Published: May 04, 2008 12:21 am            

Local teen using events to promote awareness

A 12-year-old Enid artist and singer has made the rounds this spring — first as a guest at United Nations headquarters and the New York Stock Exchange in early April, then as a performer at a Las Vegas fundraising event just a week ago featuring major recording artists and world famous actors.

Amanda LaMunyon may only be 13, but she’s made a big impact across the U.S. in the month of April — all for autism awareness.

On April 2, Amanda and her parents, Sherry and Dana LaMunyon, attended the United Nations exhibition as part of World Autism Awareness Day. Amanda’s art was featured as part of the U.N. exhibition “Don’t ‘dis the ability.” Amanda also spoke to a group of dignitaries and posed for photos. She also joined Suzanne and Bob Wright, co-founders of Autism Speaks, at the New York Stock Exchange to ring the bell to open the trading day.

She also was selected to perform at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas at a Lili Claire Foundation fundraiser.

The Lili Claire Foundation, founded by Lili Claire’s parents, Keith and Leslie Litt-Resnick, helps enhance the lives of individuals with neurogenetic disorders.

The Resnicks resolved to share the promise they made to their daughter with other children like her, who live with these types of disorders. They created the foundation in 1998 to help enhance the lives of these individuals and their families through medical and social services. Additionally, the Lili Claire Foundation strives to encourage these children and young adults so they may discover their innate talents and abilities and live productive, independent lives, according to the foundation Web site.

Amanda met with the Resnicks while in Las Vegas last week and she sang “Dream a Little Dream,” Keith Resnick’s favorite lullaby to sing to his daughter, at the event. The fundraiser was headlined by the Goo Goo Dolls, major studio recording artists.

Amanda is working on a painting of Lili Claire and hopes to present it to the Resnicks.

“It is very special they are inviting her to sing,” Sherry LaMunyon said just days before they traveled to Las Vegas.

Amanda has high-performing Asperger’s, a form of autism.

“It all started when I was 7 years old and I couldn’t sit still in school,” Amanda said, adding she had trouble focusing.

But Amanda is now homeschooled and she has found her niche through art and performing.

After her first art lesson with artist Lillian Foulks, her mother said the teacher was impressed with her abilities.

“She said ‘I think this girl can paint,’” Sherry said.

She also can write poetry and she is able to interpret lyrics into beautiful paintings. She recited her poem, “A Little Secret” during her visit to New York.

She also signed copies of “Girls Under The Umbrella of Autism Spectrum Disorders,” which features her painting on the book cover.

Her list of accomplishments is staggering for someone of any age and include: Being featured in magazines such as Duke University’s “Academic 411,” Middlers “Leader’s Guide,” Duke’s “Letter” and “Navigator” magazines, “Woman’s World” magazine, Amazing_Kids.org’s “E Magazine” and “Pearls” magazine (Australia). She also was named one of the state’s five most talented kids by an Oklahoma City television station. They featured her in a story about overcoming challenges. She also has won a state speech meet with her poetry. She is Oklahoma’s National American Miss spokesmodel and won the National American Miss National Volunteer Award in 2006.

In many ways, Amanda isn’t unlike other 13 year olds. She likes to swim, ride a four-wheeler, sew clothes for her Webkins and play computer and video games. She even occasionally argues with her older brother JPaul, 22.

But other things she does aren’t typical of kids her age. She loves Broadway music and, in addition to art lessons, she meets with Corinne Gooch for voice lessons.

She also spends a lot of time volunteering. She works with the Children’s Medical Research Institute and the Children’s Miracle Network. Amanda said volunteering helps her by allowing her to meet others with greater needs than her own.

Amanda shares her artwork, both locally and abroad. Besides the portrait of Lili Claire Resnick she is working on, she gave former First Lady Nancy Reagan a painting of the late president and just recently she presented Nevada First Lady Dawn Gibbons with a piece to hang in the governor’s mansion.

Amanda said she loves the fact her paintings are hanging in such places of distinction.

“It makes me feel special and I like to belong,” Amanda said.