Jane Strauss, “is the Aspergian matriarch of a clan of spectrum folks, living with an Aspergian partner in her own spectrum colony”

Marcy Deutsch

Marcy Deutsch is an incredible artist. She was first diagnosed with autism at the age of 5. This was back in 1988. Back then she had almost no language. She would fixate on the movie Lady and the Tramp. We had 4 dogs already that she always ignored. One day we were in a pet store and Marcy started yelling “Lady” over and over again. She was pointing to this black and brown mutt that looked nothing like the dog in the movie. However she just kept pointing and saying “Lady” over and over again. I figured what’s one more dog and we brought “Lady” home with us. Marcy really took to this little puppy and Lady was incredible with her. The next day instead of going to the very back of the bus, ignoring the other kids like she usually did Marcy sat down next to one little girl and said her first sentence, “Marcy got dog, Lady.” That was the longest sentence she ever said. Today she speaks at autism conferences on what it was like growing up autistic especially at a time when no  one ever heard the word autism much less knew anything about it. She talks about being bullied, and all she went through.

When she was 12 the school she was at had a school wide art project where all students had to draw their favorite pet or animal. That was when I got a call from the school that they had never seen a 12 yr. old draw like she did. She never drew before because to her it wasn’t perfect. She has been in several art books, Drawing Autism, and the two Artism books. She was also one of only 12 autistic artists from across the country that was asked to the Heroes for Autism art auction in Hollywood. She has had art at the U.N. Plaza, Princeton, Soho Village, L.A., and she was even in a book on autism and art in Poland. The Queen of England even has one of her prints. Actors from the show Heroes and The Office have prints of hers and actress Kelly Le Brock has one of her originals.
Her website is www.crittersonthings.com

Mike Chimeri

Photography has played a key role at Mike Chimeri’s website since 2008. In addition to pictures of scenery and roadways, he also captures music performances. His biggest photography project each year has been of Smooth Jazz for Scholars, an annual benefit concert put together by keyboardist Jay Rowe in his hometown of Milford, Connecticut. His submission is a picture of guitarist Chieli Minucci (“key-L-e min-OO-chee”) from the 2012 Smooth Jazz for Scholars. (In the background are saxophonists Paul “Shilts” Weimar and Nelson Rangell.)
Mike also has a broadcasting background, hosting jazz radio shows at WCWP (FM and internet) and WGBB-AM, and briefly ran two contemporary jazz channels on Live365 Internet Radio.
You can see all his work at his website: http://mikechimeri.com/

NICK GUZMAN HAS BEEN A MUSIC LOVER SINCE EARLY CHILDHOOD.
With music in his soul and an ear for sound he quickly discovered The Beatles, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, The Monkees, Paul Simon and Cat Stevens, as well as most 60’s rock music. He began his own musical exploration on an old piano that had been stored in the garage when he was just six. It wasn’t long before tunes were wailing from the garage into recognizable songs. Music therapy lessons came next, followed by his father teaching him guitar and then regular piano and guitar lessons.

Music has been Nick’s crossover from days filled with frustration and insecurity to self-acceptance through his love of performing. It has been a gift that helps him continue to grow. While in high school, Nick was a member of the choir through most of his high school years. He enjoys writing his own songs on Garage Band. He is currently taking music courses at West Valley College in Saratoga, CA.

In 2006, Joey Travolta came to San Jose, CA to teach his film camps to children with Autism. Nick was then noticed for his musical talent. Soon after came TV and radio interviews and opportunities for him to perform.

In 2008 Joey Travolta and his music composer friend, Jeff Lass, co- wrote a song for Nick called “Since We’re Friends”. The filming of that music session was then added to a film called “ARTS, Disabilities, Possibilities and the Arts”, directed by Keri Bowers which includes Geri Jewel from Facts of Life, Temple Grandin, a doctor of Animal Science and an author, Donna Williams, a best-selling author, artist, singer-songwriter, screenwriter and sculptor, as well as others.

Nick is often a guest performer at various venues in the San Jose area and enjoys attending open mics weekly. He has performed for Autism organizations from San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, and San Jose. The next event will be The Fly Concert at The Grove in Los Angeles on October 4th, benefiting The Miracle Project. Guests are to include Jack Black, Stephen Stills, Holly Robinson Peete and Ellen DeGeneres.