 Just
like any 13 year old, Justin has preferred interests
and activities which he will dedicate hours on end
to. He loves animals. One of the highlights of his
life was swimming with dolphins in Israel at 7 and
in Florida just this year, pictured above.
He loves the computer, but unlike most 13 year olds
who would be online instant messaging their friends,
Justin spends most of his free time creating new
computer animations, frame by frame, up to 200 per
cartoon.
Justin has a neurological disorder called autism
that severly affects his functioning. Though he
looks"normal", once he begins to interact
with others, it is clear he is different.
To put it plainly, his brain is "wired"
differently. There are some things that come really
easily to him, like drawing and spelling; yet he
is not able to carry on a conversation or focuss
on someone else's interests. Even when talking about
his own interests, notably animals, dictionary meanings,
or the latest trip he's been on he's been on., it
is clear that he has no pragmatic skills per se.
Not having a clue about the social world, how to
act, and what to say are at the heart of autism,
regardless of the level of functioning.
Some autistic individuals have an exceptional talent
in a particular domain. In Justin's case, he has
been blessed with a talent for art. Since around
the age of 5, he loved to draw animals and storybook
or cartoon characters.. At the age of 9 he won a
Best of Show award for Cartooning, competing with
students from Kindergarten though High School in
Palm Beach County, Florida.
Though Justin had an art therapist working with
him in Florida, he only began to have more formal
lessons when he moved to Rhode Island 2 1/2 years
ago. Denise Melucci, who is both an artist and an
art teacher, has done wonders with Justin. She has
taught him to paint still lifes and other less preferred
subject matter, thereby increasing his repertoire
which now includes: portraits, landscapes, buildings,
florals, as well as his favorite, animals and cartoon
characters.
If you ask Justin what he wants to be when he grows
up, he will confidently answer, "An illustrator
and computer animator"
It is our prayer that in spite of his disability,
he will achieve his dream.
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