Kindred spirits — Children with special needs learn to express themselves through art

Barbara Flinn was searching for more opportunities for her wheelchair-bound daughter, Masha, 12.

Their home state of Wyoming didn't have much to offer, so the Flinns moved to Utah. Only a few months later, their desire is coming to pass, thanks to an art program Barbara and Masha enrolled in, Kindred Spirits.

"I just like meeting new people and learning about the art," Masha said. "I like the creativity of being able to plan (the art projects) and do them."

Barbara said the program has been so beneficial for her daughter.

"I've seen lots of happiness. She's really had fun and really enjoys it," Barbara said. "She doesn't get a chance to just relax. This has been amazing (and) ... she really looks forward to it."

Kindred Spirits is an integrated fine arts organization where children with and without disabilities work side by side, accompanied by parents or other caregivers, to learn about art and each other.

"To feel like you are helpless and you can't cure your kids (is a difficult thing)," said Kindred Spirits founder Alice Perreault Steubing. "You feel like you're isolated and don't fit into the real world anymore."

Perreault has had her own experience of what a life-changing event having a disabled child is. When her son, Julius, was born, he became trapped during birth without sufficient oxygen, which left him with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy.

Having been an artist for her entire life, Perreault knew she had to find a way back into the art world, and whatever she chose to do would involve Julius.

"I've been an artist my whole life, and to have that taken away from me, I had no definition of who I am," she said.

Finding the way back

Perreault's artistic career began at a young age. She earned her bachelor's degree from California College of Arts and her Master of Fine Arts from the University of Utah. Prior to Julius' birth, she taught at several universities.

With the birth of her son and all the unknowns about his condition, Perreault's entire world was altered. She spent the first two years of Julius' life researching so she would know how best to care for him.

"I needed to know what happened to him. He had a seizure disorder. It was intimidating. How could I ever understand that, and yet I began to," Perreault said. "With a brain injury, no one could tell me what to expect."