“My artwork is a way of discovering my feelings and expressing them in my art. I have discovered that even with many challenges I can find ways to do what other people do. I just do it differently.”

Jennifer Jacques started taking art classes in the sixth grade, but did not continue her exploration of art until recently. One of her teachers, Joan Feierabend, introduced her to painting through an innovative method of using the wheelchair as a tool to create the final work of art. Jennifer, who has quadriplegia due to cerebral palsy, uses a DynaVox to speak, a computer to write, and a power chair for mobility. Art has allowed her the freedom of choice and a way to express herself. Jennifer chooses the color, instructs a facilitator on placement within the page, and then personalizes the design with the use of her power chair. “Art is something I can enjoy,” she explains. Her bold, abstract compositions embody energy and raw emotion. Jennifer is a senior at Chelsea High School in Vermont.

Heaven, acrylic (34" x 20")