25-year-old Len has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). When he moved to Amsterdam, his Rainbow buddy Jeroen (39) came in handy. "Jeroen is my frame of reference."
Over a steaming cup of tea Len chooses his words carefully. Jeroen has a totally different way of talking, the words are equally beautifully chosen, but the hesitation is missing. Jeroen is adamant where Len is constantly looking for context, the why, for interpretation. There is no shortage of self-knowledge. "I've always been very good at doubting about everything." Then, in a phrase enviable to any writer, "I'm that wobbly vase that needs to be caught."
In early 2024, Len moved from Winterswijk to Amsterdam. He went to work as a motion graphic designer at an advertising agency that was eager to have him, because Len is good. As a fourth-year Creative Media and Game Technologies student, he already won an award with his videos. His biggest hit on YouTube accounts for more than 10 million views. Now he makes motion graphics for Albert Heijn, among others. Not exactly a boy who needs a buddy, you might think. But that's beyond his ASD.
Asperger
Asperger's syndrome is an old name that you don't often come across these days. There used to be different types of autism, all of which now come under the name autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This included Asperger's syndrome. And that's what Len "suffers" from. "Because of my ASD, I can't trust my intuition very well and can't read people very well. Therefore, I have to question everything and sometimes I give a different social signal than I would like. Sometimes I talk too loud or am too direct. In reality, I am not defensive but just curious about something, or very enthusiastic. Jeroen is my frame of reference. He really helped me in Amsterdam."
Jeroen interjects. "It's not just a disability, your ASD. How beautiful it is that, as an artist, you get into everything unfiltered."
"It definitely has advantages," Len confirms. "Ignorance is bliss. No biases. No assumptions. In the field of art, that's definitely a big advantage."
Months of waiting list
Looking back on his first steps in Amsterdam, Len recalls a conversation at the Oud-Zuid neighborhood team. His ambulatory counselor in Winterswijk had advised him to seek ambulatory help in Amsterdam as well. The municipality pointed him to the Neighborhood Team in question. "There I heard that there was a foundation that counsels people with ASD, but there they had a waiting time of months. They tipped off the Regenboog: a buddy program, would you like that? Not much later I met Jeroen andthe rest is history."
Jeroen said he wanted to do something good for the world. "My brother was buddy to a man from Syria. I thought: why don't I actually do this?". Online, he found De Regenboog Groep. "Hats off to all they do in the field of informal care. Amsterdam should really be proud of that." Jeroen tells about the training he received at the Volunteer Academy and about the phone call that soon followed: we have found someone who is a perfect fit for you. I remember thinking, "you guys are obviously hell bent on selling me this". But they were right; I just love Len. I also knew pretty quickly what he needed: security. It's quite a step, from Winterswijk, a village, to Amsterdam. Regardless of who you are or what you do, that's a big step. Let alone if you have ASD."
Way too well behaved!
"The keywords of our match were art and creativity," Len explains the click that was immediate. "I'm currently studying at the Rietveld Academy and Jeroen graduated from ArtEZ in Arnhem."
Jeroen: "There was a latent desire in Len, I felt in the conversations we had. At one point I said: I think you should go to art school. It suits your talents very well and can add a lot to your development. In April 2024 he wrote a letter to be admitted. Yes, I rejected that one. Way too good! You're going to art school, I said, not some LOI course."
That Jeroen is critical, Len finds only good. "Jeroen doesn't just like everything I do, think and find. I need that, because sometimes I just don't know if I'm on the right track. Then I need someone on the outside to give direction."
Jeroen: "Or to say you're doing really well. Like right now."
Len: "Yes, it does feel that way to me. I'm a blessed person."