Faces of Promise: Looking Beyond Autism

Faces of Promise: Looking Beyond Autism is a collaboration between Dr. Richard Ehrlich, fine art photographer and physician, and Dr. Barbara Firestone, President, CEO & Founder of The Help Group, one of the nation’s leading nonprofits serving children with autism and other special needs. This large-format, beautifully designed book shares sensitive portraits of young people on the autism spectrum paired with personal reflections from their parents and, in some cases, from the young people themselves.

Faces of Promise had its genesis when Richard Ehrlich approached Dr. Firestone with an idea to promote the acceptance of children with autism through his photography. Underscored by the core belief that “Dignity, hope, opportunity and love are the birthrights of all children,” they set out to illustrate in photos and words the beauty and promise of the children. Faces of Promise is an unforgettable and deeply moving tribute to the young people portrayed in the book and their families.

Richard M. Ehrlich is a surgeon and photographer whose photographs are held in permanent collections of multiple museums, including the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, UCLA Hammer Museum, The George Eastman House, Denver Art Museum, and Santa Barbara Museum of Art, among others.

Barbara Firestone, PhD, is President, CEO and founder of The Help Group, the largest and most comprehensive nonprofit organization of its kind in the United States serving children with autism spectrum disorders and other special needs. Widely recognized for her leadership, vision, and innovation, Dr. Firestone was appointed Vice Chair of the California Legislative Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism, and The Help Group UCLA Autism Research Alliance was launched in conjunction with UCLA's Semel Institute. At state and national levels, she actively promotes autism awareness, early identification and intervention, and the expansion of education and treatment opportunities for children, adolescents, and young adults.