{"id":135749,"date":"2022-02-09T09:20:32","date_gmt":"2022-02-09T08:20:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=135749"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:26:06","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:26:06","slug":"on-the-ice-rink-audrey-is-completely-herself-without-anyone-finding-her-odd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2022\/02\/09\/on-the-ice-rink-audrey-is-completely-herself-without-anyone-finding-her-odd\/","title":{"rendered":"On the ice rink, Audrey is completely herself, without anyone finding it odd"},"content":{"rendered":"

On the ice rink, Audrey can be completely herself. It\u2019s a safe place where she can also do what she enjoys: figure skating. \u201cI thought: if I\u2019m going to continue living, I might as well do something fun too.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Twice a week Audrey trains on the ice rink in Dordrecht. She feels completely at ease on the ice.<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRonald van den Heerik<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Effortlessly, she steps onto the ice, as if the recently swept and glittering ice rink is not slippery at all. Now Audrey Ng-a-Tham (22) does her warm-up. Forward, backward, on one leg, changing leg, cross step, turn. She stands tall, is focused, and moves her arms gracefully. None of Audrey\u2019s timid side is visible.<\/p>\n

Element<\/h2>

\u201cI\u2019m absolutely in my element here,\u201d says Audrey. On the ice rink in Dordrecht, she feels almost as comfortable as she does in her own home. She trains on Mondays and Fridays. She is practising the Lutz and the Axel. If she gets them right, she can make several jumps and go up a level.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s special that the ice rink is a second home, says Audrey. Due to her autism, new places aren\u2019t always fun. Whether it\u2019s because of the people, the interior or a light that\u2019s too bright, too much stimulation can be overwhelming. And the ice rink is more often crowded than not.<\/p>\n\n\t

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Read more<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t