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"Autistic Artist Receives National Attention"

An amazing artist is getting national attention for her gifted ability, and she's only 12 years old.

But what is even more impressive is that the young lady also has autism.

Cooking dinner is just one of the ways Leisa Hammett and her daughter, Grace Goad, interact with each other...in a non-traditional way.
Doctors diagnosed Grace with autism when she was three years old. Her mother put her in all of the typical therapies, including speech, occupational and behavioral.

"After about a year of that I thought you know this is so rigorous and so ruling. Where are the joys of being a child?"

Leisa decided to be creative, and find a more interesting way for her daughter to receive therapy, she started taking her to an art therapist.
"At 4 years of age, we found out Grace had talent as an artist."

So much talent, that now, eight years later, Grace's work can be seen all over town. Not just in private collections, but also at TPAC, the Green Hills Mall, and the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Human development.
Leisa continues to take her daughter to an art therapist, following good advice she once received.

"Find that thing your child excels at around 12 years old and that will be their social network, that will be their career.Well we found it at 4 years old."

Leisa sees the painting as Grace's way to spread her message, but her mom is using a more literal form of communication. She has written a book that talks about the life of a parent raising a child with autism.

"The message is, yes, this is a struggle, a loss of expectations and heartaches, but there's also joy and hopes and blessings on this journey."

Leisa and her daughter, grace will appear on "the View" on Monday morning. They will be joined by several other families who will all be talking about autism.