My name is Vanessa Castro. I am a 30 year-old woman with cerebral palsy, and I use a communication device called a Light Writer to talk to people. In May 2003, I graduated from UC Berkeley with a bachelor degree in English and a minor in Education. I would love to work with children with or without disabilities and teach them about disability awareness and art. Besides drawing, I love writing. I have written and illustrated a children's book and working on getting it published. Right now I am in the process of writing and illustrating my second children's book.

I have always enjoyed doing art such as drawing, coloring, and painting. I particularly like drawing and using markers and colored pencils. As I start drawing, random ideas just come to me. I rarely know what the finished project is going to look like. All of my works are bright and I love using lots of different colors. I am the type of person who hardly ever gets mad or upset, so the brightness and colors in my work represents my personality. I would say that most of my drawings are fun and free spirited and are aimed towards children. When I do my drawings I get out of my wheelchair and sit on the floor. I am much more relaxed, comfortable, and I am able to move around when I am on the ground. Plus I have more control in writing and drawing with my hand out of my wheelchair.  People have consistently encouraged me of my artistic talent and pursue it as part of my future. I have been doing art for several years, and I love it. Hopefully, one day my drawings will be discovered and people will begin buying my work.

 For more information about my work please contact me by email: Nessnessva@aol.com. And let me know what you think of this site by signing the guestbook at the bottom of this page!