If you know me, you know art is my life. At Miss-Vee Art Studio, paint and canvas are really just a big part of something even bigger for me: raising awareness for people with special needs, especially those living with invisible disabilities.
This mission comes straight from my heart and my own home.
Before turning to art full-time, I was an educator but my absolute biggest role in life has been being a mom to my 20-year-old son. Growing up with mild learning disabilities, everyday things like reading, writing, and math were real hurdles for him. Even today, concepts at or above a Grade 4 level are a constant challenge.
Navigating school with him was tough, but a huge turning point for us was his time at the Lady Gordon Opportunity Centre. It was a total lifesaver for both of us! Mrs. Savory organized workshops for us parents that felt less like meetings and more like a safe space a true support group. We’d sit together, share our struggles, and figure out how to handle everyday issues. We truly learned so much from one another.
That experience pushed me to dive deep into my own research to better understand what my son, and other kids like him, were going through. Over time, the pieces started fitting together. I took everything I learned as a mom and brought it right into my classroom, which made me a much better, more empathetic teacher for kids who were academically challenged or slow learners.
People often ask me, what actually is an invisible disability?
Simply put, it’s a condition you can’t see from the outside. In young kids, it doesn't show up as a physical impairment it looks like struggling to follow multi-step directions, getting super overwhelmed or frustrated during simple reading or math tasks, or having a emotional meltdown because they’re sensory-overloaded or anxious about not keeping up. Because you can't "see" it, these kids often get unfairly labeled as "unfocused" or "disobedient" when they’re really just trying their best to process the world around them.
And that’s exactly where art comes in.
Where traditional schoolwork demands words and numbers, art gives kids a voice without any of that pressure:
Zero pressure to be "right": There are no wrong answers in art. A brushstroke doesn't come with a grade attached!
Sensory comfort: Working with paint, clay, and textures naturally helps kids regulate their senses and build fine motor skills in a calm way.
Pure confidence: Finishing a artwork gives a child that amazing "I made this!" feeling, rebuilding self-esteem that gets knocked down in standard classrooms.
My journey as a mother completely changed how I see people, and that perspective goes into every single workshop, mural, and class I run down at La Place Carenage. Art has a way of opening doors when words just aren't enough.
Thanks for listening and for being a part of this journey with me!
Warmly,
Sadia (Miss-Vee)
(Photo: Geo's Adventure Summer Camp 2024)