Disney and Penguins
October 8, 2008 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
Disney characters and penguins are 15-year-old Pamela Williamson’s favorite subjects to draw, and Microsoft’s Paint software is her preferred medium. According to today’s Saanich News, Williamson was diagnosed with autism at the age of 5:
While normally Pamela draws from her photographic memory, today she references a picture of herself at Disneyland to guide her drawing. The face, hair, arms, neck and torso take shape and colour in minutes – but she exercises her artistic licence by replacing the mouth with that of a robot’s.
“Pamela is a silly goose!” announces the 15 year old.
With a few clicks and drags of the mouse, she is transformed into Princess Jasmine from Disney’s Aladdin.
Pam is crazy about Disney.
Her family takes her several times a year and each time they stay at the same hotel in the same room.
Room 178, confirms Pam.
During every visit, she has a growth spurt, says her mom Gail. Her need to communicate is so great that her language skills improve by leaps and bounds.
Go to Artism Today to see a gallery of artists’ work—-more speaking with pictures. Am liking the colors on Trent Altman’s paintings.
“During every visit, she has a growth spurt, says her mom Gail. Her need to communicate is so great that her language skills improve by leaps and bounds.”
I have often said, in all seriousness, that a number of my brother Patrick’s life skills were learned at Disneyland. Communication isn’t his challenge, but for a long time, responding to questions, navigating in a crowd, and handling darkness and/or loud noises, have been. But his love of Disneyland is so great that he slowly faced his fears and learned these skills.
We’re lucky enough to live an hour or so away from Disneyland (if the traffic gods are on our side), so Patrick gets to go often. It’s a great CBI spot!