I first met S on a piece of paper. I named her ‘Sammy’ in the comic but I will never know her real name. And that’s okay. Advocacy isn’t just about the person in front of you; it’s about helping to make a better future for the people who come afterwards.
I’ve had my own experienced navigating the healthcare system as an autistic person so I was really excited for this project and to tell S’s story. I wanted to be able to make changes for kids like S and get people to reconsider how disabled people access healthcare.
I think one of the greatest aspects of storytelling through comics is that you can show and tell people what happened. You get the opportunity to be a reporter; and the pictures you draw can help convey the very real emotion of the moment. Comics can make you feel like you were there; like a witness.
Please be S’s witness.
Sincerely, Elsbeth Dodman