Art can be expression without words — a gateway between worlds and storytelling.
Gesa Barto, an autism disorder specialist for University of Central Florida’s Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD), said for those with a neurodivergent disorder, such as autism, art is a way to share how they experience the world with others.
“Surprisingly, individuals with autism who have communication issues are people who express themselves in a different way,” Barto said. “They think and express themselves visually. Someone who chooses this type of expression typically has a fine-tuned sensory, meaning they may be very detail-oriented, can hear, smell or see very well.”
Florida-based organizations and programs are using art to enhance the general understanding of autism and how people with autism experience their day-to-day lives.
That’s the overall intention with the Art and Autism exhibition, presented by CARD and Providing Autism Links and Support (PALS), that took place in September at the Lake County Museum of Art in Tavares.
UCF CARD is a state-funded program that was established in 1988 to provide free resources for people who have been diagnosed with autism. It is one of seven regional centers established in Florida and provides services to 25,000 residents in Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Sumter and Volusia counties.
“Each constituent has autism on some level. Some may be a Level 3 with definite communication issues, but not all,” Barto said. “We serve individuals over 60 years old or children as young as 2. We are there to help people.”
Barto, who has worked with UCF CARD for over 10 years, said her work is to reach out directly to residents who have been diagnosed with autism to help them find their way with whatever problem they need to solve by providing resources, including art programs.
“Young children who have autism and who are maybe nonverbal often imitate things that they see,” Barto said. “(The child) may imitate their favorite character, but they move quickly into their own storytelling. We see a lot of unusual talent for individuals who are different thinkers and express themselves differently.”
The essence of storytelling exuded through the artwork at the exhibit.
From creating their own characters to creating unique scene settings, the exhibition featured the artwork of nine neurodivergent artists who participated in the 2025 SeeMyVoice program, a CARD art mentorship workshop series for young people age 15 to 27 years old, hosted at the Lake County Museum of Art (LCMA).
Ileanne Buigas, executive director of the LCMA, said this was the museum’s sixth exhibition partnered with UCF CARD.
“I think this exhibition works to take away a lot of the stigma around people who have autism, like they can’t function in society,” Buigas said. “It shows a little bit into their minds and how they express themselves in a different way. Art lets that come out, especially of the less verbal.”
The SeeMyVoice mentorship program allows the nine participants to work on an art project, likely trying a new art medium, while following a seven-step curriculum. After the workshop ends, artists showcase their work with an exhibition for UCF Celebrates the Arts at the Dr. Phillips Center, followed by the exhibition at LCMA in the fall.
“The exhibition is rich in autistic storytelling examples,” Barto said. “People maybe confused , but that is not their world and not how they see themselves operating.
Both Barto and Buigas believe the exhibition will return for its seventh year around the fall 2026, after the Dr. Phillips Center, following the tradition seen in past years.
“I’ve been involved in the SeeMyVoice program,” Buigas said. “It’s been fun to watch them explore something different. I’ve been helping and watching for five years, so I’ve seen artists go from teen to young adult and see how their work has changed. It shows people with autism are able to express themself if given the chance with no limitations.”
For more information about the exhibition, visit lakeartmuseum.com. For more information about the CARD program, call 1-800-9-AUTISM or visit ucf-card.org.
Staff writer Brea Jones can be reached at 352-753-1119, ext. 5414, or brea.jones@thevillagesmedia.com.
