Art and autism
“Before she turned one, we started noticing that her eye contact was fleeting. Nina would also sit around just watching Disney videos, while her cousins and friends would be running around playing and interacting. She lost the few words that she had spoken at around 1. Then, she stopped talking and her eye contact regressed,” Lord Bantoto revealed about their firstborn and only daughter.
Parents know best
Most parents would brush these observations at that age, thinking that toddlers are still very young and they will be able to catch up. But Lord and his wife, Arlene, thought otherwise: “We were concerned and started to seek professional help. Eye contact is very important and social skills interaction with young children. Parents know best. Don’t wait.”
They sought the advice of doctors through friends’ and family’s recommendations. It took them a few years to be sure with the official diagnosis of autism at age three. Developmental pediatrician Dr. Alexis Reyes, and neuropsychologist Dr. Lourdes Kalaw Ledesma were both very honest and straightforward in informing the couple of the results. They were told that there was no cure for autism.
“This is a lifelong disease that will affect not only Nina, but us as well. We felt devastated on day one. Our hope for her future is like a mirror being shattered into a million pieces, but we immediately moved on because there were so many things to do for Nina. Dr. Reyes was very helpful and explained the benefits of early intervention,” shares Lord.
Teachers and mentors
When Nina was six years old, the parents were delighted to discover that she was able to recall the names, colors, and all the 50 characters (and in order) from the Mr. Happy book. “She really likes Disney characters and would draw them endlessly. So we got lots of paper, pencils, crayons and colorful books for her to copy and color,” remembers Lord.
Even when the family moved to China for work, the parents noticed that her drawing skills were improving at an exceptional pace. It was time to look for an art teacher for then 10-year-old Nina in the form of a woman named Ms. Wu. She was delighted with how quickly she was able to learn from her.
When the family moved back to Manila, they knew Nina had to continue her art lessons. The parents screened possible mentors, and wanted someone who Nina can have a good relationship with. “We were looking for an art mentor who could be her friend. One of my wife's colleagues at work recommended her daughter. Ms. Melli Villavicencio was an art major in her early 20s and she clicked instantly with Nina. That was the most important factor.”
Support, guide, and enrich
Nina’s world just got so much bigger, under the care of the teacher. Pop art forms such as animé and chibi are now part of her repertoire, but her favorites are still Disney characters and the local sarimanok. She also has a flair for abstracts, with mediums that range from pencils, crayons, watercolor and acrylic paints.
In between art classes, her parents made sure that they both encourage her as well. “She just likes to draw, so we just milked her interest. Find their obsessions (good, enjoyable, harmless) and turn them into something productive,” Lord proudly shares that they have over 40 artworks at home, and it’s a private collection that will be presented at the next exhibit.
Sharing her talent to the world
The family mounted Nina’s very first solo exhibit last November. “We felt it was the right time for her to showcase her works to the general public. As a parent, we are very protective of our children. And parents of children with special needs even more so. But with the encouragement of our family and friends, we finally agreed to showcase her talent outside our immediate circle,” shares Lord. The family also wanted to give back and support less privileged individuals with disabilities, by donating a portion of the proceeds to the Rehabilitation and Empowerment of Adults and Children with Handicap (REACH) foundation.
A crowd favorite was the Augmented Reality (AR) feature of her paintings, where they partnered with a developer to make her colorful artworks interactive. There was also a three panel set of supposedly abstract paintings where Nina challenges the viewers to look for the hidden Mickey Mouse, inspired from the Disney shows.
“One of our proudest moments was during the fashion show in New York where she was not only one of the featured artists but was chosen to speak in behalf of her fellow artists. People were amazed with her immense talent and attention to detail. Nina showed the world that she was not disabled but only differently abled. Her work together with her enthusiasm and positive outlook continue to inspire all those around her. And when you are able to touch people's hearts and move people's minds, that is a triumph worth all the challenges that she will face in the future.”