I am autistic and was also diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder. I want to make a difference in the world. When I was 5, a panel of doctors told my parents that I would never make friends, never go to school, never make anything of myself, and when I would be an adult that I would have to be put away for the rest of my life. It was a devastating thing for a parent to hear. I am living proof that anything could happen and I want to spread that message. I have been through rough times, people in middle and high school attacked me physically, verbally, and emotionally on a daily basis. I am now a famous artist and am going to be in at least 3 magazines next year, probably more. I want to speak at autism and mental health conferences. I want to tell people with disabilities or parents of those with disabilities that everyone has a gift, they just have to find it. I didn't start drawing until I was 12 and am 25 now. My fine art cards are in over 20 stores in Washington State including zoos, casinos, pet stores, flower shops, galleries, and other stores. Just because you have a terrible label on your head, doesn't mean it will be there forever. I started coming out of autism when I got a dog named Lady. I was fixating on the movie Lady and the Tramp. Then at 12 i discovered my art talent at school when we were doing a project. I believe that disabled people are more capable than you think. When I was severely autistic, I would scream if something was off or different, not make eye contact, I wouldn't be talking or socializing with people at all. It was truly a miracle. I am a success story and I will give other people hope and inspiration that anything that they put their mind to can happen. When my business gets huge, I also am planning of donating some of the profit to different organizations. I want to help people. I also want to speak at NAMI conferences. That is the one for mental disorders. I have many friends with schizophrenia and I think they are much more capable than others think. They are friendly and intelligent. I think they can hold a decent job and make money, not just be on Social Security and be poor for the rest of their lives. One of those magazines that I am going to be in is Dog Fancy. It is coming out next year. I am a pet portrait artist, a marine life artist, and a wildlife artist. I love animals and that is how I connect to the world. I also plan if children's hospitals order my cards (my scenes are perfect for kids- they have bright colors and animals) I will spend a day with the children drawing with them. I am also planning to write a book about my story and also illustrate a children's book which we wrote a long time ago but it isn't illustrated yet or sent to a publisher. It is an educational book about the rainforest. I want to travel the world with all the information and inspiration that I have.