CPOY

CPOY 70 International Picture Story Silver: For Kenth

It was just a short amount of time and several doctor visits before Britta Rasmussen realized that her son Kenth’s slow development was actually a mental handicap. Prepared to take on the challenge of raising him at home, she soon realized that as he progressed into adulthood so did his mental illness. His violent behavior became overwhelming for the family and Kenth was sent to live in an institution in hopes of a better life. However, the reality that first greeted Kenth was far from ideal. Life in an institution designed for people with Autism only heightened his violence and misery. He retreated to isolation. Years passed until a day came for Kenth to be moved. An institution near his home county called Solund in Skanderborg, Denmark, had recently been transitioning into a philosophy called Gentle Teaching. Today, Kenth is 35 and is one of over 200 residents at Solund. Through the support of his family, and the care of his caretakers, his once violent behavior has transformed to reveal a complex and curious man. Almost 8 years in the making, Kenth has a second chance.

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Kenth watches the trees rush by as Niels takes him for a drive in the Danish countryside. Kenth's behavior has improved dramatically over the years, however, there are days where Kenth will be demanding of his caretakers by repeatedly signing and expecting their response. The long drives are often used as a type of therapy. “I suppose that looking from the outside it would seem that he has no life at all, but it's not true because he's got so many abilities and has got so much potential for development. I mean when we started working with him it's been an up going progress and there's no telling where he'll be 10 years from now. I’m filled with pride when i think about it and when i think back on the time when he moved in here. Having made a difference, not me alone, but i've been apart of it. It's been a lot of work but it's definitely worth it,” Niels said.
Brittany Greeson / Western Kentucky University
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