Duke and Duchess William and Kate are purchasing a painting from an established British artist for Prince George’s nursery. That wouldn’t be such headline-making news except the very talented artist, Tazia Fawley, happens to have Down syndrome. This could be an amazing thing for kids and adults with DS, and other special needs.
Tazia’s been painting for ten years, mainly landscapes and seascapes. She is a member of Heart and Sold, a charity supporting and showcasing artists with Down syndrome. Fawley had painted the acrylic Rupert Flies Over the Clifton Suspension Bridge several years ago. The director of the nonprofit sent a letter to St. James Palace asking whether the royal couple would like the painting to honor the new baby. Yes, they did.
I can’t even imagine how many people have no clue that, yes, people with Down syndrome (or other special needs) have artistic talents—just like any people. I know from raising Max, who has cerebral palsy, that people tend to mostly see the disability, not the ability. Or as may be the case, they’re blinded by pity. The news is surely going to open a lot of people’s eyes.
Fawley’s lives with her mother, sculptor Gylda Thomas, and paints in her own studio. As Thomas told a local paper, “I think most people’s attitude toward anybody with a disability is that they feel sorry for them. But it’s hard to feel sorry for Taz when she can do something so well.”
From my other blog:
Your child could change a world
A Bill of Rights for parents of kids with special needs
The merry-go-round incident: letting our kids flex their independence
Photos: Screen-grabs, BBC video