“Picturing Autism Vietnam” is the title of a photo exhibition on people with autism in Vietnam and the world which is on at the Vietnamese Women’s Museum. This event is part of the activities in response to the first “Vietnam Autism Awareness Day” – April 2nd, 2016, jointly organized by Vietnam Autism Network (VAN), affiliated to the Vietnam Federation on Disability (VFD) and other organizations.

The true photos on display and touching stories told by parents whose children have autism from different countries such as Peru, Indonesia, Mexico, Iceland, USA, and Vietnam bring multi-dimensional perceptions to visitors. They include the difference in behaviors to children with autism which stems from an awareness of autism; the difference in the care for children with autism of the society and educational sector of each country; and the difference in the levels of economic pressure on families of children with autism etc. But the cross-cutting message of the exhibition is the similarities and strong networking of families having children with autism in coping with difficulties and sharing spiritual support and their creative ideas. This message crosses all barriers of language, culture, education, and social status and the difference in access to services and support resources for people with autism.

American photographer, art historian Debbie Rasiel has spent 25 years caring for and recording images of her son with autism. She has for three years visited different parts of the world to take photos in her successful project “Picturing Autism”.

Visitors have left their true impressions after visiting the exhibition.“Thank you so much for bringing to the exhibition love and kindness. I was moved to see the photos and reading stories behind those lovely children with autism. They are angels, deserving love, empathy, and care from everyone”.

“The exhibition makes me think seriously about autism, what I had never thought of in the past”.

The exhibition will be on until April 9, 2016!