Autism...A Different Gift

Story and photos courtesy of 
Dianna Melton

The Texas House of Representatives has an annual tradition of putting up and decorating a 20-foot Texas-grown Christmas tree in the House Chamber.  The ornament created by Alexia Ridge was selected to be hung on the tree for House District 1 this Christmas season.    

Alexia, a 12th grade Hooks student, is a member of the Western Bowie County Shared Services Arrangement Life Skills class located on the New Boston High School campus.  She shares the Life Skills classroom with ten classmates with the Autism Spectrum Disorder.  She created the ornament by painting a large Christmas gift tied with autism, symbol ribbon (puzzle pieces) with the inscription, “Autism........a different gift.”  Autism is very prevalent in the world and in this area.  According to the CDC, the national rate of Autism Spectrum Disorder is one in every 59 children; one in every 57 boys born and one in every 151 girls born in the United States.  

Alexia began her art study in the adaptive art class at New Boston High School.  It was soon recognized that she is a very talented artist and she was placed in the Art 4 class.  Kaitlyn Hays is the art instructor at New Boston High School.  

“I was very excited that Alexia’s ornament was selected to be hung on the Christmas tree in the House Chamber.  I hope to see Alexia continue some type of work in the art field when she graduates,” commented Dianna Melton, Alexia’s life skills teacher.  

Pictured  is the Christmas ornament honoring those with the Autism Spectrum Disorder.  The ornament shows a Christmas gift tied with autism symbol ribbon of puzzle pieces with the inscription, “Autism........a different gift.”