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Cover image for Improvisation on the Spectrum
Raphaël Pinson
Raphaël Pinson

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Improvisation on the Spectrum

#mentalhealth #inclusion #community #career

As you may know, this month is autism awareness month.

Many things will be posted about autism, and I'd like to share one: a little comic strip I made in July last year (updated in June 2026), in an attempt to capture of one many invisible quirks in the daily life of an autistic person.

Title card: Improvisation on the Spectrum
Raphaël plays flute while Jimena accompanies on piano. Caption: When it comes to music, I improvise easily...
Jimena looks anxious at the piano while Raphaël plays on. Caption: My wife, on the other hand, relies on the precise notes she's learned.
Close-up of Raphaël playing flute, focused. Caption: If I play the wrong note...
Same close-up, Raphaël unfazed, music notes floating freely. Caption: I just improvise my way through it.
Jimena smiles and waves at a social event, speech bubble: Oh sorry, I hadn't seen you before! Caption: My wife can improvise when she makes social mistakes.
Raphaël stands frozen, arms out, distressed in a crowded hallway. Caption: But when I make a mistake socially, I freeze.
Raphaël arms crossed, thought bubble: I saw this person before but didn't greet them. Should I say hi now, or is it awkward?
A younger man confronts Raphaël, speech bubble: Why are you looking at me like that?
Raphaël stands alone in the hallway, one hand raised helplessly. Caption: I can navigate social interactions by rules, but improvising often leads to awkward situations.

This is the first of a series of posts on autism that I will be posting this month.

This is part of my April 2026 autism awareness month series. First published on LinkedIn on 2026-04-02.

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