It is not an uncommon sight to find Camille Peterson sitting, looking, or talking in front of a mirror. Camille is an enthusiastic fifteen-year-old girl with autism. She lives with her mother and younger sister in Portland,
Oregon. Camille struggles to function socially in everyday situations. With the help of her personal service worker, Paige Warkentin, Camille learns to perform daily tasks at home and in her community.
Communications skills are a struggle for her, which makes it difficult for Camille to function in society and make friends. The Multnomah County Department of County Human Services established a new program to help children with disabilities. Prior to this program, people like Camille had no access to any kind of assistance. Camille's mother is very grateful for this program.

One of Camille's favorite things to do is play with her collection of Harry Potter Pop Figures. Camille has a
passion for reading and writing, both of which usually involve Harry Potter.

Camille is a storyteller. She often practices in front of the mirror if no one is there to hear her stories.

As a young high schooler in love with One Direction and many other celebrities, Camille's interests are
enhanced by her remarkable passion: what some might consider an obsession. "Typically, you see this really awesome overindulgence into certain topics where they learn everything about that topic that they can
possibly get their hands on," says Paige. "And that's part of autism and a part of the way an atypical person's brain works."

As Camille fiddles with her iPod, she looks up, contemplating the next scene of her fan-fiction Harry Potter story. For those who know Camille, they know her gift of never-ending storytelling.

Paige Warkentin is a Multnomah County Personal Service Worker who has been working with Camille for
almost three years. Paige recognized the influence that therapy, in the form of structure and routine, could have on Camille’s development. “I started seeing remarkable improvements around a year and at that point, I realized that this is what I was meant to do and this was where I belong in the world,” said Paige. “Now it's three years later and she's showering herself, she's cleaning up her own room, doing her own laundry, she's washing her own face, and brushing her own teeth.”

Camille came home upset from her day at school in a tantrum. "I don't want to ride on the short bus! Everyone makes fun of the kids that have to ride on it because they know I'm different," Camille yells. “It's hard to try to explain to atypical people who don’t quite understand why society doesn't just accept them for who they are, their struggles, and what they face, because at the end of the day the only reason that those social struggles are perceived as struggles is because the standard that the world has set,” Paige says. “It’s not a disability it’s a different ability.”

As the activity for the day, Paige had Camille take the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator, a personality test designed as an introspective self-assessment of oneself and their surrounding world. Autism commonly affects the
ability to identify and perceive personalities and social interactions. Along with her self-assessment, Camille took the Myers-Briggs test for all of the characters in her Harry Potter fantasies.

Sensory issues can make the tasks of everyday-hygiene routine an overwhelming and over stimulating
struggle. Camille has made improvements in her personal hygiene, including managing her own nails, since working with Paige.

One of Paige's roles as a PSW is to help Camille practice skills that are important to her growth as an
individual. When the duo first met, the task of room cleaning was a battle. "It used to take Camille hours to clean her room, on top of the hours of tantrum before coming to terms with the task," said Paige. After a rare absence caused by the flu, Paige came back after a week to find Camille's room in disarray.

Due to her practiced routine with Paige, Camille was able to organize her space within the hour. It is a
common characteristic for people with autism to arrange objects in stacks and organized piles.

Camille goes on regular outings with Paige. On this day, the two went to Collage, one of Camille’s favorite art stores.

One of Camille's favorite activities is riding along in the car as Paige drives and listens to her endless fantasized stories. "Sometimes we just drive around Portland to look at what's going on around us," Paige says, but this time she has a surprise for Camille to let her know how proud she has been of her.

Camille and Paige take a break from their scheduled routine to play during some down time.

Camille takes a moment to calm herself by looking in the mirror with some of her favorite stuffed animals. This is a process that Camille has learned to implement when she gets emotionally challenged.