after she learned that a friend who was on the FTA board of directors had wanted to do a gallery show. The Reichanadters saw this as an opportunity to get some exposure for Austin and his work as well as help a population that needs help.
“Funding for special needs is always an issue,” Eric said.
Sharyn Nagasawa, who is on the FTA board and has a daughter enrolled in the Transition Academy, said the money will go toward scholarships. These scholarships help pay for students who may not be able to afford things such as bus passes and gym memberships as these are a few skills — riding the bus and attending an exercise class — the students must learn in order to navigate the world and be involved members of their communities.
“Our classroom is essentially the community,” said Richard Haines, a co-coordinator and teacher with the program.
He said having an event like the one at VALA showcases a talented young man that people may not otherwise know. Haines said the event also shows that each of the students at the Transition Academy has a unique talent to offer the community.
“(Austin) is way more than a person experiencing a disability,” Haines said.
Jacqui Calladine, outreach director for VALA, agreed, saying it is important to value Austin’s — and other artists’ — artwork for what it is and that it stands strongly on its own.
“I think (Austin’s) work is beautiful,” she said. “We see the value of the artwork itself.”
Calladine said Austin’s story just makes his work stronger and having Thursday’s event support a good cause and a young man’s career is a bonus.
• SAMANTHA PAK, Redmond Reporter Reporter
spak@redmond-reporter.com or 425-867-0353, ext. 5052
Samantha Pak of the Redmond Reporter was at the event and shares the story here...
Young adults with developmental disabilities shine at Transition Academy
by SAMANTHA PAK, Redmond Reporter Reporter
May 9, 2014
For parents with children with developmental disabilities, a common concern is their son or daughter’s quality of life once they become an adult.
This was a concern Eric and Jacqueline Reichanadter had when their 19-year-old son Austin Reichanadter, who has autism spectrum disorder, graduated from Redmond High School in June 2013.
To help with this transition into adulthood, Austin is enrolled in Lake Washington School District’s (LWSD) Transition Academy, a community-based program for young adults 18-21 with developmental disabilities, preparing them for life.
“Transition Academy has been great for us,” Eric said.
He said the program gives Austin and his peers — other young adults with developmental disabilities — the opportunity to learn various life and job skills to help them navigate throughout their communities. Eric and Jacqueline said they became aware of the Transition Academy at an important point in their son’s life as they were trying to figure out what Austin would do now that he was no longer in school. Eric said their efforts dovetailed nicely with the Transition Academy’s mission to help students become productive members of society.
While the Reichanadters were not sure what their son’s next step would be, they knew it would have to be art oriented as Austin is an avid drawer and has been since he was about 3 years old. Jacqueline said by the time Austin was 5, people began expressing how impressed they were by his artistic ability. About a decade and a half later, Austin is still drawing and it’s as if he has never put down his pencil.
Jacqueline — who, along with her husband, is an engineer — said Austin draws pretty much from the moment he wakes up to the moment he goes to bed unless he has activities planned.
“We go through so much paper, it’s unbelievable,” she said, adding that the paper doesn’t even have to be blank. “Whatever he has (in front of him), he’ll just start drawing.”
Austin, who draws mostly animals, said he enjoys drawing and art because it helps him express himself.
Through the Transition Academy, the Reichanadters had the opportunity to explore a future for Austin in art.
From 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friends of the Transition Academy (FTA) hosted a fundraiser at the VALA (Venue for Artists in the Local Area) Art Center at Redmond Town Center that benefitted the program and featured Austin’s artwork — some of which was auctioned off that evening.
“It feels great,” Austin said about seeing his artwork on display on the art center’s walls.
Jacqueline said the event came about after she learned that a friend who was on the FTA board of directors had wanted to do a gallery show. The Reichanadters saw this as an opportunity to get some exposure for Austin and his work as well as help a population that needs help.
“Funding for special needs is always an issue,” Eric said.
Sharyn Nagasawa, who is on the FTA board and has a daughter enrolled in the Transition Academy, said the money will go toward scholarships. These scholarships help pay for students who may not be able to afford things such as bus passes and gym memberships as these are a few skills — riding the bus and attending an exercise class — the students must learn in order to navigate the world and be involved members of their communities.
“Our classroom is essentially the community,” said Richard Haines, a co-coordinator and teacher with the program.
He said having an event like the one at VALA showcases a talented young man that people may not otherwise know. Haines said the event also shows that each of the students at the Transition Academy has a unique talent to offer the community.
“(Austin) is way more than a person experiencing a disability,” Haines said.
Jacqui Calladine, outreach director for VALA, agreed, saying it is important to value Austin’s — and other artists’ — artwork for what it is and that it stands strongly on its own.
“I think (Austin’s) work is beautiful,” she said. “We see the value of the artwork itself.”
Calladine said Austin’s story just makes his work stronger and having Thursday’s event support a good cause and a young man’s career is a bonus.
• SAMANTHA PAK, Redmond Reporter Reporter
spak@redmond-reporter.com or 425-867-0353, ext. 5052