Calel's Wacky Art Shirts: Spreading Autism Awareness, 1 Shirt at a Time

Even though the word autism is commonly heard, still there are several speculations about Autism and of the people affected by it. In the Philippines, it is estimated that there are around 1 million people living with Autism, yet not everybody can understand what it's like. The autism spectrum Disorder is a condition where a person who is diagnosed with it will not have the same experiences but are noticed by the core symptoms.

Meet Calel, he is a 6-year old who was diagnosed with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) at the age of four. A year ago, he discovered his love for animals and drawing and once he starts on a sketch pad he just cannot stop – his mother Marie, started posting his artwork on Facebook, when a friend commented that if in case the drawing is produced to be printed on a shirt – he definitely would buy.

After a few months, Marie launched Calel's Wacky Art Shirts for 3 reasons:

• to help with Calel's therapy needs
• to develop the business to eventually be taken over by Calel (when he gets older)
• to spread Autism awareness

As a parent of a boy with ADHD, I know how costly it is for the Occupational and Speech therapy. It came to a point that we weren't able to sustain his therapy needs because we couldn't afford it anymore. Just ADHD, kids with ASD need to attend SPED (Special Education) classes which can cost up to Php 60,000 a year. For every shirt purchased, this will help Calel's parents to make sure he gets the special treatments that he needs.

Calel's future is still unclear at the age of 6, he shows signs of progress but it is hard to tell if he will be able to live or yet alone become employed, if this becomes a success, Calel's Wacky Art shirts may become his own business to handle.

With the first batch of t-shirts printed and distributed, people who ordered started to ask about Calel and his condition – this helps Marie to talk about Autism and educate them on what Calel and their parents experience day-to-day including the highs and low.

There are so many designs to choose from and each is unique which you will surely love. T-shirts come in kids, men and women's sizes.

Calel's Wacky Art Shirts are being offered at introductory prices for the first 100 customers. 

For updates and designs, please visit Instagram.com/calelswackyartshirts

You may help Calel by purchasing a shirt through their Shopee account: https://shopee.ph/mamaneesshop

They are also accepting donations for art materials like sketchpads, crayons, colored pencils and pens.