alessandro-day-by-day-chiara-fracassi-0009 : Rho, nearby Milan (Italy) - 2018 - At home.
Over the years, statistical relevance of the autism phenomena increased dramatically worldwide: from 1 case per 5000 people in the 70s to 1 case per 100 people today. 
This significant increase is the result of much more accurate criterias and faster diagnostic paths.

alessandro-day-by-day-chiara-fracassi-0012 : Rho, nearby Milan (Italy) - 2017 - Still nowadays the general public has no real knowledge of everyday life of an autistic person. It's still known too little and there are a lot of misunderstandings about it. For Virginia it is a mission she pursues with dignity and strength, for the love of her brother.

alessandro-day-by-day-chiara-fracassi-0014 : Rho, nearby Milan (Italy) - 2018 - Shooting this picture in the pool, I witnessed a discrimination episode: the lifeguard thought Alessandro couldn't swim with other people because his condition. I hope this work will help to develop a higher collective awareness about autism and more solidarity in people. It would be very helpful.

alessandro-day-by-day-chiara-fracassi-0001 : Rho, nearby Milan (Italy) - 2017 - Alessandro is a 47 year old man who is autistic, deaf-mute and self-hetero aggressive. He is affected by a level 3 autism: the most serious level identified by modern psychology. His cognitive development is comparable to that of a one-year-old child.

alessandro-day-by-day-chiara-fracassi-0005 : Rho, nearby Milan (Italy) - 2017 - In the morning, before going out to the Disabled Day Center, Alessandro becomes very nervous and it is always a struggle to convince him to go.

alessandro-day-by-day-chiara-fracassi-0006 : Rho, nearby Milan (Italy) - 2017 - The aggressions sometimes become very intense, especially when Virginia's husband is not at home because of work. Alessandro has in fact realized that he is stronger than his sister and for this reason he mostly attacks her.

alessandro-day-by-day-chiara-fracassi-0013 : Rho, nearby Milan (Italy) - 2018 - I have an autistic brother-in-law and he was the first person I've ever met with this disorder. It is with the intention of making people understand what it means to live day by day with an autistic person that I came in touch with Alessandro and his family, staying with them for two years.

alessandro-day-by-day-chiara-fracassi-0003 : Rho, nearby Milan (Italy) - 2017 - Alessandro lives in Rho, a small town near Milan with his mother, his younger sister Virginia and her husband.

alessandro-day-by-day-chiara-fracassi-0002 : Rho, nearby Milan (Italy) - 2017 - His typical day is filled by rituals that are repeated always in the same and impenetrable way. He spends his days between the Disabled Day Centre and his home. He hates his routine being upset.

alessandro-day-by-day-chiara-fracassi-0010 : Rho, nearby Milan (Italy) - 2017 - When something makes him nervous, Alessandro lets out his agressivity squeezing Virginia’s wrists with great strength. It is not possible to be sure what made him nervous because he has no chance of communicating about it.

alessandro-day-by-day-chiara-fracassi-0011 : Rho, nearby Milan (Italy) - 2017 - The family plays a crucial role in his health. Virginia's husband, Alfonso, is very supportive and highly respected by Alessandro, who looks at him as a man of the house, especially since his father died.

alessandro-day-by-day-chiara-fracassi-0004 : Rho, nearby Milan (Italy) - 2017 - Virginia takes care of him daily and has given up working and having her own children to be with him all the time.

alessandro-day-by-day-chiara-fracassi-0008 : Rho, nearby Milan (Italy) - 2017 - The days Alessandro spends at the Disabled Day Centre are various and often involving small trips to the countryside. The mission of his reference educator is to teach him to manage his aggressivity in a constructive way or, at least, not in a violent one.

alessandro-day-by-day-chiara-fracassi-0007 : Rho, nearby Milan (Italy) - 2017 - When Alessandro returns from the Disabled Day Centre, Virginia tries to involve him in every activity in order to distract him from his routine, even bringing her dog Chantal to the dog play area together.