Andrey says

Andrei in childhood did not learn to speak. And the language of gestures also did not learn - they have their own. At the same time, he understands everything, loves to work and says without ceasing. Just not in the usual sense

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“He becomes especially talkative in the car when we are together,” says Tatyana. - Then he chatting incessantly. “There I drove“ Kamaz ”, but there, mom, look, a small“ eye ”, and in the village I will wash the floor when we arrive, and bake that pie with pumpkin.” And sometimes it swears - especially does not like traffic cops. Just sees, immediately begins to boil and threaten his fists. ”

To understand Andrei, you do not need to know the language of gestures, and he does not need words. Tall, large, beautiful, this 34-year-old hero rises from the lower floor of the Tourmaline workshop, and it is heard from afar. The peals of his loud bass without any words convey emotions, and he has a lot of them. It is not yet visible, but it is already clear that this big person is very proud. And after a second you have to find out what.

Andrey Photo: Maria Ionova-Garbin for TD

“I polished a wooden vase, polished two hours, tired, but tried very hard, and now it is perfect. And before that, I tracked it out of the tree. Here, you see, what is smooth? Touch yourself. You can apply to the cheek. And you see my sweat on my forehead - I'm so tired. Are you not tired? Want to sit on the sofa? "

This is most like a game of charades, pantomime. And this is an absolute delight. The joy of finding out what they want to tell you without the help of words. The joy of understanding the other. “Only you are not enough to smile and nod, you have to repeat everything behind him in words, then he will understand that you understood him,” says Tatyana. - This is tiring, and at the end of the day my tongue is just braided. It is not only that you need to repeat everything behind him, then then also answer, and sometimes all this several times. But he speaks without stopping everything. ”

Unique

When Andrei was born, the doctors gave him 10 points on the Apgar scale - completely healthy. Large, pink strong. Only through the entire head was a scratch from the scalpel after Cesarev. “Maybe this is the whole point,” says Tatyana.

Farewell at the end of the day after class. For people with mental disorders, it is very important to understand the beginning and end of all classes and actions photo: Maria Ionova-Gribin for TD

The first signs that something was wrong appeared after a year. At first he sat down late, then he began to walk late. And he did not start talking at all. Development of development, the doctors said, and Tatyana and her husband gave Andrei to Specialsly. Mom had to return to work - she worked all her life in the Rostokinsky fur factory, sewed hats. At the age of six, they issued disability. The diagnosis is oligophrenia, mental retardation.

Parents tried to arrange Andrei in a kindergarten for deaf -mute children, but they did not take him there. It turned out that the boy had one hundred percent hearing and no damage to the speech apparatus. And they said that it was useless to teach him the language of gestures - by that time he had his own style of gestures.

Andrey and his mother Tatyana Pavlovna pose in the music office photo: Maria Ionova-Gribin for TD

From 10 to 18 years old, Andrei went to the Rodnik special school, then to the workshop for adults with developmental features. They were engaged in music, made crafts and sewed. Andrei liked to sew most. They still have three of his large patchwork blanks. And for the past nine years three times a week, Andrei has been going to the Turmalin workshop.

Vigorous

“It's just the happiness that this workshop is,” says Tatyana. -He has so much energy in this heroic body, and it needs to be taken somewhere. You just can't hold it at home. Every day goes for a walk into the yard. True, small children tease him, throw stones at him, call on. But he just steps aside. We went around all the museums and exhibitions, which are possible. Already three times were in the new Cosmos pavilion at VDNH, we know all the parks, we rode dozens of times along the MCC, we go to the zoo, go on trains in the suburbs. Andrei loves the train. "

Andrey in the carpentry workshop, he also works in a ceramic workshop, but recently he likes to work with a tree photo: Maria Ionova-Garbin for TD

When it can, Tatyana walks everywhere with her son. But this is often tiring, therefore, in the days when Andrei is in Tourmalin, she can relax at least a little, and he can do his favorite work. Previously, Andrei made ceramics, loved large forms - large vases, plates, jugs. And six months ago he asked for a carpentry workshop. Now he is engaged in wood, with the same passion.

Andrey Photo: Maria Ionova-Garbin for TD

He generally does everything with passion - sharpens, cuts, polishes, vacuums, communicates, curses. “Fixed, like a father! - says Tatyana. - Sometimes, as a braid on a stone will find, you have to breed them in different rooms. But quickly leaves. A minute is boiling, and on the second it is already coming to hug. ”

Gentle

Andrei loves to insist on his own. If the pie with pumpkin wants, it should be with pumpkin. And not small pies, but a large pie. If there will be buckwheat for lunch, which he recently fell in love, then he will cry out and with a gesture at his throat will say: “This buckwheat is already standing across my throat.” And it will only be dressed in what he wants. “This black nondescript windbreaker fell in love with him, and walks in it without removing, this is some kind of nightmare,” says Tatyana. “And this way and this way they persuaded him to put on something more sympathetic, but he is not in any.”

Andrei loves to remove, especially vacuuming photos: Maria Ionova-Garbin for TD

Andrey is very attached to his mother. When dad is in the car, and Andrei is always in his legitimate passenger place in front, he turns back every five minutes and touches Tatyana by the hand, whether he disappeared. When at home, it does not move away from her a single step. And very jealous. He does not like when she talks with other people or by phone.

Andrei understands everything. He serves himself. He has a magnificent visual memory-he remembers every courtyard and street where he has ever been. He watched for an hour how the employees of Tourmaline tried in vain to assemble the old fan, came up and gathered it in a minute. He is alive and emotional, responsive and vulnerable. And very charming.

Portrait of Andrei

Such as Andrei (although such as he, of course, is no more), our society does not want to see. People like him are not hired. Despite the fact that they can and love to work. Fortunately, there is a tourmaline. In his creative workshops, 60 people with different mental disorders are now engaged in his daily. In addition to work, they do simple everyday things: they dine, clean, walk. Remove from the table, wash the floor, get together for a walk - these simple actions are also an important part of the rehabilitation program.

The Help Foundation collects money to pay for the work of social teachers and specialists of the Tourmaline rehabilitation center, as well as for payment of utility bills for the premises. Even a small monthly donation to the work of the center will help such as Andrei, continue to do what love, communicate and feel like everyone else.