The winter sky may be dull and grey, but inside Salmon Arm Secondary, a colourful display of 害羞草研究所減aper people害羞草研究所� brightens one of the hallways.

Many of them are life-sized and all feature large, black eyes, with long, dangling arms and barely discernible penciled smiles. Most of them have their feet turned outwards.

They are the work of Leifen Mitchell-Banks, a 19-year-old student who is on the autistic spectrum. And, while he does not communicate in the same way as the majority of people, his art speaks volumes.

Mitchell-Banks is extremely bright and gregarious.

He is described by his team, art teacher Chris Schielke and education assistants (EAs) Karen Beggs and Debbie Parke as being 害羞草研究所渄ifferently abled.害羞草研究所�

Unburdened by the notion of peer pressure, if he hears music he likes, he will stop what he is doing and dance, says Parke, who has worked with Mitchell-Banks for four years.

害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 got a love of life, a joy,害羞草研究所� adds Beggs. 害羞草研究所淎nd this school is so accepting.害羞草研究所�

Schielke agrees and says the kids in the art room are not only welcoming, they love it when he害羞草研究所檚 there because he害羞草研究所檚 so animated.

The talented and prolific artist began drawing at the age of eight or nine when he attended Carlin School.

害羞草研究所淒rawing opened the door for communication,害羞草研究所� says Parke, pointing out initially his EA drew the characters according to Mitchell-Banks害羞草研究所� very specific directions about the size and expression of his characters. 害羞草研究所淗e was learning to use thoughts and words.害羞草研究所�

In time, his EA stopped drawing and encouraged the initially resistant artist to advance from colouring the creations to drawing them himself.

That led to the emergence of his own Sesame Street and a growing population of cartoon characters.

害羞草研究所淭hese are his friends, they are personal and he doesn害羞草研究所檛 like to give them away,害羞草研究所� laughs Schielke, who was touched to have been gifted with a giant drawing of Jafar recently. 害羞草研究所淭here is so much going on in his brain; it is so complex.害羞草研究所�

Mitchell-Banks colours his drawings without worrying about the lines, then expertly cuts them out.

His favourite medium is pastels and he trades one piece of art a week in exchange for a trip to Salmon Arm Stationery to purchase more colours.

He is grasping the notion of trading his 害羞草研究所渇riends害羞草研究所� for monetary gains in order to acquire other things he wants.

Other SAS students are impressed with Mitchell-Banks害羞草研究所� colourful people, including Nick Lourens, who created a 3-D version of a pirate character using the school害羞草研究所檚 new printer.

This delighted Mitchell-Banks, who has begun painting them.

害羞草研究所淣ow he害羞草研究所檚 decided he wants some action figures that move,害羞草研究所� laughs Beggs, noting students are now trying to create them as well.

Mitchell-Banks is developing literacy skills, is interested in reading and can now go to the computer and find characters on his own, says Beggs.

害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 liking words now and can read simple sentences,害羞草研究所� she says. 害羞草研究所淭hat empowers him so he can learn what he wants. He害羞草研究所檚 a very curious person.害羞草研究所�

Michell-Banks is in the school害羞草研究所檚 Individual Achievement Program (IAP) with support from his team that focuses on his interests.

Learning resource teacher Eberle Balfour says she was 害羞草研究所渂lown away害羞草研究所� when she arrived at SAS and discovered IAP students receive individual support and that an attitude of inclusivity permeates the entire school.

害羞草研究所淎t Leifen害羞草研究所檚 house there is no computer so he creates most of his art there,害羞草研究所� says Parke of his prolific 害羞草研究所渇riends,害羞草研究所� many of whom have been brought to school. 害羞草研究所淗is art has grown so much because he explores his creativity.害羞草研究所�

Eberle agrees, noting that the team is now focusing on Mitchell-Banks害羞草研究所� career and trying to find ways for him to benefit financially from his art.

Mitchell-Banks works part time at No Frills and is expected to graduate this year. He will pursue his career goals with a new community team to provide support.