Photo of the Year 2009

Retreat into the fearful inner self

For Adélka, it is a strange world behind that door. The 5-year-old girl from Prague attends a kindergarten especially designed for autistic children. The children in this institution suffer from a perception disorder which means that their brains cannot process information correctly. Adélka was born with a particularly severe form of autism. She has never said a single word and lives completely in her own world. According to her parents, her world might be full of impressions and colors. Or it might not: “We just don’t know.”

Photographer Milan Jaroš documented the everyday lives of several autistic children and their parents. One of these children is 9-year-old Ondrej Mrazek, who is also from Prague. He has Asperger syndrome, a less severe form of autism. When life becomes too much for him, he likes to hide under his bed. He attends third grade at an inclusive primary school that accommodates both pupils with disabilities and healthy children. Ondrej is extremely talented when it comes to Math or English lessons. Seemingly simple tasks, however, such as packing his school bag, throw him off track. He then starts screaming and throws himself to the floor flailing and kicking.

Approximately 200 million children worldwide have a disability. According to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, they deserve special support to be able to take part in society on an equal level.

Milan Jaroš/Respekt/Czech Republic

jaros(at)respekt.cz

Born 9th of April 1979 in Prague.
Family: wife Eva and son Antonin

Freelance photographer
Freelance photographer based in Prague working on assignments for czech magazine Respekt.

Education:

1998-2004 studied at Academy of Performing Arts in Prague

Publication:

NY Times, International Herald Tribune, l´Hebdo, Courriere International, Chicago Tribune, Respekt

Mostly covering czech social topics like Romany community, rising of  racism, homosexual prostitution community, agricultural life and crises situations abroad Georgia, Lebanon, Israel.