The Girl Who Spoke with Pictures Autism
Through Art

From LoveToKnow Autism

The Girl Who Spoke with Pictures: Autism Through Art is an insightful book written by Eileen Miller, a mother of a talented young woman named Kim, diagnosed in the autism spectrum of disorders. Kim Miller is a successful artist who uses her skills to express her emotions and to share her perception. Her illustrations grace the pages of the book.

Author Eileen Miller

Eileen Miller is a resident of Oregon State who is dedicated to promoting autism awareness. One of her most important accomplishments is parenting a child with an autistic disorder. She is an advocate for her daughter and a source of support and guidance for families affected by pervasive developmental disorders.

The author’s interest in speech was readily apparent before she became a parent. Eileen studied special education with the hopes of becoming a speech pathologist. She began to focus on behavioral management and facilitating communication while learning about her daughter’s diagnosis.

Eileen’s writing offers much to the autistic community as well as hope for families. Her account of her experiences with Kim helps others gain valuable insight into the autistic experience, as demonstrated with clarity in the text.

Artist Kim Miller

Kim Miller is an accomplished artist who works in various mediums. She uses art to process and communicate her emotions and her experiences. Artistic expression is as natural as breathing to Kim and it is one of the most important aspects of her life.

Communication

Communication is a very difficult obstacle many autistic individuals face. Kim learned to use sign language, picture schedules and spoken words as a child. Functional language was lacking, so Kim adopted drawing as a form of communication to bridge the gap.

Artwork

Kim’s artwork is smooth and colorful, offering emotive force that is beyond words. Her images are polished, with a strong presence of personality instilled in each line. The artwork provides a direct link between her perception of the world that is very valuable to the autistic community and anyone interested in the topic.

Girl Who Spoke with Pictures Autism Through Art

The Girl Who Spoke with Pictures contains images that tell a story that spans over Kim’s development from a child to a young adult. The complication offers a rich experience for the reader, as Eileen reflects on her experiences as she witnesses Kim’s talent grow and her communication improve.

Grandpa’s Pen

Many parents of autistic children can relate to the experiences the Miller family has with communication, behavior and perspective. The warm connection Kim has with her grandfather is masterfully captured in the description of their interactions surrounding a pen, an object representative of Kim’s primary source of communication.

Topics Relevant to Autism and Art

The book is relevant to the autistic experience in a way that exceeds a memoir. Topics relevant to autism across the board include:

Perception and Perspective
Sensory Issues
Information Processing
Self-stimulatory behaviors
Fundamentals of language and communication
Emotion and expression
Relationships
Advocacy and Education

The Girl Who Spoke with Pictures: Autism through Art is a relevant text that helps parents, professionals and individuals affected by autistic disorders gain deeper understanding about real issues that go beyond scientific research and psychological theories. The book helps us realize that the autistic world is emotive, empathetic and beautiful.

More Information

Find more information about Kim Miller through the following resources:

The ability to draw is as much about perception as it is about creating. Artists offer insight into how they view the world when they create images. Kim Miller’s art is a valuable resource that helps others to see the world through her eyes. This insight is among the most valuable resources available to the autistic community. Please see the The Girl Who Spoke With Pictures Interview to learn more about Kim and Eileen Miller.

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