Marc’s Window …

So much time has passed since Marc was motivated to embark upon our ‘Marc’s Window’ project, that it may be prudent to explain it to those who are new to my posts.

Living his life with, amongst other conditions, severe autism, Marc finds comfort and safety in the routine. It’s not just essential; it’s his lifeline. Any deviation from this routine can trigger intense anxiety, leading to meltdowns. This fear of anything different is not just a preference; it’s a very real and extreme reaction.

That fear prevents him from stepping over the threshold of our home – his safe area – due to his anxiety about different scenes, environments, people and activities. A person with autism may find interacting with others difficult as social awareness has not been developed, and they become very withdrawn.

I encouraged Marc to look out of his ‘window’, and we would talk about everything we could see. The colours, the buildings in the nearby hamlet, the wildlife that came into view, and our garden. It was a world he could look upon from the safety of his room, and I could encourage him to venture outside, firstly into our garden, then in his wheelchair the short distance to the hamlet. We spoke about going a little further afield each time we did to see something new.

When Marc picked up a camera, it was a turning point. I set it up on a tripod, positioned to take portrait pictures to allow him to use the shutter button with ease – he has a paralysis to his right side – and he could look through the ‘live view’ screen to see what he was pointing the camera at. The joy he felt at seeing his pictures was palpable, and he wanted to take more. This enthusiasm not only rekindled his interest but also opened up new avenues for us to explore. Each picture he took became a basis for a conversation, encouraging more adventures and helping him recall lost memories.

With Marc’s epilepsy worsening of late, he lost interest in this and most things. With patience and a better understanding of his mind and outlook, I have encouraged him to start where it all began and take his first picture in a long time from his bedroom window, where he feels safe and sees familiar sights and activities.

Thank you for looking at his work and for sharing our son’s journey and story with us. Your support and understanding mean the world to us.