Many families who have children with autism spectrum disorder feel nervous and hesitant about taking those children to get their pictures done. SBJ Studios in Saint Joseph is looking to change that. Josh Fairbanks and Jessica Bruder, SBJ’s business partners, are celebrating Autistic Pride Day by giving away free photoshoots on June 14th for children with ASD.
“I’ve been working with students on the spectrum who have very challenging, even severe, behaviors for almost a decade. Jess had this great idea and it was my chance to use my experience and knowledge to help make it happen,” Fairbanks, owner of SBJ Studios, commented. Fairbanks is also finishing up his master’s degree in applied behavior analysis, a field that primarily services the autistic community.
Fairbanks noted the difficulty some families have with getting pictures done, “A lot of times families might have a child with autism who has some behavioral challenges and they miss out on a lot of more typical experiences, including pictures. My background allows us to welcome those families with open arms, regardless of the behavior challenges, so they can have this experience, too.”
Families are able to sign up via information provided on the SBJ Studios Facebook page. Each family will receive a free 15 minute photoshoot and digital copies at no extra charge.
“It means a lot to me and us to provide this opportunity and experience to these wonderful children. We want to honor and display pride in autism and help bring awareness,” Bruder remarked.
