The Unexpected Gift: Autism & Music | Gwendolyn and Zayne Harshaw

At 4 years old Zayne was diagnosed with autism. Gwen will share how they found strength through Zayne’s gifts instead of focusing on his weaknesses. Today, Zayne is a member of the band Blue Spectrum which has 2 other autistic members. He taught himself to play the guitar. Music has really transformed him from a painfully shy boy to an extremely confident musician. Gwen’s son’s diagnosis has transformed her life. She works in the special needs community and is on 4 boards related to special needs & autism: Ohio State Independent Living Council, Arts & Autism Institute, Food for Good Thought, Center for Autism Services & Transition. Gwen is also involved with managing and marketing Zayne’s band Blue Spectrum as well as volunteering in related events. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx