The First Time I Looked More Carefully
A first-session reflection on moving past quick impressions and learning to observe children with more patience and humility.
Grade 9 → Grade 11Living field journal
I STARTEDBY SHOWINGUP.
A three-year field journal on play, participation and thoughtful action alongside autistic children.
↓The premise / 001
SERVICE BECOMES
MEANINGFUL WHEN
IT CHANGES HOW
YOU SEE.
✳
This project begins with weekly support in play-based activities for autistic children ages 3–12. It grows through observation, research and small actions grounded in what the community actually needs.
Current position / Updated automatically
YEAR 01
learning to notice
01published field notes
3–12age range
03year commitment
Latest / Field Notes
WHAT I AM
NOTICING NOW.
Selected / Across the project
WORK WORTH
RETURNING TO.
Better Questions Before Solutions
A working method for turning service experiences into careful questions without rushing toward an impressive but unsupported solution.
Side by Side: A Three-Year Field Journal
The long-term structure for turning weekly service into a documented practice of observation, learning, testing, and reflection.
The First Time I Looked More Carefully
A first-session reflection on moving past quick impressions and learning to observe children with more patience and humility.
The method / Repeat weekly
Observe
Learn to notice before trying to solve.
Question
Turn field moments into honest questions.
Test
Design small, responsible experiments.
Reflect
Measure what changed — including me.
The non-negotiables / Always
DIGNITY
BEFORE
DOCUMENTATION.
- 01
No names, diagnoses or identifying details without explicit permission.
- 02
No child’s face used as proof of someone else’s compassion.
- 03
No inflated impact or conclusions beyond the evidence.
- 04
Autistic people are participants and collaborators — never props.