Hi Beatrice,
Thank you so much for your reply! I guess tenacity pays off.
Also, thank you for agreeing to answer in English. I will try to use easy words and sentences. I hope that will help.
I want to ask about your photos using reflections.
First let me tell you why I want to ask.
About Scott
I want to know about the photos because I have written a book about helping people with autism find jobs (it’s free). It describes many kinds of help people with autism might need to make jobs comfortable for them. Also, a friend and I are going to hold a big conference in March on adult autism and employment (jobs). People around the U.S. are starting to use my book and they are asking me to give presentations. My friend and I are becoming “new voices” in the autism community, but it is complicated to explain.
From what I have read about autism/aspergers, people with the condition often find the world around them disjointed (broken in pieces). So they have to work hard to understand what they are seeing or hearing. Also, sometimes they lose track of what they are doing or why they are doing something. This can make things confusing for them also. Some people with autism have a lot of this trouble. Others do not.
People who do not have autism/aspergers wonder why people who DO have autism/aspergers get upset "about nothing" or "shut down" and stop communicating. They wonder why people with autism/aspergers stare at “nothing” or “over-react” to some kinds of sounds/textures/sights. If my world was that confusing, I would do the same things!
Your pictures with reflections make me feel that way a little. My brain has trouble understanding the pictures at first (my brain can’t put the pieces together correctly) and my eyes go a little crazy.
When I gave a presentation about autism, it helped to show your pictures. I said "See? This is how it might feel if you have autism. You need extra time to understand. You get confused and overwhelmed. It is too much."
There are some people who are "autistic savants" and can draw like a photograph, almost like magic. In my presentation, I said that the pictures made by "autistic savants" are very mechanical. They do not tell us anything about what the person feels or how they see the world. It is just an odd thing they can do (but an amazing one!). Your photos are much more interesting.
That is how I feel about some of your photos.
Scott’s Questions
Here is what I want to ask you:
What do your photos of reflections mean to you? Are you trying to show a disjointed, confusing, but interesting scene? Or do you mean something else?
These are some of the photos I am talking about:
"Well Polished Car"
"Reflections & Interactions"
"Multitemporal"
"Self Portrait in the London Tube"
Here are two of them, to remind you.
Building in car hood - reduced.jpg
self portrait in London tube.jpg
It is strange, but I am excited to hear your answers! I have been wondering for several months about these questions and watching your new photos. I looked very hard across the internet for good photos about autism. Your photos were the best I found.
I also want to ask if it is OK for me to keep showing your pictures for presentations on autism. I will give your name as the creator, and I am not paid for the presentations. The photos are your property, so if you do not want me to use them anymore, I will not.
Thanks, Beatrice!
Dr. Scott Standifer
Instructional Designer, Media Specialist
Disability Policy and Studies
School of Health Professions
University of Missouri
573 882-3807
I don't write back very often but in your case, I admire your tenacity.
) but as english is not my first language (I'm french), I'll send your inquiries to one of my contact who's british at my Asperger Forum "Asperansa" to be sure I understand them well & I'll ask Sue to translate my asnwers.
, juste une assurance au cas où...
