Marilyn Santiago

Photojournalist

Becoming a Young Adult With Asperger's During Quarantine.

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Full on break-down.

THis is Owen, a 19 year old Asp...ly took his happiness from him.

THis is Owen, a 19 year old Aspie. He is super intelligent and always keeping me sharp by discussing about all things. This is how he looks when he is happy. That has not been the case. The quarantine finally took his happiness from him.

This was the beginning, you can see it in his eyes.

The day before the break-down. ...e, the storm has formed inside.

The day before the break-down. We went to the forest for the first time in a very long time. It was already late, the storm has formed inside.

He always walks at evening, whe...anted to come inside the house.

He always walks at evening, when the sun goes down. This days he walked for hours because he did not wanted to come inside the house.

The break-down.

Once he stopped crying and keep talking to me, letting it all out.

These days he went to bed early... He even fall asleep on my bed.

These days he went to bed early. Never in his 19 years he has been a going to bed early. He usually goes to bed around 1 or 2 am. He even fall asleep on my bed.

Starting to come out of it. Listening to music and walking around.

Another visit to the forest, yet not completely out of the woods.

Becoming a Young Adult With Asperger's During Quarantine.

Today, a week after the last ep...ill I am cautiously optimistic.

Today, a week after the last episode. He is a lot better and it is a good day. Still I am cautiously optimistic.

He receive notice he can go bac...cause he liked the way he look.

He receive notice he can go back to practice Taekwondo and the difference in his expressions is a blessing. He even got a haircut today and make me take a picture of him because he liked the way he look.

This was yesterday. He got a ne...d stories. Today is a good day!

This was yesterday. He got a new haircut, and feeling better about himself. I know all I need to know from his drawings and stories. Today is a good day!

It has been good. Starting Cole... food, and an incredible view.

It has been good. Starting Colege and resuming his Taekwondo classes has helped. Still he feels like the boredom is difficult sometimes. But today, we had the best restaurant meal. Just us, our food, and an incredible view.

PLAY

STOP

GRID

FULL

LOVE

Thumbnail of THis is Owen, a 19 year old Aspi_lly took his happiness from him.

Thumbnail of This was the beginning, you can see it in his eyes.

Thumbnail of The day before the break-down. W_te, the storm has formed inside.

Thumbnail of He always walks at evening, when_wanted to come inside the house.

Thumbnail of Once he stopped crying and keep talking to me, letting it all out.

Thumbnail of These days he went to bed early._. He even fall asleep on my bed.

Thumbnail of Starting to come out of it. Listening to music and walking around.

Thumbnail of Another visit to the forest, yet not completely out of the woods.

Thumbnail of Becoming a Young Adult With Asperger's During Quarantine.

Thumbnail of Today, a week after the last epi_till I am cautiously optimistic.

Thumbnail of He receive notice he can go back_ecause he liked the way he look.

Thumbnail of This was yesterday. He got a new_nd stories. Today is a good day!

Thumbnail of It has been good. Starting Coleg_r food, and an incredible view.

Public Project

Becoming a Young Adult With Asperger's During Quarantine.

Copyright Marilyn Santiago 2024

Updated Sep 2020

Location San Juan, Puerto Rico

Topics Disability, Emotion, Family, Fear, Friends + Family, Health/Healing, Hope, Isolation, Love, Motherhood, Photography, Relationships, Youth

It has been difficult on all of us. But seeing it happen to an autistic young adult who lost his last months with his school friends, his graduation and his graduation trip to Washington, I am amazed it took this long for him to break. But he is tough. I had to put aside my own depression to help him until the day I could not. I cried all day, and he, along with my other teenager girl were my strenght. We will get through this, but it won't be easy. Thankfully, the good days are more.

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Marilyn Santiago

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