Abstract

There are striking examples of artistic achievement among persons with autism. While autism can be the source of profound social isolation and physical difficulties, it can also lead to great accomplishment: it is estimated that between 5 percent1 and 10 percent2 of persons with autism have special skills or talents. These talents range widely, from abilities to pick out prime numbers or calculating the days of the week for dates many years into the future or the past, to the musical and visual arts. These skills are known as savant abilities, or islets of ability. Artists with autism have received acclaim and are the subject of fascination. Even among these prolific and talented artists, a question remains: Is ..