Excerpts from Walker’s Story
Participatory art has a subtle power to serve as a healing catalyst. Visitors often experience new insight through connecting with the work. As the artwork begins to unlock the soul, it becomes a place of hope and healing. Walker’s autism story inspired an avalanche of hope, with more than twenty thousand ArtPrize visitors writing prayers for other children, like Walker, at Wing and a Prayer.
I have autism! I’m afraid that others will look at me differently. But, if they could see what is in my heart, they would see a real human being. Not an outcast or a kid to dislike.
One of my teachers said I would never learn how to read or do math, but she didn’t understand my determination. In high school and college, I played hockey, got good grades, and achieved pretty well socially, too.
I can’t get my autism to go away no matter how hard I try. But I’m living proof that people can’t tell me how far I can go. That is up to me!
Walker, age 19
Walker’s story inspired the Wing and a Prayer exhibit.
