His Challenge Became his Triumph! An Encouraging Story of Autism.

This is a re-posting, by request, of an amazing young man with a jaw-dropping talent that otherwise would have gone unnoticed if not for his supportive Mother. Be sure and ‘vote’ for Grant Manier in a on-line Wells Fargo contest that would allow Grant the funding to continue his Eco-Art! It just takes less than a minute: Vote Here

by: Jennifer Allen/Aspergers101.org

Grant Manier’s (pronounced maun-yay) life began as an unsolved puzzle. With his mother and father divorcing school life was a challenge as his elementary teachers and fellow classmates quickly grew tired of his ‘unusual’ behaviors. To cope with the school room triggers, Grant retreated to his own world of art which included tearing paper. The steady long ripping of the paper soothed him and lessened the stressors of loud sounds however teachers soon became tired of the interruption of outbursts and deemed Grant a distraction that was unsuitable for the mainstream classroom.

Enter someone who completely changed the direction of this young mans life. Grant has an amazing Mom that turned this story (and her son’s future) around with some  aggressive moves. She knew something was different with her son and definitely wasn’t working in the neuro-typical world she grew up in so she removed Grant from the school setting, decided to home-school her son and began the path of learning who he is and how they together could find a way to put this puzzle together once and for all. She knew her son had a form of High-Functioning Autism called Aspergers Syndrome.

I first met Julie Coy Manier through a mutual friend and upon talking with her over the phone, I quickly learned this quicksilver of a mom first loved her son and second held nothing back on his behalf!

So after getting the diagnosis of Aspergers Syndrome, Julie began learning all she could about how her son ticked. What were his motivators, what were his stressors and where were his unique gifts.

Remember the tearing of the paper that almost got him kicked out of the classroom? Julie started seeing a pattern to Grants attempts at art and soon those pieces of torn paper became a collage of unique yet outstanding artwork! You see Grant is a visual thinker and by seeing things in pictures he was an undiscovered artist and whenever he see’s an appealing object in a magazine, on TV or in person he is inspired to re-create that object by way of a collage or “COOLAGES” as he now proudly refers to them.

By by way recycled paper (think magazines, calendars wallpaper, posters and puzzle pieces) Grant will carefully lay 1000’s of   cut or torn recycled pieces of material per piece of art! His Mother ever at his side says she is preparing him for a life of independence through his artwork. No doubt! Grant, who is almost 20 years old, now speaks at Autism Conferences and Art Showings.  His Eco-friendly artwork is gaining national media attention while he has been honored with awards for his Eco-impressionism and outstanding contribution to the autism and special needs community. When I first met Grant and Julie face-to-face it was at an Autism Conference in Houston Texas where he and none other than Dr. Temple Grandin were co-presenting. 

“It’s obvious you’ve got a real talent” -Temple Grandin commenting on Grant Manier’s art

Dr. Grandin not only endorses Grant’s work she sat down with him to learn his methods! Julie Coy supplied us first hand with this inspiring session of these two sharing art and minds. Here is a video clip from that brainstorming session.

Grant’s view on having Autism? Prepare to be inspired!

This is a re-posting, by request, of an amazing young man with a jaw-dropping talent that otherwise would have gone unnoticed if not for his supportive Mother. Be sure and ‘vote’ for Grant Manier in a on-line Wells Fargo contest that would allow Grant the funding to continue his Eco-Art! It just takes less than a minute: Vote Here

 To learn more about Grant, his artwork or to schedule an appearance to to: Grant’s Eco-Art