A life of sensory experiences
Giselle Silva, 26, is the mother of five children. Three of them, Mia Tellez, 6, Lewis (Mikey) Tellez, 5, and Vision Tellez, 2, are all diagnosed with a form of nonverbal and hypo-sensitive autism . On a daily basis the three kids crave sensory experiences for comfort and pleasure. Luna Tellez, 3, is not autistic, but has developmental delays. One-year-old, Rhetoric Tellez is currently a patient in a study put on by researchers at the University of Texas in San Antonio. The Children's Hospital and the Autism Treatment Center are working together to develop an early intervention program for babies at risk for developing Autism in a 15-week program called Project PLAAY (Parent-Led Autism Treatment for At-Risk Young Infants and Toddlers). With the father of the children, Larry Tellez, at work all day, Giselle is left to take care of the kids on her own. This photo essay magnifies the daily life of a family who have children on the Autism spectrum and their need for sensory experiences.
Lewis "Mikey" Tellez, 5, bounces on the bed in the room where the children sleep, Sunday, July 28, 2019 at their home in China Grove, Texas. The bouncing may satisfy the need for his need for sensory experiences. Rebecca Slezak/San Antonio Express News
Larry Tellez hauls bags and a stroller with Rhetoric Tellez, 1, and Vision Tellez, 3, out the door as the family leaves Project PLAAY, Monday, August, 5, 2019, on campus at The University of Texas in San Antonio, Texas. The only income provider for the family, Larry, spends every Monday helping Giselle Silva, the mother of the children, juggle the kids to the three therapy sessions throughout the day in and near the surrounding towns of San Antonio. Rebecca Slezak/San Antonio Express News
Vision cries, Mia screams with delight feeling the water of the shower on her hands and Mikey peaks through the shower curtain as their mother, Giselle, washes them Tuesday, July 16, 2019, at their home in China Grove, TX. It is bedtime at the house and Giselle is getting the children clean before bed. As water runs through their hair, down arms and off their eyelashes, often times the children will laugh or scream with delight as the water provides a full body sensory experience as three of them are diagnosed with a hypo-sensitive form of Autism. Rebeccca Slezak/San Antonio Express-News
Mia rubs her fingers back and forth playing with the butterflies on her hairbands Sunday, July 28, 2019 at their home in China Grove. Rebecca Slezak/San Antonio Express News
Giselle listens as Melissa Svoboda of Pediatric Neurology at the Voelcker Clinical Research Center, talks about Vision's diagnosis, Wednesday, August 7, 2019 in San Antonio, Texas. Giselle was surprised to hear that Vision was diagnosed with a developmental delay as well as Autism. Rebecca Slezak/San Antonio Express News
In the darkness of her sibling's bedroom, Mia Tellez, 6, looks up from the game she is playing on her mother's phone, Sunday, July 28, 2019 at her family's home in China Grove, TX. Mia is one of three in the family with a hypo-sensitivity form of Autism. The light of the phone could satisfy her need for sensory experiences. Rebecca Slezak/San Antonio Express News
Giselle talks to Luna, 3, as she lays down for a nap as Mikey watching nearby, Sunday, July 28, 2019 at their home in China Grove, Texas. Luna was running a fever. The two eldest children, Mia and Mikey were vaccinated as infants. After seeing early signs of Autism in two siblings, when the other three children were born, Giselle decided not to have them vaccinated. When any of the kids feel ill Gisele gives them probiotics and water instead of going to the doctor. Rebecca Slezak/San Antonio Express News
Lewis "Mikey" Tellez, 5, pulls on his toes while sitting on the bed where he and his siblings sleep, Sunday, July 28, 2019 at their home in China Grove, Texas. Rebecca Slezak/San Antonio Express News
Mikey scoops dirt feeling it between his fingers and Mia throws dirt in the air while feeling it fall on her face Sunday, July 28, 2019 at their home in China Grove. Rebecca Slezak/San Antonio Express News
Giselle holds Mia in her lap and talks to Luna to keep her from having a fit while waiting for a family member to come give them a jump outside doctor's office, Wednesday, August 7, 2019, in San Antonio, Texas. Larry and the kids were waiting in the van while Giselle heard Vision's diagnosis when the battery died. The van is the only vehicle the family owns. Rebecca Slezak/San Antonio Express News
Sunlight and wind beat on Mikey's face through an open window as the van rolls down the interstate, Sunday, July 28, 2019, in San Antonio, Texas. Rebecca Slezak/ San Antonio Express-News