Arredondo Gallardo José Ramón

José was born on 8 August 1989 in Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico. He was born with cerebral trauma caused by neonatal hypoxia, which primarily affected his neuromotor development. From the age of three months, the effects of his condition became evident, as he had difficulty moving, turning over, and holding a baby bottle. For the first ten years of his life, José Ramón received continuous care from doctors and therapists.

At the age of eleven, he was admitted to the Institute for the Achievement of Human Potential in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he underwent therapy that unfortunately had to be discontinued for financial reasons. From 2006, he continued treatment for two years at the Teleton Crit rehabilitation centre in Guadalajara. As a result of his condition, José Ramón is unable to walk and has difficulty speaking clearly. His hand movements are uncoordinated, preventing him from writing or performing many physical tasks. He moves around in a wheelchair and, within his home, by crawling or on his knees.

After completing secondary school, José undertook a preparatory year for university through the adult education open learning system. He is currently studying tourism and has reached his ninth term at university. In September 2009, he began mouth painting, and since February 2010, he has taken regular lessons with Lidia, a VDMFK Student Member and mouth painter. Specialising in oil painting, José creates diverse landscapes of his native Mexico and has already participated in numerous exhibitions showcasing his growing artistic skill.