The Spirit Within: Images from the Autism Spectrum
Autism can affect the way a person interprets and interacts with the world around them. It can also affect the ability of others to understand and connect with these complex individuals. This project emerged from a long held desire to help us all better understand the children and teens with whom I have spent much of my career as an occupational therapist. In talking with parents in waiting rooms, during treatment sessions, and in family meetings, a common theme has been their desire to have their child seen and appreciated for who they truly are, while continuing to help them achieve their highest potential.
These portraits have been selected from a larger group of photos, which, accompanied by interviews, are being prepared for publication. The portraits are not so much about autism, as they are about the individuals who carry this diagnosis. They are an invitation to look into the eyes of those who often have difficulty looking back into ours. They are an invitation to see beyond the external behaviors, to see the child within … to see the spirit within.