Who We Are
Autism is something that Andrea Bull is very passionate about. Her younger brother Robert Bull was diagnosed with Autism at age 4. Andrea used many creative ways to help her brother overcome some of the challenges that he faced growing up and she continues to work on developing ways to help him reach his true potential.
Robert took to drawing at an early age as a way of expressing himself creatively and has developed a unique way of bringing his imagination to life through his art. This natural talent and Andrea's desire to promote autism awareness has inspired her to team up with her brother to create a piece of work that would showcase the vibrant talent and potential of autistic individuals. For this project Andrea wrote the text for each letter of the alphabet and had Robert independently illustrate each scenario according to his own interpretation. This is their first of what they hope to be many projects together.
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Our Goal
Our goal was to create a piece of work that all children and families will enjoy and that demonstrates that autistic individuals are not defined by their autism. They are unique, talented, and creative people with great potential. We want this book to act as an example of what can be achieved with the right support systems, regardless of the challenges someone may face.
What is Autism?
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD); generally referred to as ‘autism’, is a group of complex disorders affecting the development of the brain. These lifelong disorders occur in varying degrees and are characterized by impairments to social interaction, cognitive function and communication abilities as well as restricted or repetitive behaviours. The signs and symptoms of ASD are generally noticed in the first two years of a child's life. Based on current diagnostic criteria it is estimated that approximately 1 in 68 children are identified with autism or some form of ASD*.
ASD affects all aspects of an individual’s life and functioning. There are a variety of interventions available to help a person living with ASD, including behavioural therapies, speech and communication therapy, social and coping strategies, integration programs, and medication. There is no “one size fits all” approach to intervention and support for ASD. Every individual is very unique and has their own set of challenges. Increasing autism awareness is essential in helping to further research into effective methods for earlier diagnosis and more effective early intervention strategies.
*U.S. Centre for Disease Control’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network.