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PROCESS BOOK

IM AN ADULT
NOT A CHILD

BY ZACH BLUMSTEIN

RYAN ANCELL
CREATIVE DIRECTOR

ZACH SZOTT
ASSISTANT PHOTOGRAPHER

GRANT BOUFFORD
LIGHTING

JOHN SIPPEL
ZACH SZOTT
MODELS
ASSISTANT DESIGNER

HARRY MASTERS
AUDIO TECHNION

Ryan Harris Jelinowicz

ACTORS /CHARACTERS IN THE BOOK
MEGAN

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Problem: In genral special needs adults

have trouble holding a job and living in
society because they are perceived as a kid
and not as an adult. I've seen this all nine of
the years I've volunteered at the Friendship
Circle, a non-profit that empowers
individuals to be friends with special needs
and not treat them like the other.
Solution: I am an Adult not a Child is a book
and a documentary. The book is a day in
the life of 3 different special needs adults
and the struggles they have to overcome
not only their disability but their past
struggles. Those struggles include bullies,
Dropping out of school, feeling
misunderstood and more.
The Documentary show's that special
needs people can hold a job and
sometimes that job involves being an artist.

THE INNITIAL IDEAS

An Installation about
Crohns and Colitis

Gardening
at Eden Garden

The compelling story

The compelling story

This project will inform people about Crohns and Colitis

a painful disease. Not only will I make this my passion project
I want to take better care of my disease. I havent really made an
efforts to take care of myself. I want to inform the public about
others like me and how their disease has affected their life.
I want this to have the impact of many of the cancer campaigns.

Eden garden is a big part of getting Jews involved with

caring about Detroit. This is about helping make
Detroit green and fresh. Pairing with Repair the World will give
me the tools I need to support this cause.

The Story Continued

After I graduate I want to continue my

advocacy for Crohns and Colitis.

Not only can I presentation how green Detroit is, but

I can promote the fact that their is room for improvement.
Journaling about my experiences while gardening
can be a good way to reflect on the experience.
THE STORY CONTINUED

I want to continue to find other ways I can

contribute to Repair the World and Eden Gardens.
It is my duty to make these foundations grow.

PORTRAITS
OF SPECIAL NEEDS

Illustrated
Fairy Tale

The compelling story

The compelling story

Special needs adults are just like us, though that isnt a universal
idea. Sophisticated authentic photos of special needs kids will
contribute
to the idea that these kids are just like us. However, I will pair
how they feel about being different, or what others could do to
make them feel included with these photos. People should be
compelled to look at kids with special needs differently instead of
grouping them into one category.

Reading The Arabian Nights inspired me to write a short fairy

tale.
Finishing this fairy tale is a goal I have set for myself. I want to
turn it into an illustrated novel. Ive only written short stories. Ive
never really extended them. My goal is to finally be a published
novelist. I think its interesting for others to learn about the Middle East of the past.

THE STORY CONTINUED

Before school started I had class at the same time as when

volunteering took place. I was once an active volunteer at the
Friendship Circle. Now I want this project to continue my volunteer work at the Friendship Circle.

THE STORY CONTINUED

I want to continue writing and illustrating

stories. even after Ive graduated.

Designed Talit

Illustrated Memoir About Israel

The compelling story

The compelling story

A tallit is a Jewish prayer shall. One of the highlights

of my Jewish life was being bar mitzvahed when I was 13. I
want to create a tallit for a kid who cant afford one. My target
audience will be thankful for me helping make their mitzvahs
memorable.

I found lots of inspiration in Israel especially when I

traveled the country on my own. People have always been
interested in traveling to Israel, but they only spend week I spent
a month. I want to share what inspired me throught my month
in Israel.

THE STORY CONTINUED

THE STORY CONTINUED

I havent been as active in the Jewish community

as of late and I would like to give back to the
Jewish community. This will help me give me
a unique role in the Jewish community going forward

I want to continue writing stories and illustrating them even after

Ive graduated. I plan on taking more exciting trips too.

PHOTO SHOOTS
To make the cover what it is I needed
to practice running a photo shoot.

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GRAPHIC STYLE

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SOUL

SOUL

by zach

by zach

By Zachary Blumstein

PORTRAITS
OF THE

PORTRAITS OF THE

PORTRAITS OF THE

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by zach

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By
Zachary Blumstein

PORTRAITS
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SOUL

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By Zachary Blumstein

By Zachary Blumstein

by zach

PORTRAITS
OF THE

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By Zachary Blumstein

By Zachary Blumstein

PORTRAITS OF THE

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PORTRAITS

SOUL
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SOUL
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By Zachary Blumstein

SOUL

SOUL
SOUL

PORTRAITS OF THE

By Zachary Blumstein

SOUL
By Zachary Blumstein

PORTRAITS OF THE

SOUL

SOUL

By Zachary Blumstein

By Zachary Blumstein

PORTRAITS OF THE

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PORTRAITS OF THE

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By Zachary Blumstein

By Zachary Blumstein

PORTRAITS OF THE

SOUL
By Zachary Blumstein

By Zachary Blumstein

By Zachary Blumstein
By Zachary Blumstein

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Blumstein
By Zachary
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PORTRAITS OF THE

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By Zachary Blumstein

PORTRAITS
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PORTRAITS OF THE

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by PORTRAITS
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PORTRAITS OF THE

SOUL

By Zachary
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By Zachary
Blumstein

PORTRAITS OF THE
PORTRAITS OF THE

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PORTRAITS OF THE

PORTRAITS OF THE

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PORTRAITS OF THE

SOUL
By Zachary Blumstein

By Zachary Blumstein

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By Zachary Blumstein

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SOULSOUL
SOUL
SOUL

PORTRAITS OF THE
PORTRAITS OF THE
By Zachary Blumstein
By Zachary Blumstein

By Zachary Blumstein

PORTRAITS OF THE

SOUL

By Zachary Blumstein

PORTRAITS OF THE

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SOUL
PORTRAITS OF THE

PORTRAITS OF THE

SOUL

By Zachary Blumstein

PORTRAITS OF THE

PORTRAITS OF THE

SOUL

SOUL

By Zachary Blumstein

PORTRAITS OF THE

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By Zachary Blumstein

PORTRAITS OF THE

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By Zachary Blumstein

PORTRAITS OF THE

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PORTRAITS OF THE

By Zachary Blumstein

PORTRAITS OF THE

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By Zachary Blumstein

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PORTRAITS OF THE

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ILLUSTRATION STYLE
After spending time with the special
needs adults I learned a lot about
them. And I wanted to draw them to
show how I saw them not how they
looked.

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INTERVIEWS
I wanted to show in the
documentary a 360 degree view of
the life of a special needs adult so I
interviewed a person who runs an
organization who helpes special
needs adults, a person who knew
use to know special needs adults as
a kid, an avid volunteer with special
needs adults, and a social worker.

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Questions for
Stanley
SURFACE QUESTIONS

Whos your best friend?

QUESTIONS FROM THE PAST

How were you treated as a kid?

How do people see you
differently now that you are an adult?

What do you want to be

When you grow up?

If you had a time machine and you

could go back and change one thing
what would that be?

What do you love

Where have you traveled to?

about your family?

Are you an artist?
What do your parents
do for a living?
What inspires your art?
Do you have any pets?
What do you do in your free time?
What is your favorite food?

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE

What do you want to

be remembered for?
If you could change society
what would you change?
How are you changing the world?
Have you set any goals for your self?

Are you a good listener?

Where do you see yourself in 20

What is your favorite sports team?

years?

Are you a hard worker?

Do you have a talent that

DEEPER QUESTIONS

no one else has?

What qualities do you look for

in a best friend?
What accomplishments
are you proud of?
Do you see your self as an equal?
When you set your mind
to something do you do it?
What is one thing most
people dont know about you?

Takeaways: who he is
besides his disease.
Has has is past hindered
how he is perceived.

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Questions for
Jordan

Are all special needs adults

treated like a human being?

Ablout his Job at the Frienship Circle

What do you mean by friendship?

What kind of programs

get you excited?

How do you define friendship?

Why is Chabad running a Special

out of your own team?

How do you get the best

Needs Organization?
How are the programs at the
Friendship Circle changing to fit my
friends now that they are adults?

What can I do to make sure people

are treated fairly when I volunteer?

How long do you see

yourself at Friendship Circle?

How does art help special needs

adults who may have been
mistreated and bullied as a kid?

How do you make sure your having

a good time or other people around
you are having a good time.?
About Friendship in General

what gets you up in the morning and

gets you going?
ART THEROPY

Do you have any examples of

friendships that have stood the test
of time at Friendship Circle?

What does art do for people with

special needs?

About Special Needs People.

JUEDAISM AND AUTISM

What talents do some

special needs people have?

Are there any stories from the torah

that inspire you to help the the
special needs?

Whats changed for people with

special needs now that they are
adults?

Is there a certain pride that a special

needs adults gets from making art?

Is being an adult easy for

special needs people.

Is there a fear to selling your art?

Why is finding a job hard for someone with special needs?

How can I help people feel included?

Takeaways: Learn about

working day to day with
special needs adults.

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Questions for
Jordy and Carry

Talents

Intro:

What kind of talents does jordy have

Could you describe

your relationship with jordy?

What does art therapy

do for people like jordy

How long have you known Jordy?

Independence

Could you talk a bit

about jordy when you first met him.
What are some ways
that jordy inspires you?
What were some
of his struggles growing up.
What improvements has jordy made?
Goals and future

Has Jordy ever traveled?

Are group homes good for people like

jordy. Like does it bring the
independence that jordy needs?
Have you every seen Jordy treated like
a child and what was your reaction?
What about anyone with special needs
Does jordy have a job?

Has Jordy set any

future goals for himself
What are some of the ways youre
helping jordy reach his goals?
How can other people help jordy reach
his dreams and goals

Takeaways: Learn about

working day to day with
special needs adults.

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Questions for Arelene

About Megan

Did you know that megans

brother owns a wine distribution
company.
Where does megan get her positivity from its so infectious?
Did you know megan was made
fun of at school. Im just interested
into like. What happened to her
she told me she was called four
eyes.
Did you know that megan
loves to scrapbook?
Broader Questions

Why is it hard for some people

to choose to go to college while
others choose not to
How do you think people with special needs like autism, skitizfrania,
or ADHD are marginalized?
Why is getting a job so hard for

How are you advocating for people with special needs?

Why do people isolate themselves?
and what are some of the ways
that they preform this isolation?
What pressures are on people
with special needs that can cause
stress?
because like I was trying to
help this girl draw at the place I
volunteer and she was gripping
the pencil so tightly intact a lot of
them do this.
What kinda talents have you seen
among people with special needs
What has someone with autism
taught you?
lets talk about CCS
How has being at CCS helped
some of the students I know
struggling with a social disorder or
a mental disorder

them?
What does art do for them?

Takeaways: Learn about

working day to day with
special needs adults.

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Questions for Morison

About Jordy

Tell me about the group of special needs

who came to visit
Were the individuals able to talk about
the art? and did that make it difficult on
you?

Broader Questions

Did you know anyone who was special

needs when you were growing up? Did
you see a differnce between the ones
you knew growing up and the ones you
took around in the art gallery?
Does your cousin go to school?
How was the walk threw differnt for the
special needs then a normal walk threw
Do any of the artists that show at Mocad
have special needs that you know of.
Did you know anyone iin your graduating
class who had special needs?
Do you see isolation as a problem for
people with special needs.
Do you see social isolation in any of the
friends you have personally?
Are people with social anxioting finding a
way to make art that fits at mocad?

Takeaways: Learn from

someone who isn't
around special needs
people every day about
her past experiences
with them.

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FREE
WRITING

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EDITS

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