WILLpower First Friday

"Building on a Boy's Dream"

The project began with Will taking digital photographs of places around town that he enjoyed. Next, he began drawing large scale renditions using only a pencil, ruler, and a keen eye for detail.

He then transferred his favorites to the garage walls, and the mural was created...building by building.

Each place has a story, or reason, why it is important to Will. This local restaurant is obviously a favorite that reminds Will of food, fun, and family!

Dr. Dale Gibbs, Professor Emeritus, University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Architecture, was impressed with Will’s gift. “It is rare to find someone who can increase the scale of a photo 8 or 10 times the original and keep it in nearly perfect perspective using only a pencil and a ruler. I have taught architects at the college level for more than 40 years and I would say that Will’s skill is that of a college sophomore.”

David Erickson, AIA, of Erickson Sullivan Architects, had an equally strong response. “Will has an uncommon sense of proportion, scale, and detail. His ability to create these 3-D renditions from photos exhibits an extreme control of pencil technique using only a straightedge ruler. His attention to detail goes beyond rendering of just the architectural forms, as shown by his inclusion of site elements, exterior lighting and interior features that become visible through the windowed areas of the buildings.”

Building on a Boy's Dream

How does building begin? It begins with a dream…it begins with a vision…it begins with hope. Will Lepinski’s dream is being built with hope, brick by brick.

Right before Will turned two, he stopped talking. He also stopped looking at people’s faces and responding to their words. Will tantrumed when anyone tried to interact with him, or interfered with his agenda. Will only slept for a few hours at a time and stopped eating the variety he had enjoyed. The child we knew had been taken by autism.

There is a foundation in every building, and Will’s foundation was strong. Autism had slammed into it and rocked it. It had crumbled the corners, but it stood…shaken, but sturdy. Will’s foundation was built by his family, their friends, and their faith. Our family researched and found out all we could. We were desperate to know how to help our son, who was continually slipping further away. Our friends rallied around with support and encouragement, continuing to where we are now. Our faith was the cornerstone, solidly reminding us that we had the strength to do whatever was needed for our son.
We diligently tried all the available avenues for testing, then teaching Will. Special education, speech therapy, play therapy, augmentative language, the list was endless. For two years, nothing seemed to make a difference. Will’s frustration grew and so did his behaviors.

What we were missing was the framework. We had the foundation, but were unable to build on it. After all our attempts, we found the structure Will needed to be able to understand and be understood. After two years, we found that we could reach our son through Applied Behavior Analysis, or ABA.

ABA, Applied Behavior Analysis, is a scientific, data-based approach to understanding behavior and learning that is professionally monitored to each child’s capacity and needs. It is available through The Lovaas Institute. This highly effective program focuses on discrete trial and incidental teaching to break down skills into manageable pieces and then builds on those skills so that a child can learn how to learn in the natural environment. This one-on-one program provides Will with the structure necessary for him for learn and interact successfully in all environments through a wide range of curriculum.

The day we began ABA, our son spoke for the first time in over two years. This program opened the door and allowed Will’s future to begin.

Will has enjoyed a minimum of eight hours of ABA therapy daily, and thrives in its components of positive interactions, motivation and errorless learning. The benefits are endless. For his family, ABA has empowered us through training and collaboration, brought talented and enthusiastic people into our home, and given us back our happy, bright-eyed boy. For Will, ABA has given him language, understanding, appropriate behavior, academics, humor, and uncovered a great personality. It has given him his life back.

Just as in building, Will’s dream began falling in place. Given the foundation and the framework, the rest started coming together. Will attended Lincoln Christian School and flourished under the support and encouragement of the students and staff. Will developed an interest in art, and began art lessons with Liz Shea-McCoy. Learning visually is a strength for Will, and his natural gift with drawing has allowed him a way to freely experience success without the constraints of the communication barriers of autism.

We credit finding Will’s gift to Liz Shea-McCoy who has been his art teacher beginning in 2003. Liz encouraged Will’s participation in StarArt, a Star City Art Project by the YWCA in 2006, as well as in aCross Lincoln, a celebration of faith through artwork sponsored by First Plymouth Congregational Church. Her dedication and commitment to Will is inspirational, and his talents continue to build under her support.

Now, after two years of work focusing on this project, Will and his family are hosting a First Friday Art Exhibit entitled “Building On A Boy’s Dream.” Beginning with a fascination for digital photography, Will traversed the city taking pictures of his favorite buildings from every angle imaginable. He then began drawing all those places in large scale, often spanning three to four feet. The garage provided an open canvas for his buildings and he voraciously drew every detail. Armed with only a ruler and a black sharpie, the garage became an architectural mural that we are now sharing. The exhibit is open to the public Friday, Dec. 4th from 4:00 – 6:30pm at 7545 Stevens Ridge Road. More information is available through Will’s website, willpowerindustries.com.

And so, the building of Will’s dream continues….with encouragement, love, hope, and a black sharpie!