Sinawi Medine

Documentary photographer

www.zenphotographe.com

Autism, a world to explore

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Location: Nice

Nationality: France, Eritrea

Biography: Based in France since 2009, I grew up in Eritrea and began photography as a self-taught artist before moving towards photoreportage. For several years I have been developing documentary projects on migration and exile, a way to keep track of the... MORE

With non-verbal and deficient a...e to learn to understand them .

1 of 18 © 2024 Sinawi Medine

With non-verbal and deficient autistic, communication is a challenge; gestures and short sentences are another language to learn to understand them  .

Because sleep disorders are qui...ular rounds and care if needed.

2 of 18 © 2024 Sinawi Medine

Because sleep disorders are quite common in autistic people, accompaniment and monitoring continue at night with regular rounds and care if needed.

In a specially designed space, ...dents and helps to soothe them.

3 of 18 © 2024 Sinawi Medine

In a specially designed space, lit with subdued light, soft music, and sensory objects, the Snoezelen activity appeals to the 5 senses of the residents and helps to soothe them.

Florent, deputy director: &...constantly exploring".

4 of 18 © 2024 Sinawi Medine

Florent, deputy director: "Autism is a parallel world where there is a lot of life, we don't have the codes, so we are constantly exploring".

Just informed that he would not...tions he needs to be reassured.

5 of 18 © 2024 Sinawi Medine

Just informed that he would not be able to return to his family the following weekend, Hugo has just had a violent panic attack, to calm down and control his emotions he needs to be reassured.

Sylvia, sport and physical teac...are, they need that" .

6 of 18 © 2024 Sinawi Medine

Sylvia, sport and physical teacher of adapted activities and health, "Before the lockdown, we were open to the outside world, with daily outings, so we racked our brains to continue our care, they need that" .

Sylvia is the health and physic...y only take place individually.

7 of 18 © 2024 Sinawi Medine

Sylvia is the health and physical activities teacher, since the beginning of the health crisis, she has had to redesign all the activities and adapt them so that they only take place individually.

Margot, medical-psychological a... the psychiatric box".

8 of 18 © 2024 Sinawi Medine

Margot, medical-psychological assistant "Many people are afraid of the disability, we don't talk about it enough, and we only see the negative aspects, the messages should be positive. Autistic people are very endearing human beings because they are very natural, and we can do a lot of things with them and make them evolve, we have to get them out of the psychiatric box".

Margot takes a resident for a breath of fresh air.

9 of 18 © 2024 Sinawi Medine

Margot takes a resident for a breath of fresh air.

Marie-Laure observes everything...to behaviors of hypervigilance.

10 of 18 © 2024 Sinawi Medine

Marie-Laure observes everything that happens around her, the perception of detail for some autistic people leads them to behaviors of hypervigilance.

Because of his sensorial peculi...s he can no longer stand noise.

11 of 18 © 2024 Sinawi Medine

Because of his sensorial peculiarities, Serge appreciates calm and being alone, as he ages he can no longer stand noise.

Florence only communicates with...s can distinguish her emotions.

12 of 18 © 2024 Sinawi Medine

Florence only communicates with gestures and sounds, and it is through her cries that the caregivers can distinguish her emotions.

Johan is the only resident who ...hter to tears to anger quickly.

13 of 18 © 2024 Sinawi Medine

Johan is the only resident who no longer goes outside because of his instability and because he no longer wants to. His panic attacks are less impressive with age, but he remains ambivalent and can go from laughter to tears to anger quickly.

Elodie is like a little baby, v... her in all the daily gestures.

14 of 18 © 2024 Sinawi Medine

Elodie is like a little baby, very calm, she only reacts to the senses, lights, and touch. The caregivers do a lot of nursing and accompany her in all the daily gestures.

A break with colleagues in a busy day.

15 of 18 © 2024 Sinawi Medine

A break with colleagues in a busy day.

There is a lot of research and ... disappear after a certain age.

16 of 18 © 2024 Sinawi Medine

There is a lot of research and literature on children with autism, and very little on adults, as if children disappear after a certain age.

Because sleep disorders are pre...ular rounds and care if needed.

17 of 18 © 2024 Sinawi Medine

Because sleep disorders are pretty common in autistic people, accompaniment and monitoring continue at night with regular rounds and care if needed.

Sleep disorders are quite commo...ring has to continue overnight.

18 of 18 © 2024 Sinawi Medine

Sleep disorders are quite common in people with autism, support and monitoring has to continue overnight.

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Thumbnail of With non-verbal and deficient au_ge to learn to understand them .

Thumbnail of Because sleep disorders are quit_gular rounds and care if needed.

Thumbnail of In a specially designed space, l_idents and helps to soothe them.

Thumbnail of Florent, deputy director: &q_ constantly exploring".

Thumbnail of Just informed that he would not _otions he needs to be reassured.

Thumbnail of Sylvia, sport and physical teach_care, they need that" .

Thumbnail of Sylvia is the health and physica_ey only take place individually.

Thumbnail of Margot, medical-psychological as_f the psychiatric box".

Thumbnail of Margot takes a resident for a breath of fresh air.

Thumbnail of Marie-Laure observes everything _ to behaviors of hypervigilance.

Thumbnail of Because of his sensorial peculia_es he can no longer stand noise.

Thumbnail of Florence only communicates with _rs can distinguish her emotions.

Thumbnail of Johan is the only resident who n_ghter to tears to anger quickly.

Thumbnail of Elodie is like a little baby, ve_y her in all the daily gestures.

Thumbnail of A break with colleagues in a busy day.

Thumbnail of There is a lot of research and l_n disappear after a certain age.

Thumbnail of Because sleep disorders are pret_gular rounds and care if needed.

Thumbnail of Sleep disorders are quite common_oring has to continue overnight.

Public Story

Autism, a world to explore

Copyright Sinawi Medine 2024

Updated Nov 2023

Taking care of one of the most vulnerable communities confined to the shadows.
In the misunderstood universe of autism, each one has its world, story, particularities, and this is precisely the fascinating part for those who get close to it.
The understanding and care of autistic people have greatly improved over the last twenty years. Although society is showing more concern for the world of disability as a whole, the daily life of the institutions, the work of the professionals, and the life of autistic people "in deficit” remain well hidden.
The Covid pandemic has disrupted daily life, habits, projects, and social relationships; it has also highlighted the work of caregivers and janitors. Exploring the Airial du Nid de l'Agasse Center in southwestern France shows commitment and adaptation and encourages us to see our differences with a fresh eye.

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Also by Sinawi Medine —

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