The Paparella Innovative Art Program
Program instructor Kamila Miszelska has pioneered the development and implementation of this innovative program. Kamila’s love of art lead her to pursue her undergraduate degree in fine arts at McMaster University. Her passion for bringing the love of creating art has benefited hundreds of aspiring artists with special needs. Kamila brings her passion for art to each and every class and teaches individuals to find their creative side and focus on art as a fun and meaningful exercise.
The art program is expanding through new connections with the larger Hamilton community.
A recent highlight was 2024’s Puppet-Making Workshop, where participants spent weeks creating unique and elaborate puppets, bringing their imagination to life.
On My Way projects pair the developmentally disabled individuals we support with Hamilton artists who help them create a shareable expression of their needs and goals.
For David, that meant collaborating with an artist and author to create a written and graphic narrative that will be printed for his caregivers and loved ones to have and refer to.
Using art as a means of communication helps David on his way to a more fulfilling life. Stay tuned for more On My Way collaborations and stories throughout 2025!.
To donate to the Paparella Innovative Arts Centre a cheque can be mailed to or dropped of in person at:
533 Main St E
Hamilton, ON
L8M-1H9
Canada
Digital Art
The Digital Art Therapy program at the Salvation Army Lawson Ministries Hamilton Autism Centre (SALMH) provides adults with ASD an opportunity to create digital art on password protected touchscreen devices (i.e., Dell 15-inch touchscreen laptops and Dell 55-inch 4K interactive Monitor using a variety of art-making apps. The program is best suited for individuals with high sensory sensitivities who prefer creating in a mess-free, texture-free artistic environment. While creating digital art, verbal participants have an opportunity to engage in dialogues with the art therapists regarding their daily activities, emotions, hopes, favourite interests, and upcoming family and community events. Non-verbal participants undergo personal self-expression through digital art-making.
Facilitator:
Olena Darewych, PhD, RP, RCAT is a Registered Psychotherapist in Ontario, a Registered Canadian Art Therapist and Adjunct Faculty at Wilfrid Laurier University and Adler University. Clinically, she has 17 years of experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and older adults in a variety of settings such as hospitals, child and family services, schools, and long term-care facilities in Australia, Canada, USA and Ukraine. Her current research investigates imagination in adults with autism using arts-based assessments.
Digital Art Therapy Project funded by Unity for Autism