CUMMINGS AND GOINGS
T
his issue’s main topic is passion and
whatever that may be or mean to you.
What I learned through my life, and
what my son Conner has shown me, is
that passion truly has no timetable. Your passions can change, and you can have numerous
passions simultaneously.
When Conner was little, he loved many things,
but a few stayed with him. Conner loved to
play with toy cameras. It didn’t take long,
though, before he was asking to use our old
cameras. He would wear several different
cameras around his neck and take pictures or
tape his day. What I noticed was that when
we were in a room with large crowds or unfamiliar surroundings, he utilized the cameras
even more. Since he had the desire, we got him
his own camera and arranged for lessons. Fast
forward to present day. Conner’s photography
skills are now so good that many people have
hired him to be their event photographer. In
fact, he has been one of the photographers at
the Autism Society’s national convention for the
past two years as well as many other charity
events. Conner also has had numerous photos
published in a book about gardens, and he currently has several of his works hanging on the
walls of our State Capitol Building.
One of my passions is watching Conner work.
We go on “road trips” so that he can capture
his surroundings. We will be walking, and all
of the sudden Conner is rolling on the ground
or moving his body in ways I cannot explain in
order to catch a certain angle or that magic he
sees from a leaf on the gravel or a shadow on a
wall. It can be anything! Of course his favorite
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ZOOM Autism through Many Lenses
place to take pictures and to film is Disney.
Conner films every ride we go on and provides commentary on how he feels and what
he sees. Those pictures truly are magical.
Conner also has passion for activities I never
imaged he would. Growing up, he was never
very interested in sports, but a few years ago
he asked if he could take ice skating lessons
because Disney characters like to ice skate.
Conner started lessons in 2013 and also signed
up for the local Special Olympics. To date,
Conner has moved up 3 levels and has won
first place ribbons in each Olympic competition.
Conner added playing the piano to his list of
passions. As a child he tried the guitar as part
of his therapy, but it never clicked. One day
at Target, I heard a Disney song playing from
the portable organs aisle. I looked, and it was
my son. I asked him how he knew how to play
that. He just looked at me and showed me his
fingers. We bought that organ, and Conner
self-taught himself dozens of songs. Years later
we graduated to a piano. With lessons, Conner has learned how to read music; although, I
think he still prefers to play by ear.
Conner has shown me that passion can come
at any time, any place. Once you recognize it,
you can build on it, and more importantly, like
Conner does, enjoy every minute of it!
Warmest regards,
Sharon Cummings
Executive Director/Co-Publisher & Founder
[email protected]
Conner taking picture s in Disney World
ZOOM Autism through Many Lenses
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