Emmett is a 16 year old young man living life beyond the complexities of Profound Non-verbal Autism & Intellectual Disability. He enjoys playing ice hockey, listening to music, outdoor walks in nature, baking, crafting and painting.  With complex communication needs and impulsive behaviors, Emmett began his Art journey inside the walls of a hospital when his behaviors associated with autism place him in crisis in July 2021. After being denied care from over 30 psychiatric med stabilization units, Emmett became a hostage to the failing mental system and remained in a medical hospital for 123 days. He was discharged in November 2021.

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During his hospitalization, Emmett spent hours upon hours creating art with his mother to pass the time. Emmett’s hospital room was decorated from floor to ceiling, on every wall, with the brightly colored images that covered the sterile walls with joy. In the 123 days there, Emmett was not permitted to go outside. He was confined to a room in a small unit and eventually moved to an even smaller room in a smaller unit, while he waited for an opening in a long term residential care facility.  He was discharge without care.  His next school placement didn't work out, and he returned to his local public school in the fall of 2022.  As Emmett approaches the end of his Junior year, High School has been challenging.  Emmett is back into crisis.  

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Emmett paints everyday, but over the last couple years, he has not produced any publishable work.  His time painting averages about 20 minutes a day now, in comparison of up to 3 hours a day in the past.  That's a great thing, becuase less time to paint and more time to live life!