By Dr. Charles Cartwright
Yesterday, I began to share the story of Justin, a young artist with autism, whom I’ve known all his life. This was in response to exciting new findings by the Yale Child Study Center.
In WebMD’s coverage of the work, Ami Klin, Ph.D., is quoted as saying:
“I have 20 years serving children with autism and their families, and their well-being is all that matters…There is nothing in our research that in any way conveys a sense that children [with autism] are any less human, any less deserving of our love and respect, or any less of anything at all. It is that the way they seem to learn about this world is rather different than the strategies used by their peers. By better understanding how they do this, the better we will be able to reach them, and like in any personal relationship, the better they will be able to reach us. … Their different perspective might give us solutions that others, with the typical mind and brain, might never see.”
For Justin, art has been the strategy that he has used throughout his life to learn about his world and relate to others.
When Justin was 8, he was introduced to a therapist in Florida who realized that art was an essential medium that could be used for teaching, therapy and discussion. “Where words and language were not coming to help Justin express his thoughts, he could express himself to others through drawing,” says Maria Teresa.
Later at age 10, Denise Melucci, an art teacher Justin’s parents came across, helped expand Justin’s art beyond repetitively drawing characters with markers, developing his skills and his focus. “We wanted to see Justin challenged beyond his comfort zone and after we established the goal of expanding his repertoire, Justin began using charcoals, pastels and water colors, and experimenting with different subject matter,” says his mother.
With the help of Denise, Justin’s parents organized a small art show to display Justin’s work—and from there, Justin has never looked back. Soon after the art show, family members began asking Justin to draw portraits of their pets. He was so skilled at drawing animals that Maria Teresa arranged for a display of his drawings at a pet store, where his work was met with rave reviews. Once his family moved to New Jersey, Justin became involved with Arts Unbound, an organization that markets the work of non-traditional artists. His talent was recognized by the Ricco/Maresca Gallery in 2005 and since then his artwork has been featured in many exhibits, some of which include works of renowned artists without disabilities. Justin slowly came to realize that others recognize and appreciate his work. Now, at age 19, Justin carries a sketchbook full of drawings as a way of initiating social interactions with people he meets.
Justin’s talent has provided him with a tool to navigate an otherwise confusing and difficult everyday life with autism. It is also his vocation, enabling him to earn money and have the potential to become increasingly self-sufficient.
Stay tuned for the wrap up — including a touch of science — of Justin’s story, coming tomorrow!
