Autism Awareness

Hello again all, I have just been asked to paint and balloon at a local autism walk. It's a lot like the Relay for Life that has to do with cancer, but for autism. I know the most recognized design for the Autism Awareness movement is puzzle pieces, but does anyone else happen to have other ideas for designs that I could paint or twist to go with the event?

I'd say you'd better have some trains or Thomas the Tank engine stuff ready, just in case. Even if it is just a Thomas cheek art. My son has autism, and he's always loved trains. A lot of the kids on the spectrum like trains for some reason. I think its because of it goes with their lining stuff up.

Not that all the kids there will be autistic...but I'm sure you'll probably get a few.

Be ready for cheak/hand art. A lot of autistic kids have hyper sensitivity & can't handle the touching & feel of the paint. Maybe some temp. tattoos.

It's true about the tactical sensitivity. My son will let me paint him, but usually washes it off immediately after.

He's such a cool kid.


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My son has some autistic tendencies. He has a lot of the tactile issues(if I'm cutting paper w/ scissors you'd think I was using a chain saw:-)
He also fixates on things... He is obsessed w/ How to Train Your Dragon & can tell you every detail. We love him & all his tendencies! He's going to have a career as a dragon training Jedi & his evening job will be a comedian:-)

At least he is obsessing on a cool movie. I loved How to Train Your Dragon.

Because he can fixate on things(and we never know what they are) we are very careful & aware of what we let him see.

My son has autism and I've painted at a few local events for children with disabilities... I have the HEAL walk at the Zoo on April 25th.

I second cheek art... children with autism are just like any other kids but some do have sensitivites to the wetness of the paint or something touching their skin- just have patience.
My son won't let me paint around his eyes- so I just skip around them if I'm doing a mask. And be sure to do things quickly

My son wants to wash it off after he sees it too.

I've added a puzzle peice to the butterfly (in my gallery)...



(over eye design)

I did this one for mom's or dad's that want their children's names: I actually made a stencil for the puzzle pieces.

What's the HEAL walk?

Love the little puzzle stencil.

HEAL stands for Healing Every Autistic Life, it's a local non-profit group that gives grants to local organizations that have training/education for children with autism.
They have a walk to raise money/awareness just like Autism Speaks, but focus on local places.

I've seen the HEAL poster at my son's Speech Therapy office. I was wondering if they needed a face painter:-)

Thanks, love the disign ideas everyone! And trust me, the issue isn't that I don't know how to deal with or handle autistic children. I work at a preschool where we have several of them in varying degrees of severity (sp?). I know how to recognize when they are having sensitivity issues, when they don't like osmething, and when they are stemming. I have actually volunteered at this walk for the past 3-4 years with my 4-H club, but I have never been asked to paint until now - as I am no longer a 4-Her.
I was just wondering if anyone had any other design ideas to put on the kids besides the basic puzzle piece, but I really like Polkadot's designs, would it be okay if I incorporate those next weekend?

I have done several of these. I have had kids that want one up until I touch them with a paint brush and then the start crying. They like things that are logical. For instance when doing a butterfly make sure it has 2 wings. I did a side view of a butter fly that was really cute on a girl and when I showed her she asked me where the other side was. I have had so much fun doing these kind of events but all of mine that we have been too it would be hard to do balloons and face painting. There have been times that that we have needed 8 balloon twisters at an event like that and others that they needed more face painters but there have always been huge groups at utah's walks.

Punky wrote:but I really like Polkadot's designs, would it be okay if I incorporate those next weekend?

would love you to!

My niece has mild autism also. I think this is a great event and I wish you a lot of success!