The Telepathy Tapes BONUS: Archipelago at the Treffert Center
Nov 6, 2025
Jeremy Chapman, a child and adolescent psychiatrist, outlines the mission behind Treffert Studios and the Archipelago event for savants. Janice DeBlois shares the inspiring journey of her son Tony, a blind autistic musical savant with a vast repertoire and improvisational skills. The trio discusses the importance of nurturing unique talents, the therapeutic power of art and music, and emotional moments from the gathering that validated the savant community. They also explore practical advice for creatives and the hope of making Archipelago an annual celebration of genius.
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Tony’s Early Musical Miracles
- Tony DeBlois was born at under two pounds, became blind and autistic, and started playing piano at age two after getting a toy piano.
- He performed professionally by nine and now plays 23 instruments with a repertoire over 10,000 songs.
Listen And Tune In To Your Child
- Janice DeBlois tells parents to tune in and listen to their children to find what they want and need.
- Tony echoes this by urging caregivers to 'listen to their kids' and 'tune in' to their creations and signals.
Create Opportunities To Discover Gifts
- Jeremy Chapman advises providing creative tools proactively rather than waiting for chance exposure to a talent.
- Trefford Studios invites families to try pianos and art supplies to discover latent gifts deliberately.
