Autistic young man crafts his own jewellery and sells them

For Ryan, jewellery-making is more than just a hobby. Photos: The Star/Izzrafiq Alias

For the past six years, Ryan Kroon, 27, has been busy crafting and selling pieces of jewellery that he made using semi-precious stones, ceramic, wood and glass beads.

His mother, Subang Jaya-based Sri Lankan expatriate Rupika Jayamanne Kroon, 57, introduced jewellery-making to her autistic son so that he would be able to “do something positive” with his time.

“Ryan attended special school until he was 18. After that, my husband and I tried to introduce him to hobbies like painting and playing musical instruments. But he wasn’t interested in learning any of these skills.

“We also tried to get him a job as a typist but that didn’t work out as he isn’t good at taking instructions from people who are not family members.

“Ryan is diagnosed with low-functioning autism and is non-verbal. As parents, we were worried about his future. It wasn’t until Ryan was introduced to jewellery-making that we saw his true potential,” said Rupika.

Ryan with some of the jewellery he’s designed and made.It all started in 2015 when Rupika and her daughter Heidi Amanda signed up for jewellery-making lessons. Gradually, Rupika decided to teach her son to make jewellery too.

“To my surprise, Ryan took to it like a fish to water. He was able to manipulate the tiny beads and wires with ease. Within half an hour, he made 10 earrings of the same design. It quickly became clear that he had a natural talent for jewellery-making,” shared Rupika, a piano teacher.

Over the years, Ryan has honed his skills further and has created an impressive collection of beautiful jewellery pieces. From beautiful tiger’s eye bracelets and dangling quartz earrings to bold statement necklaces, Ryan’s jewellery reflects his personality – bright, colourful, and vibrant.

Initially, Ryan’s handcrafted items were sold to the Kroon’s close friends and family members. In 2017, Rupika decided to promote Ryan’s jewellery on social media.

“Ryan’s first jewellery piece was a earring with a teardrop-shaped glass bead. This inspired us to brand his work under the label ‘Ryan Raindrops Jewellery’,” explained the Singhalese mother of two who has been living in Malaysia since 2009. Her husband, Rowan Kroon, works in a logistics company in Klang.

Rupika is proud of her son and loves seeing the joy that making jewellery brings him. And, she’s noticed a significant improvement in his overall mood and behaviour since he started making jewellery. It has given him a sense of purpose and a way to channel his creativity, she says.

“For Ryan, jewellery-making is more than just a hobby. It is also a way for him to express himself and find joy in the world around him. In the past, he’d be moody and restless.

“Nowadays, he’s more settled and focused in his daily activities. He watches TV and plays games on his tablet when he isn’t making jewellery.”

Rupika (right) is happy that Ryan has found his passion through which he’s gained more self-confidence.

Joy in creating

Rupika, who is from Kandy in Sri Lanka, is thrilled that her only son has finally found his passion in jewellery-making. And she’s glad Ryan has found a way to earn a living doing what he loves.

Rupika and Heidi, 23, manage the business side of Ryan’s enterprise, including costing and promotions on his Instagram page and on Facebook.

But Ryan is involved in every step of the process, from selecting the beads he uses to packaging the finished product. Rupika orders most of the semi-precious stones and beads from India, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.

Crafting jewellery has improved Ryan’s self-confidence, Rupika says.

“He’s always so proud to receive some income by selling his jewellery. Ryan’s jewellery-making has also helped him to develop his social skills. He is much friendlier whenever we attend craft fairs to sell his jewellery.

Most of the semi-precious stones and beads are ordered from India, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.

“This has been a challenge for him, but it has also been a great opportunity for him to develop his communication skills.”

Rupika hopes Ryan’s story will inspire others with autism to pursue their passions and find joy in their unique way.

“Every autistic child has a hidden talent. It’s the parents responsibility to find out what it is. It’s not easy but parents must persevere and be patient.

“As for Ryan, I am grateful he can share his creativity with jewellery lovers,” said Rupika, who plans to offer free jewellery-making lessons to children on the spectrum.