“Autistic and Seeking a Place in an Adult World”
It isn’t often that there is an inspiring, non-political story on the front page of a newspaper, above the fold. The Sunday edition of The New York Times features tiny sketches of cartoon characters from Justin Canha’s journal.
“For weeks, Justin Canha, a high school student with autism, a love of cartoons and a gift for drawing, had rehearsed for the job interview at a local animation studio. As planned, he arrived that morning with a portfolio of his comic strips and charcoal sketches, some of which were sold at a Chelsea gallery…” —Amy Harmon for The New York Times
The story of this one young man’s desire to become a “famous animator-illustrator” and his teacher Kate Stanton-Paule’s special education program to help autistic youth “transition to adulthood” is worth reading. If you weren’t able to get a physical copy of The New York Times, there is a substantial amount of content available online, along with supplemental visuals and videos.
I also recommend taking a look at Canha’s Animated Cartoon Timeline featuring Mickey Mouse, Sesame Street, The Simpsons, Shrek, and more.
