Marcy
Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Bourke Parakeet

Marcy Deutsch is 26 years old and was first diagnosed with moderate high functioning autism at the age of 5.  As a young child Marcy had very little language. She would speak in one or two word sentences and only if prompted. At 7 she was fixating on the movie Lady and the Tramp and she wore out one tape. It was at a pet store that Marcy started to scream, "Lady! Lady!" when she saw a dog that she insisted was Lady from the movie. It looked nothing like Lady, she was a black mutt. Her parents bought the dog even though they had 4 other dogs at home already. The next day Marcy sat down next to a little girl on the bus and started her first conversation. "Marcy got dog, Lady." Until that point if anyone sat down next to her or got too close to her she would scream and scream. Marcy never drew as a child but when a school project had all the kids drawing their favorite pet or animal Marcy drew her pet macaw, Tiny. The school called her parents to tell them they had never seen a 12 year old draw as well as Marcy did. That was when she started to take art lessons to improve her art.
 
Today Marcy has her own business with her art in zoos, galleries, casinos and stores all over as well as selling on the web. She has over 300 different designs. She draws animals mainly because she has learned to connect to the world through them. She is now speaking at different autism rallies, autism conferences and other groups inspiring and giving hope to individuals with disabilities. Her message is a simple one. "Just because you have a label on your head doesn't mean that you can't do things. Never give up your dreams. With the love and support of your family and friends anything is possible."

http://www.crittersonthings.com/