Thursday, July 21, 2011 Last updated: Thursday July 21, 2011, 1:19 AM
MIDLAND PARK — Kim Cristo did not know much about autism two years ago, so no one is more surprised than she that her daughter's photo is now helping to raise awareness about the disorder through an Internet campaign.
PHOTO COURTESY OF KEITH HOPKINS
This photo of Ava Cristo, taken by professional photographer Keith Hopkins, is featured among 60 others on the website StoriesOfAutism.com.
The borough resident is pleased that an image of her 3-year-old daughter, Ava, photographed by Keith Hopkins, who has a studio in town, is being used in an effort called "Stories of Autism," by a Seattle, Wash.-based non-profit organization whose mission is to raise awareness, acceptance and inclusion of autism through photography.
"Just a few weeks ago, my daughter said, 'Hi, Mommy.' This is something I thought I would never hear," said Cristo, whose daughter was photographed in April for the project that debuted in late May online at StoriesOfAutism.com.
Cristo says she was paired with professional photographer Hopkins through Autism New Jersey, which told her he was willing to volunteer to photograph her daughter for the online campaign.
The portrait of Ava, who attends The Reed Academy in Garfield, is one of more than 60 featured on the website.Founded in 2005 by Woodinville photographer Charlie Cotugno, whose son also suffers from an autism spectrum disorder, "Stories of Autism" has blossomed from a local endeavor to a national one, according to a press release. Photographers were recruited to volunteer their time to create portraits of people on the autism spectrum within their own communities.
Ava, who was diagnosed at 19 months old, symbolizes a "powerful" story of early intervention and progress, said her mother.
"We want people to understand and be aware of autism," she said. "Ava has made great progress and that would not have been possible if I did not take her early to be tested." Cristo, herself an actress and model, said her daughter is a natural in front of the camera and had been a baby model.
And Hopkins, whose portrait of Ava was among seven chosen as a 2011 Directors' Choice Image of the Year for "Stories of Autism," found her an easy subject to capture.
"She was comfortable just doing her own thing," said Hopkins, who photographed her at the Glen Rock Aboretum in April.
"I asked her what she liked at our first meeting," he said. "She said flowers, so I purchased a bouquet and let her work with that."
Hopkins said he first worked with a child with autism several years back.
"I realized he needed just a little more patience and after the shoot, the mom was emotional. When I asked her what was wrong, she said she had never been able to get a professional photo of her son before. She was very happy."
While the experience was "incredible" for the mom, Hopkins said, he felt "very good" about it. "It hit me that autism is all around us."
Cristo said she wanted her daughter to be a part of the project because she wanted to show that "autism can look like a cute little girl from Midland Park who likes flowers."
