Autism Plays No Favorites
Maria suffers from autism. ASSIST-Rwanda administers a programs for her and other vulnerable youth.
Autism is on the rise globally, in Rwanda or the United States, vaccinated or not vaccinated. Unable to make eye contact, 7 year old Maria dances through a room of 35 orphans, their schooling sponsored by members of a small community in Germany. Each time she passes, a hand soft in youth reaches for mine. She runs it to my elbow and back, then settles for a few moments. A spit second eye to eye fills her comfort zone. Touch is her preferred method of communication.
Copyright 2009 Adam Bacher. Absolutely no usage without prior authorization.
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Author: AdamBacher
Adam Bacher is a commercial photographer and photojournalist based in Portland, Oregon. He is working on a book project documenting Rwanda’s return to peace after the 1994 genocide. The people of Rwanda are its greatest assets, the strength of their accomplishments, the sorrow of their history, and the depth of their character. The Rwandans are an example of the potential of the human spirit to triumph over the worst of circumstances. They have many lessons to teach the world about peace.
