Colm’s art gets the UN stamp of approval

Three years ago, 24-year-old Colm Isherwood was getting increasingly frustrated. He was starting to lash out and had a lot of “down days”, according to his dad.

At around the same time, a new arts facilitator, Áine Crowley, joined the staff at Colm’s residential centre and said she was eager to get Colm painting.

Colm, from Mahon in Cork, has autism and can’t speak. He communicates using PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System), which means he uses pictures to express his needs and wishes.