A brush with hope
Illustrator Law Wai-kit says although there's still some way to go before his special needs students can communicate in full capacity, he will continue to do his best to help them.
'I get more satisfaction out of teaching and helping these kids, than earning money from teaching other children,' Law says.
The illustrator has recently opened his personal art studio at Prince Edward.
Apart from teaching children how to do water and crayon painting, there are also courses which focus on the art syllabus of HKCEE and A-Levels.
Yet, what makes his studio special is the lessons offered to the mentally disabled, hyperactive, or suffering from infantile autism and Asperger syndrome.
One of the differences that he has spotted in the drawings of autism sufferers is that they lack perspective and that their patterns are very regular.
'Sometimes they act just like a scanner and a printer. They are able to draw accurately what they saw, but without much feelings,' he says.
Social worker C.Y. Li agrees. 'Normally, those suffering from autism have a lower level of creativity, and that their scope of interest is quite narrow,' Ms Li says.
'These children tend to show a high interest in bus and other means of transportation. Because of their exceptional interest in it, they are able to recall the details much better than other people.'
One of the examples that Ms Li mentioned was these children were able to draw even the threading patterns on tyres in detail.
The parents of some children also see some significant changes after they started the painting classes.
Liu Siu-kuen, the mother of a 14-year-old son who's suffering from autism, says there are major changes in him.
'He's now able to think with gradation. Before taking the classes, he only draws whatever interests him.
'He's capable of drawing things that are related to the topics assigned by Mr Law. He now possesses his own thinking,' Ms Liu says.
Another effect was allowing the students to express themselves through their drawings.
Law recalls one child drew a student being bullied at school. He later found out that the student in the picture was the painter himself.
'They are beginning to use their creativity and imagination, which is a good sign. I don't have big hopes of entirely changing their lives, but I hope I can do the best I can to help them,' he says.
For details on drawing lessons for special needs children, call 6385 1678.
