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Profiling Rick Hohn

Minister, artist, writer, consultant:
So much more than a watchmaker!

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Rick Hohn was born in 1947 with cerebral palsy. Even though it seriously affects his motor control, he doesn’t let it slow him down. For the first 25 years of his life, he was bursting at the seams with encouraging messages to share but was unable to fully express them. It was not until he had access to augmentative communication that he could fully share his thoughts. Rick currently expresses himself through many avenues, including working as an ordained minister, artist, writer, and consultant. He enjoys guest speaking in churches, schools, and other organizations.

For more on Rick's ministry: Use Google Advanced Search with this phrase: "Spirit Wheels Ministry" "Joni Eareckson Tada"

Rick as a minister:
One of Rick’s proudest accomplishments is being an ordained minister at a nonprofit substance abuse recovery center: Green Oak Ranch in Vista, California. Before Green Oak Ranch, he used to minister to residents of a local retirement home every Sunday. Before establishing his own ministry, he first evangelized with Joni Eareckson Tada in Moscow, Russia in 1993.

 

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For more on Rick's art: Use Google Advanced Search with this phrase: "Spirit Wheels Ministry"

Rick as an artist:
When Rick was 15-years-old, his mother taped a paintbrush to his (newly invented!) head pointer. They discovered that although his head pointer improved his communicative effectiveness, it also allowed him to paint. His first watercolor paintings were impressionistic landscapes. He didn’t take his artistic ability seriously until he sold two paintings for $75 each over 20 years ago. To develop his skills, Rick took lessons from a prominent artist named Roy Herweck.

Under Herweck’s guidance, Rick began with oil color paintings and strayed from traditional landscapes to hone his personal style. His art features people with disabilities and their victorious struggles in life. He has displayed his paintings at California University of San Diego, Abilities Unlimited, and other shows. Rick shares his talents by teaching oil painting classes for people with disabilities. Check out his paintings on Rick's web site gallery.

Rick is married and employed as an AAC Specialist with DynaVox Systems, LLC. He contributes to a variety of their projects including product development, nationwide public presentations, and writing a regular column in the international newsletter DynaVox Voices.

He recently published his autobiography More Than a Watchmaker. He chose this title because a doctor told his parents that Rick could do everything besides make watches. He indeed lived up to this prognosis!

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