A 14-year-old boy with moderate learning disabilities has shown such creative flair in making decorative wreaths that he received more than 100 orders in just one week.
Dominic Dance is a pupil at The Valley School in Stevenage, which is a secondary school specifically for children with special educational needs.
Last Christmas, Dominic decided to make a wreath for his mum, Sarah, for their front door, and the finished product left her astonished.
Sarah said: “We were so impressed with it we put a photo on Facebook, and then my friend ordered one. He had over 100 orders by the end of the week, and it was just three weeks until Christmas.
“People were so lovely and many even donated baubles. We couldn’t have asked for more. It was brilliant.”
Dominic has already started making wreaths for people for this Christmas - his favourite time of year - and so far he has about 40 orders, as well as orders for halloween wreaths and an invitation to attend a Christmas fete.
A candle company has even approached Dominic with a view to him making wreaths for the company’s 2,000 reps to display their candles.
Sarah said: “Part of his condition is that he’s a perfectionist, so each wreath takes him three hours to make and contains 100 baubles.
“He loves doing it and he was so pleased he could buy his whole family Christmas presents last year.
“It’s taken off again this year and we now have an official bauble room!
“He judges himself a lot and worries he won’t be able to get a job when he’s older, but he’s very talented and creative. “Whilst he is often judged for the things he can’t do, take a look at what he can do.”
Dominic said: “I like making them because it relaxes me. I also like seeing people happy when they collect their wreaths because I love Christmas.”
Dominic also intends to make wreaths for charities including London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital. Sarah said: “He can’t bear the thought of children being ill and wants to help where he can.”
If you would like to order a wreath for Halloween or Christmas, search for ‘Dominic’s Baubles’ on Facebook.
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