Hello! My name is Layla; I am 21 years old, and I have Autism and Anxiety Disorder. I am an athlete, advocate, actor, artist, and philanthropist who dreams of being an inspiration to others with special needs. I have been using art to express myself and to help calm my anxiety for all of my life! I paint, draw, sculpt, bead, craft, sew and wood burn. I have taught myself everything I have learned about art and hope to one day have a teacher.
I often use my art to raise money for charities involving special needs! When I’m not trying to learn new techniques, I can usually be found outside! I love to be in the fresh air and to be very active! I compete in 7 sports for the Special Olympics and I am currently playing goalie for the Florida Panthers Adaptive hockey team. But I spend a lot of my free time competing in water sports as well!
I love the ocean and all of the creatures in it! I hope to travel the world and paint my trip into a book one day!
My art is available on Facebook and Instagram at Dancing Red Panda Art by Layla, and I take commissions and can customize all of my work!
Hello! My name is Indiana Crehan, I create and sell my art under the name, Indiana Phoenix. I am 20 years old and I have Severe Nonverbal Autism, Dyspraxia, Auditory Processing Disorder and C-PTSD. I started making art by creating with yarn. Due to my dyspraxia I was unable to use a paintbrush or pencil. Now after years of therapy and hard work, I draw, paint with acrylic, watercolor and recently started shooting photography. I love to swim and just recently started ice skating and playing hockey for the Panthers Adaptive Hockey team learning new hockey skills! My mom pulled me out of school in March of 2025 to help me begin healing from trauma that I had suffered there and she ended up finding a new passion for me.
I love making soap! I started making soap in August of last year, opened a business in September and now I have 20 products! My business is called Little Wonders by Indiana Phoenix and you can find me on Instagram and Facebook. My art is available for sale through that store.
If you’d like to follow my story, I am on Facebook and Instagram as Indiana Phoenix Rising! That is where I post about my internship with Additional Needs Inc, where I am learning work skills and all of my personal dreams and achievements!
