I started writing poetry when I was 7 years old. It has become my outlet and whenever I felt like sharing my feelings and thoughts, my poetry notebook was the one I shared them with. I was a sad little girl, who often thought about the meaning of life, my father and why I was so much different than all the other kids my age. That sadness had the strongest effect on my life and my creativity and it was the one emotion that has filled notebooks upon notebooks with poems as I was growing up.

In 1990 I have graduated high school with high grades and started working. I only worked for 3 months before I have turned 18, and then I was drafted to the Israeli military like every other 18yo in my country. I have found myself in the Air force and that is where I also found my soul mate and the man I married only 10 short months later. My husband and I have been together for 17 years and we've been happily married for over 16 years now. We are raising two wonderful boys, ages 15 and 12 and our life is far from boring!

In 2000 I have moved with my family to the US and by doing that I have fulfilled one of my earliest childhood dreams. I have started writing in English as well as Hebrew, went on a poets' forum and shared some of my poems with other wonderful poets there, as well as learning new forms of poetry, all while holding to another childhood dream of mine...having my poems published.

In 2002 My oldest son was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome and later on so was I and his brother. Once I was diagnosed I have decided to dedicate my time to helping children and adults on the Autistic Spectrum by speaking out and using my Art to educate others about Autistic Spectrum Disorders. 
Last year I have started my very own company, "Aurtistic-Spectrum", that combines the two together and I have also started  a group online for moms of kids on the Spectrum, in which I answer as many question as I can from my point of view; I have fulfilled my other childhood dream when I had one of my poems published in an anthology and later on another in a local newspaper as part of an article about Autism and Art (to read the article click here).

This year, I have decided to share my Poetry with the world by publishing my own poetry book; This book, is my poetic autobiography;  it is chronologically arranged and it includes chapters from childhood to adulthood through adolescence, motherhood, Asperger's and more.

My accomplishments:

poetry:

• Published my poem "The Mask" in an anthology "Loveliness Unfurled" in 2002
• Editor's Choice award December 2002 from Poetry.com
• Published the poem "My Reflection" in the newspaper "The Call", July 2007
• Published the poems: "Beyond the Silence", "Child in the Attic" in the AANE Journal, May 2008
• Published my book, The Alien In Me: Poetry by a Person with Asperger's Syndrome, July 14^th 2008
• Published the poem "Rocking" in the AANE Journal, May 2009

Art shows:

• June 14^th-August 3^rd 2007- Autism art show at TSETSE Gallery, Providence, RI
• September 12^th-22^nd 2007 my own Art show at CBI Synagogue, Woonsocket, RI
• October 2007- Art show for Autism at the Neurodevelopment center in Providence, RI
• September 12^th-23^rd 2008- 'The Art Spectrum' Autism art show at TSETSE Gallery, Providence, RI
• September 25^th 2008- 'Sense and Sensibility' art show for the Blind and visually impaired at TSETSE Gallery, New London, CT
   

Art shows+Poetry Reading:

• September 28^th 2007-back bay grand room in John Hancock hotel Boston, MA
• January 10^th 2008- Cambridge Multicultural Art Center, Boston, MA
• April 30^th 2008-  Concord free public Library, Cocord, MA
• May 3^rd 2008-  Honan Allston branch of the Boston Library, Boston, MA
• June 3^rd 2008- AANE Art show reception and reading at the Massachusetts State house in Boston
• October 25^th 2008- Poetry Reading / Book signing at  AANE  in Watertown, MA

Articles and interviews:

• Article on the cover of "The call" (local newspaper in northern RI and MA)- June 25^th 2007
• Article in "Haaretz" (a prestigious Israeli Newspaper)- June 29^th 2007
• 2 paintings and some info in "Chayim Acherim" (Israeli magazine) - 2007
• TV report and interview on NBC10- health check- July 20^th 2007
• Feature article on the cover of "The Call" (local newspaper in northern RI and MA)- August 24^th 2008
• Feature article in the community section of the "Jewish Voice & Herald" (distributed in southern MA and RI)- October 17^th 2008

Speaking Events:

• June 20^th 2007- my own speaking event at TSETSE Gallery, Providence, RI
• July  2007- my own speaking event at TSETSE Gallery, Providence, RI 
• May 31^st 2008- my own speaking event +Art show at the AANE office in Watertown, MA
• July 26^th2008 - panelist in the 2nd annual AANE adult Conference in Bentley College, Waltham, MA

Book Signings:

• August 23^rd 2008-  Book signing, Jewelry, crafts and prints sale at Barrington Books in Barrington, RI.
• September 13^th 2008- Book signing, Jewelry and art show at the public library in North Smithfield, RI.
• October 18^th 2008- Book signing, Jewelry and art show at the public library in Woonsocket, RI.
• October 25^th 2008- Poetry Reading / Book signing at  AANE  in Watertown, MA.
• December 20^th 2008- Book signing, Jewelry and prints sale at WaldenBooks in Warwick Mall in Warwick, RI.
• March 14t^th 2009- Book signing / Jewelry display at the Borders Book Store in North Attleboro, MA.

Additional Information:

I am working to raise awareness to Autism Spectrum Disorders and I'm doing so through my Art shows, Inspirational Speaking events, my special jewelry line, online group, and now my book.
I was on the local NBC TV channel and in several articles internationally and I hope that this book, "The Alien in Me", will raise more awareness and help many more people on the Spectrum to be heard, and to be understood.

My second book is in the making and it combines my poetry and my paintings from a series I call "The Aspie Series"- It will be a very special book that will show how my kids and I see the world from our Aspie point of view. People who have read some of its poems have said things like: "amazing", " the only thing that helped people around me understand what Asperger's is like", " beautiful",  "excellent and creative work!"

In April 2009 I have donated one of my Aspie Line's Jewelry sets to AANE . It was sold at their annual Gala auction at $75.

I have been working with AANE (The Asperger's Association of New England) for a few years now ( I had events at their office, been a speaker their conference and presented my artworkd many times at their Art Shows) . I  have Joined the AANE RI Chapter's Board in January 2009 and  in July 2009 , after I've been asked to become the Editor of the RI Chapter's Newsletter, I have started working on our first issue. I'm expecting it to come out tomorrow...isn't it exciting?!