Becky Flying (self portrait)
Rebecca was born with a division in the cleft of her corpus colosum.
Becky has difficulty perceiving depth the same way as you or I. Becky
does not use language in the same way we do. She can understand the
words we use but she relies on sign language to communicate. She also
has difficulty with spatial relationships.
I had the opportunity to work with Becky in an art class for three months.
We worked first on drawing different line types: squiggly lines, straight
lines, diagonal lines, and crossing lines. From there, we worked on
shapes: circles, squares, and triangles. To make it more fun for Becky,
I drew an airplane. Becky loves airplanes. Then, guiding her hand on
the pencil, we repeated the airplane. Gradually, over the next few weeks,
she began drawing, from memory her own version of the airplane. Each
day, when I asked her what she would like to draw, she would use the
sign for airplane. In this way, Becky learned to draw all of the basic
components used to create Becky’s Little Red Airplane. This is
my first collaboration with Becky and her first book. I am very proud
of her. – Loki
Ukulele Loki
Ukulele Loki is Aaron Johnson, a writer, performer, radio DJ,
and educator, serving seniors, children, and persons with disabilities.
He is the leader of the Boulder, Colorado group: The Gadabout
Orchestra and "Ukulele Loki's Vaudeville Variety Show."
He also co-hosts the classic honky-tonk radio program Route 78
West. Loki has several children's books in the works as well as
a full-length puppet musical. More information can be found at:
http://www.ukuleleloki.com
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