Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month: Art at Baltimore's Make Studio

This story and more in this week's issue of Art Therapy Today
Apr 7, 2016 3:00 PM ET

Art Therapy Today provides readers with the most up-to-date information about the American Art Therapy Association's initiatives and accomplishments, current news related to the art therapy profession, and announcements pertaining to events or opportunities provided by the AATA.

The AATA serves its members and the general public by providing standards of professional competence, and developing and promoting knowledge in, and of, the field of art therapy.

This week's issue of Art Therapy Today includes:

Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month at Make Studio, Jill E. Scheibler, PhD, ATR-BC, LCPAT. Since the early 1970s, April has been recognized as Autism Awareness Month and, more recently, it has been additionally or alternatively celebrated as Autism Acceptance Month. In his official proclamation for this year’s World Autism Awareness Day on April 2nd, President Obama observed: “From home to school and in businesses and communities around the world, people living with autism spectrum disorder contribute in immeasurable ways to our society. They remind us each day that every person is born with unique talents and should be treated with respect, play an active role in planning for their futures, and feel empowered to fully participate in and contribute to their communities. When those with autism have access to equal opportunities, we all do better, and that begins with making sure our country lives up to its commitment to ensure all things are possible for all people." READ MORE

AATA Represented at the American Counseling Association Conference in Montréal, Québec, Donna Betts, PhD, ATR-BC, AATA President. The American Counseling Association (ACA) and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association Association (CCPA) joint conference took place last week at the Convention Center in Montréal, Canada, From Thursday, March 31, through Sunday, April 3, I had the honor of representing the AATA, at the invitation of the ACA. READ MORE

AATA Featured Member. This week's Featured Member, Jennifer "Jen" Baldwin, ATR-BC, describes how initial frustration can become the impetus for change by recounting how the lack of recognition for art therapy lead her to become a voice for advocacy, outreach, and research. Her own personal experience with art as a child, as well as her current art therapy work with children and adolescents, helped her understand the ways in which art making can teach flexibility and perseverance in the face of life's challenges. READ MORE