My Brother Has Autism
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Having and older brother with autism leaves you feeling a whole array of different ways. Growing up I went through the struggles of questioning why my brother has autism, and why does it seem that no one excepts him. I realize when talking to people and I say casually "Oh my brother has autism!" people often have the response of, "Oh bless you. Not many people can do that!". I'm sure people don't intend to be rude when saying that; but I think that some people just don't get it. When you are given a child with autism you don't "do it". You bring he or she into the world as you would any other child. Growing up with a brother with autism it isn't and never was a chore or a job, as some see it as. It was always more like; Okay, he's my brother, who needs more help then others. Let me help him. It is what it is, and it never takes a "certain kind of person" to be able to "do it".
Aside from all that talking to other people who have autism I always seem to get the same vibe from them. We love our siblings just like any other. They are like all other siblings; we fight, we get on each others nerves, but we love each other. It's really all that simple, there's no questions to it. Growing up with an autistic sibling can be hard at times; I won't sugar coat that at our. I can recall many time where I was picked on and badgered at school for having the "weird brother" or "special brother". All I could keep telling myself was that those people didn't understand and hopefully one day they will. I think it is very important for sisters and brothers or autistic siblings to come out and talk about their views. The more I talk to people the more I realize, "Wow. I'm not alone! They understand too!". We as siblings of the autistic grow up viewing the world differently. We accept everyone and always try to see the other sides to things. Why? Because no one person is alike and everyone has a different side/view to everything. My brother paces around the house for hours. I came to accept this because somewhere in his mind it is right and everyone else just doesn't understand.
I'm writing this to let others, who have autistic siblings (or parents of autistic children), know that they are not alone. We all go through the same experiences and we all see things differently.
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Great article Kristen, so important for people to know and understand. I am a teacher of students with learning difficulties and I have found out that our children are loved at their special school, the most of them are loved at home but the most problem they have if they go out and want to explore the outside world...unfortunatelly many people are not intelligent or emphatetic enough to except differences...Hopefully it will change, blogsphere is a good place to start. Well done, all the best from Beata
Thank you for your kind comment on my blog /http:universalandparticular.wordpress.com/, it is very appreciated. You see, there are many differences that distuinguish us - disability, appearance, age, culture, sickness...I wish people start to except people as they are and not to try to fit them in the 'average boxes'.
I would be happy if you have time to spare to visit me on my other blogs. On my http://bittersweet.beata.blogspot.com
I write about my previous students, recently about a Muslim refugee...
I am also no hub pages as you discover. Thank you for visiting me, hope to hear from you again and wishing you all the best in your studies and the best wishes for your brother as well. Beata
Hi Im Kristen's mom, I love you and I thank God daily you are my daughter. I am so proud of you :)
Thank you mom! Love you too :D
my brother has autism and type one diabetes. i worry about him a lot. its hard to understand why him. why your brother and her son? but seeing them smile and laugh and live makes life all the more precious. we are who we are because of autism and we should be proud! stay positive!
My brother has autism aswell. I remember in primary school a kid used to always ask me "why is your brother so stupid?" I wanted to punch him in the face. Sometimes when we have family gatherings my cousins treat him like his scum, like some wierdo. But growing up a little more has made me realise that my bro is awesome and though he may sing to himself and be byhimself in his room most of the day I will always love him. Thankyou for showing me I am not alone.
My son has autism and sometimes I wonder how his younger sister will feel when she goes to school. I know the hard part is the other people! My son is great to be around, easier than some average kids I would say. Thanks for the hub!
i also hope it
I like your statement: "We love our siblings just like any other." Some people who don't have mentally dysfunctional relatives do not seem to fully understand that sentiment. I think officials thought we would say "thank you" when Larry Neal was murdered after 18 days of secret arrest in Memphis Shelby County Jail http://WrongfulDeathofLarryNeal.com . After all, people with paranoid schizophrenia present cause many problems for themselves and others, especially with fewer hospital beds and reduced community care options today compared to the 1970s. But advocacy is making improvements in treatment options. In fact, 1.25 million inmates in America are mentally ill.
I read about numerous Autistic kids facing incarceration for behavior caused by their disability. It is good news that the United States Department of Justice recently certified Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) programs. AOT programs like Laura's Law and Kendra's Law provide mandated psychiatric treatment and subsistence assistance for acute mental patients like Larry. Kendra's Law reduced homelessness, prison, hospitalization, and arrests by up to 85% among New York participants compared to their experiences three years prior to joining the AOT program. That is good news for the mentally challenged and their families. Timely treatment makes communities safer, and all taxpayers save money on prison costs.
It would be just as wrong to jail your Autistic brother for inappropriate behavior caused by Autism as it would be wrong to prosecute a man for having a heart attack. Join the quest to decriminalize mental illness and brain conditions like Autism by letting your representatives know you would like for treatment to replace imprisonment for mentally challenged people. Whether they need inpatient or outpatient care should depend on inmates' offenses and their functionality. Please visit our online group "Assistance to the Incarcerated Mentally Ill."
Thanks for this insightful article on what it is like to have an Autistic sibling.
Mary
wolfpack5 2 years ago
I Know how you feel, my son has it to. and its really hard to understand why. But as far as I know there is really no rime or reason for it.