This ongoing series focuses on people with autism and was made over the course of four years at Camp Lakey Gap in North Carolina, a summer camp designed for people with autism. Using a medium-format camera, I made portraits of the campers with the intent of giving a glimpse into what it means to be autistic and the spectrum of ways these people communicate and understand their environment.
According to the Autism Society of North Carolina, it is estimated that up to 1 out of every 88 children born today has some form of Autism Spectrum Disorder. In North Carolina that figure is closer to 1 in 70 children.
Alongside the portrait of the subject is his or her camp schedule for the day. The schedules, written at the start of each day by the camper’s sole counselor, reflect the subject’s level of communication. For high-functioning campers, the schedules are detailed and written. For low-functioning campers, who often take visual cues to navigate the day, the schedules are image icons.
The diptcyhs gives a more intimate glimpse into the person’s life and how they see the world and are able to communicate. They also reflect how wide-ranging and varied the symptoms are for diagnosing autism.
For instance, look at the different schedules for twins Susanna (image 15) and Albert (image 13). Susanna is bubbly, verbal and outgoing but struggles with attention deficit disorder and social issues. She is considered high functioning and relies on a written schedule. By contrast, Albert is low-functioning and could not yet speak. His schedule was composed of pictures. To get Albert to go swimming, his counselor would show him a picture of the pool.
For many of the campers, the week at camp was their first time away from home and on their own. The schedules provided them with a roadmap for the day, which is important in making them feel comfortable.
-Erin Brethauer
www.erinbrethauer.com
