RASHEEDA

Stepping into the playroom felt like crossing a threshold into a world painted in quiet joy, and there she was—Rasheeda—laughing alongside her sister and therapist. I sat in the background, camera in my lap, becoming as much a fixture of the room as the soft cushions and scattered toys. In those first few minutes, I simply watched her: the way her fingers traced the drum, the gentle arc of her smile when her sister made her laugh, the bright spark in her eyes even if they rarely met mine directly.

 

Rasheeda doesn’t speak with words, and her gaze often roams rather than settles—but in her body’s soft sway, in the tilt of her head, she tells a story filled with wonder. To capture her essence, I shifted my vantage point again and again—crouching low to share her line of sight, standing tall to frame the sunlight coming from the far window, leaning in close to find the magic in her delicate gestures. Each click of the shutter was a small invitation into her world, a chance to honor her unique rhythm.

 

What moved me most was the unspoken trust between Rasheeda and her therapist. Watching them work felt like witnessing two dancers in perfect harmony: the therapist’s gentle voice guiding her steps, her patient hands mirroring Rasheeda’s movements, her unwavering presence a bridge to a place of trust. There was a moment when Rasheeda reached out, her fingertips grazing the therapist’s hand, and I could feel the warmth of that connection. In that single gesture lay a universe of faith—faith in possibility, in growth, in pure, unfiltered love.

 

When I pack up my gear at the end of the day, it’s never just photographs I take with me, but something far more impactful: the memory of innocence, of barriers dissolving, of emerging milestones beyond words. Each image is a testament to Rasheeda’s radiant spirit and to the therapists who step into her world with courage and compassion. To bear witness to such moments is a gift—and to preserve them through my lens, feels nothing short of sacred.

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**Click on each image to see the full composition**