Wyson

For many children on the autism spectrum, communication can be challenging. Twelve-year-old Wyatt Jewell, diagnosed with ADS, Autism Spectrum Disorder, at age three, has been able to use his photographic memory and active imagination to create art that gives his family and friends access to himself through creativity. A recent fifth grade art class assignment to make a half-and-half portrait resulted in the revelation of ‘Wyson’- an ‘alter-ego’ that is a combination of Wyatt and Sonic the Hedgehog, his favorite character.

“I really like this particular drawing because it feels kind of weird, but amazing!” Wyatt said. “The ‘explanation point’ points out that I was freaked out that I was turning ‘half Sonic’- kind of like a Freaky Friday moment! ‘Wyson’ can do a lot of things that I can’t, like spin, dash with sonic speed, and speed boosts.”