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Imagine an autistic person. What are you thinking? Are you thinking of someone who is good with meticulous detail? Are they perhaps intensely knowledgeable about things like trains and warships? Maybe you think they freak out at slight changes to their life and need everything to be in a certain place. I won’t deny the existence of these people, but it is also important to remember that no group of people are a monolith.
Autism comes in many flavors, colors, shapes, and sizes, and one area I find woefully underrepresented is the creative capabilities autistic individuals are capable of doing. Many people with autism love not just creating art; but also discussing it, examining it, and analyzing it. Their disciplines can range from drawing to painting to pottery to dance to writing. How do I know this? I’m one of them. I’m not alone at Aspiritech in this respect, we have a whole Creative Services team dedicated to making art for advertising purposes.
I have personally designed such things as graphics for shirts, logos for a doggy daycare, and even wrote a travel blog that you can read here. I know one of my coworkers also works as an editor for the newsletter and has worked on brass etchings depicting Mesoamerican style animals. Another is a musician who has made her own album in her home. Yet another is deeply interested in astronomy, math, and science, yet he also incessantly doodles in his notebook and was able to become a NeuroXplorer.
NeuroXplorers are a partnered group who let autistic people help neurotypical people to unlock their creativity. Our activities include painting, creative writing, ideation, and collage. People with autism don’t just function differently, we think differently also. It’s through that lens that we are able to make art coming from angles most people wouldn’t originally think of. These thoughts can not just come from imagination solely, but also from events and experiences that autistic people went through and can color their art.
However, what about outside Aspiritech? Sure enough, plenty of autistic people in general make art. One major way I find it is through fandom. Whether through video games, TV shows, or comics and manga, plenty of neurodivergent people express themselves with fanart, fanfiction, and video essays on their special interests. There are even some who are famous for their art. Perhaps you’ve heard of Stephen Wiltshire, an autistic man who can recreate cityscapes from memory after seeing it just once. His work is so celebrated that he holds membership in the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. Alternatively, maybe you’ve heard of the late Donna Williams, an Australian author, sculptor, artist, singer-songwriter, screenwriter, and poet who was autistic.
Art is not only something that autistic people take interest in, but also it can have healing properties as well. Art therapy has proven to help autistic children have an increased tolerance to sensory stimuli and act as an alternative for nonverbal communication. Art therapy also teaches children how to express their emotions and teach them motor skills while providing them with a sense of accomplishment in creating something with their own hands. Combined with doing these activities in group settings, it can teach children to be more outgoing and develop much needed social skills.
Whether it’s through data, art, math, science, or programming, autistic people have a place within it. Each person has the ability to contribute something great to his or her field if only they are allowed to. Perhaps it doesn’t always come in the form of formal training or education, but it does not discount their efforts or skills. At times, it can actually be beneficial to have an outsider who knows what they’re doing come in and offer their perspective on things.
If there was one thing art has taught me, it’s that the world is made richer and more understanding through these unsung voices. It taught me that through collaboration and teamwork, a more clear and well thought out plan can come to fruition. Most importantly, it taught me how much I am worth, well beyond any dollar value any of my art could sell.
Titus Quarles is a graphic designer for Aspiritech and a NeuroXplorer. He has been with Aspiritech for seven years, providing QA and art for the company. Between art projects, he listens to math rock, plays with his dog, and swims.
“We hired them for the mission. We’ve kept them because they are excellent.”
Aspiritech, NFP
