At the recent MAYHO meeting, Zuloaga-Walker introduced me to several other moms who were about to begin a journaling art project. Active membership is over 300 mothers with children ranging in age from two months to age 26.

SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - Ana Zuloaga-Walker is the founder and program director for Mama, Art Your Heart Out, affectionately called MAYHO, a local social support group for moms with autistic children.

The group supports fellow autistic mamas in a social setting “by sharing experiences, offering support to one another and to help create community through art,” Zuloaga-Walker said.

MAYHO seeks to “provide supportive and creative spaces where mothers of autistic children can practice self-care, express themselves freely, form genuine connections and find strength in community.”

Autism is a developmental disorder with symptoms that appear within the first three years of life. Its formal diagnostic name is autism spectrum disorder. The word “spectrum” indicates that autism appears in different forms with varying levels of severity. That means that each individual with autism experiences their own unique strengths, symptoms and challenges.

Ana Zuloaga-Walker is the founder and program director for Mama, Art Your Heart Out, affectionately called MAYHO, a local social support group for moms with autistic children.

“I envisioned a space where mothers could come together without judgment and transform the grief, guilt, uncertainty, fear, and challenges they carried into connection, healing and art,” she said.

“Mama, Art Your Heart Out itself helps mothers with the joys, challenges, questions and emotions that come with raising and advocating for their children,” she said.

“Many parents who are struggling to find real-world solutions to their child’s autism challenges need to know that they are not alone,” she said. “And each person with autism has their own strengths, likes, dislikes, interests, challenges and skills, just like you do,” she said.

At the recent MAYHO meeting, Zuloaga-Walker introduced me to several other moms who were about to begin a journaling art project. Active membership is over 300 mothers with children ranging in age from two months to age 26.

Zuloaga-Walker is originally from Southern California. She moved with her mother to Sausalito at age 11 where she was surrounded by the creative spirit of the Bay Area, and where she said she developed a deep appreciation for art and self-expression at an early age. She has since earned a bachelor of arts degree in creative writing.

She remained in the Bay Area for most of her adult life before getting married, becoming the mother of two boys, both diagnosed with autism, and eventually moving to the Sacramento area. Her two boys are now young adults.

The informal setting provided a much-needed moment of respite for each participating mom who had their own heartfelt story to tell of endless love and tireless advocacy for their autistic children. Some have been with the group from the beginning, watching their children grow and overcome new challenges.

MAYHO could easily grow its membership in the greater Citrus Heights, Fair Oaks and Carmichael area as many more moms learn about the group and what it offers, she said.

The group supports fellow autistic mamas in a social setting “by sharing experiences, offering support to one another and to help create community through art,” Zuloaga-Walker said.

All moms of autistic children are welcome to join the group, she said.

“The population of young autistic children in our area is very substantial, and many mothers just don’t know that our group exists,” she said.

The recent evening art project focused on using words and images to express the feelings experienced while navigating the bureaucratic maze of finding available resources, identifying suitable day programs, and working with teachers and school districts to develop an Individualized Education Program (IEP) that may or may not adequately address a child’s unique needs. “As a mother, artist, writer and autism advocate, I believe creativity has the power to help us process our experiences, rediscover ourselves and remind us that we were never meant to do this alone,” she said.

Before founding “Mama, Art Your Heart Out,” Zuloaga-Walker created “Baby, Art Your Heart Out,” a community arts program supported by a grant from First 5 Sacramento. The program brought autistic children and their families together through sensory exploration and process art.

“After both of my sons were diagnosed with autism, I decided to become a full-time mother and advocate,” she said. “I quickly realized that if I wanted a community of people who truly understood what I was experiencing, I would have to help create one.”

MAYHO also offers a resource list of community and state resources and agencies for parents of autistic children. These include the ALTA Regional Center, FEAT - Families for Early Autism Treatment, and the Center for Autism and Related Disorders.

Upcoming MAYHO meetings are 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 25 and Friday, Oct. 16 in the community room of the Fair Oaks Library, 11601 Fair Oaks Blvd.

The group also has an active book club which meets twice a month and hosts occasional “Mamas Night Outs,” dinners, family gatherings and other events that support its vision.

The community group is also in need of donated art supplies and a permanent physical location with available storage.

Interested autistic moms can contact Ana Zuloaga-Walker for more information about MAYHO at: [email protected] or join the mother’s support group on Facebook at: facebook.com/groups/MAYHO