Anastasiia or Nastya, as her family lovingly calls her, is a 25-year-old autistic newcomer from Ukraine who discovered a whole new world through painting. Her journey has been anything but ordinary, and her story is a powerful reminder of how creativity can transform lives.
From Silence to Stories
Nastya didn’t speak until she was 7. Before that, she mostly made repetitive sounds and showed little interest in drawing or painting. But something shifted after a dolphin therapy session at age 8 – an experience that left a lasting impression on her. Soon after, she began drawing with pencils. “Then Crimea was occupied,” Nastya recalled on our call, likely thinking how that meant she might never see the dolphins again.
Back in Ukraine, Nastya never went to school in the traditional sense. She learned entirely at home, completing a regular Ukrainian high school program with the help of teachers and her mom, Svetlana, a chemistry teacher. She also studied piano with a help of tutors through an individualized program.
The family is originally from Cherkassy, in central Ukraine, about 200 km from Kyiv. When the full-scale war broke out, they left right away. Loud noises are very difficult for Nastya to tolerate, and safety became urgent. First, they found refuge in Sweden. Later, they moved to Canada, where they’ve been building a new life for the last 2 years.
A New Life, A New Medium
About a year ago, someone gifted Nastya an apron. Until then, she avoided painting because she didn’t like getting her hands messy. But with her new apron on, everything changed. She tried acrylics – and hasn’t looked back since.
Nastya paints every day now. In fact, during our Zoom conversation, she interrupted it a few times to excitedly show the artwork she had just made. One was inspired by what she saw through the window, another by a painting hanging on their wall. She didn’t copy it. She reimagined it with her own interpretation and palette.
She’s especially drawn to dolphins, which often appear in her paintings. Sometimes she paints them from memory, other times from reference images she finds online. “I come up with painting ideas when I think about my childhood,” she shared. Those early memories, especially of dolphin therapy, still echo in her work.
A Creative Soul
Nastya doesn’t just paint – she’s endlessly creative. Over the years, she’s explored crafting, comics, sewing, and digital art. She knows her way around Photoshop, Illustrator, and Paint, all self-taught. Last year, we gifted her a donated sewing machine.
She publishes her own web comics online, too. You can check them out here:
Just the day we spoke, Nastya was glowing. Her mom had just bought her new paint, and she was as excited as a child unwrapping a birthday gift. She also told me that she was proud to have sold one of her paintings for $5. A small moment, but a big step for a young artist.
Considering she’s only been painting for about a year, Nastya’s work is already full of color and emotion. It’s clear that her artistic journey is just beginning – and the future holds so much promise.
Though she loves visual storytelling, Nastya also longs for verbal conversation. “Sometimes I just want to talk,” she told me. But she doesn’t really have friends. She once joined a program for autistic kids and even painted portraits of some of them—but most were non-verbal. She hopes to find more social opportunities where she can connect, talk, and feel accepted.
Her mom believes that Nastya not only needs socialization, but also support in developing independence – learning how to do things on her own, like going to the store or navigating daily tasks. That’s something they are hoping to work toward, but it’s not easy.
Living in Uncertainty
The family currently lives in a shelter. Svetlana is unable to work due to her full-time caregiving role – she also has a younger son, and because she had a serious accident earlier this year, falling from the upper deck of a bus. Since then, she has struggled with chronic back pain and difficulty walking, which makes everyday tasks even harder.
Still, Svetlana does everything she can to support Nastya’s creativity. Not every art program works for Nastya. Loud, crowded classrooms overwhelm her, but she’s currently attending an individualized art program that feels safe and comfortable. “She feels whether she’s accepted or not,” Svetlana said. And when she is – her creativity soars. Unfortunately, this program will end soon.
A Little Can Go a Long Way
Nastya’s story is one of quiet strength, deep sensitivity, and hidden talent. Sometimes, all it takes to brighten someone’s world is a paintbrush, a conversation—or simply a chance to belong.
Let’s help her keep creating, connecting, and thriving.
How You Can Help
If Nastya’s story has touched your heart, here are a few ways you can support her and her family:
- Donate art supplies – Acrylic paints, brushes, canvases, paper, and more are always needed.
- Buy her artwork – Nastya creates new pieces daily and would love to find homes for them.
- Offer a creative job opportunity – She’s interested in part-time creative work. She speaks English, is great with computers, and creates digital art.
- Help her make friends – Nastya would love to meet peers she can talk with and share experiences.
- Support for Svetlana – She is looking for:
Work-from-home opportunities
Chemistry tutoring gigs in Ukrainian or Russian
Free art programs or community groups for autistic adults. Nastya thrives in calm, accepting environments with a personal touch.
- Programs that support life skills, social interaction, and confidence-building would be a huge step forward.
Other parents of autistic adults to connect with
An autism specialist to help with understanding Nastya’s stress-related behaviors that she developed after moving to Canada
💌 To help Nastya or her family, please contact Svetlana directly at [email protected].
2 Comments
Beautiful art pieces. I would like to buy some and will reach out to the email above.
Thank you for the inspiring story. So well written.
Thank you so much for your kind words and support, Julie! 💛
It means the world to Nastya and her family. She’ll be so happy to know that someone wants to buy her artwork.