The sweet life

Tomás claims that the spinach pies with ricotta cheese that he prepares are what Popeye the sailor eats, which gives him super strength to defeat Brutus, the villain. He also says that before preparing food it is important to organize the preparation. This technique is known as Mise en place, comes from French and means, “put in its place”; a kind of visual script in the kitchen that allows us to be effective without being overwhelmed. Also “you must weigh the flour, the salt and even the milk,” he says; add water, sugar, oil to create the preferment. All of these are necessary ingredients for the dough, that powerful mixture that serves as a base for baking the delicious pastries filled with meat and chicken with pesto, or for preparing apple cookies and even the red fruit and arequipe horns from “Consentidos Tomás”, his family business. “I am also in charge of making the awning beautiful in the front garden of my house to invite all the residents of Envigado to indulge and sweeten the lives of all the residents of Envigado, oh and also get paid!” he expresses.

Tomás Camilo Arango Pulgarín, son of Vilma Pulgarín and Mario Arango, is twenty-four years old; He was diagnosed, at the age of five, with Asperger's syndrome*. He deeply loves gastronomy, soccer, painting, aerobics and is part of UIncluye, an educational program for populations with intellectual disabilities at the University of Antioquia; and Soy Músico, a Filarmed program that creates musical experiences for people with disabilities. “Music for me means tranquility, it is my moment of recreation, it helps me be happy and enjoy life. I love the piano because it is magical, it helps me do things calmly.” He also awakens his talent and creativity when he paints, he says: “my favorite colors are terracotta, citrus green, sunflower yellow, fiery and Christmas reds, and I love sky blue. They are my favorites because they are very appropriate for painting landscapes and places in the world. I don't like gray ones, they're boring. I love colors, because that is life itself, full of color.”

Mario, his father, is sixty years old, and conveys tranquility while speaking, a state that has been a support for him and his wife who have not “thrown in the towel” as he says. “This whole process has been a daily struggle, even with the world; They have closed the doors to us in many places, we have received many refusals. And then everything must be done with love and patience, filling ourselves with courage to become titans. Many families want this type of disability to be made visible and achieve the rights they deserve,” he says, who states that in our city—even in the country—there is still lack of knowledge and there is a lack of effective public policies related to health and recreation, as well as spaces for access to university programs adapted to the adult autistic population. “And this is an even more disturbing issue because if their rights are not guaranteed, it will be much more complex to enhance their abilities to make them autonomous and useful people in work and social life. “A true dignity of the person.”

“May he be happy in what he does,” Mario expresses affectionately, while looking into his son's eyes during the interview. Tomás has had the privilege of having the support of his parents, who have taught him to navigate human situations such as commitment, conflict, risk, difficulty, deception; They also motivate him to always be active and stimulated. “Tomás is aware that we are not going to be around forever. He must learn to have control of his own life,” says the mother.

On the other hand, music therapist Deisy Gaviria from Soy Músico, says that, although it is sometimes difficult for him to handle frustration when he does not achieve an exercise, Tomás is perseverant and has musical sensitivity; In addition, he shows empathy towards his classmates, is always very willing to learn and really enjoys music. He is respectful, attentive to the needs of others and likes to start conversations taking others into account.

Tomás dreams of sweetening many more lives with his entrepreneurship. “Continue with my studies, including exploring music and painting more and more to become a better human being…my family symbolizes well-being. They help me not make mistakes and be at peace. "I thank my parents for their love and for helping me understand the world."

*People with Asperger's (which, due to the new diagnostic classification, has been called Autism Spectrum Disorder Level 1), are characterized by having difficulties sustaining social interaction or communicating, according to the typical parameters of society. They tend to require inflexible routines in their daily lives and care intensely about some interests that are particular to them.