Photography Helps Teens with Autism Express Transition to Adulthood

Teens with autism often struggle with the transition from school to adulthood. Researchers have been trying to find new ways of understanding this transition from the teens’ perspective, rather than relying on interviews with parents and family members. Autism Speaks recently reported on research taking place at the University of Missouri’s Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders using Photovoice, which is a “creative research method that allows study participants to use photography to identify and share their experiences.” Teens were given cameras and asked to take photos that best captured their personal experience of growing up. Those photos were then used to initiate a conversation with researchers.

“In order to truly understand the perspective of young people with Autism Spectrum Disorder, who struggle with limited communication and fears, we needed to think outside the box to help them share their stories. Giving them cameras so they could tell their stories through images allowed us to determine what these young adults thought and felt.”

– Nancy Cheak-Zamora, study co-author

If you are looking for ways to strengthen your child’s communication as he or she approaches the transition to adulthood, please use Peak Potential Therapy as a resource. Contact us today to learn more about our programming and therapy services for teens with autism.