Living and Learning with Autism: A Sibling's Perspective

682 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Strategies teaching autistic children pdf

While my peers volunteer with the Special Olympics to gain experience with the differently abled, I live the event every day. My younger brother has severe Autism. Life with him carries a unique set of challenges and benefits that have shaped me. I have never known what it is like to live without the perspective gained by having a sibling with a disability. Empathy, resilience and maturity have been the key to maintaining a positive and fulfilling life. They are the characteristics that are giving direction to my future.
Living with a sibling that must work hard for every milestone has been inspirational. I recently spent two years teaching my brother how to ride a three-wheel bike. He is 16years old and I am still working with him on the task of knowing the difference between “yes” and “no”. While we were in school together, I had a math class above his special needs classroom. I would …show more content…

Seeing the pain my brother has endured has set focus to my future. I hope to become a lawyer and fight internationally for the rights of all children, including the intellectually challenged. I have spent the summers of my high school years to peruse that purpose and prepare for college. I have participated in the Congressional Youth Leadership Conference, attended the Georgetown University School of Continuing Education, “International Law Institute” and attended the Harvard University Summer School pre-collage legal program “Evidence in the American Judicial System”.
My character has been shaped by my life experience. A character that is strong, self-directed, determined and forgiving. These traits will certainly be a perfect fit to help me pursue a degree at the University of Florida. By studying at your spectacular campus, I hope to develop my character further and progress from an undergraduate scholar, to a graduate student, to an alumni of the University of Florida, to a proud and active community

Show More
Related

  • Judge David Soukup Biography

    409 Words  | 1 Pages

    While sitting at juvenile court, I never got a night’s sleep without waking to wonder if at least one decision I made that day had been the best for a child. It struck me that it might be possible to recruit and train volunteers to investigate a child’s case so they could provide a voice for the child in those proceedings, proceedings which could affect their whole lives.” -Judge David W. Soukup, Founder of CASA

    Read More

  • Child Life Specialist Personal Statement

    1152 Words  | 3 Pages

    Although my aunt is not a psychology professional, her hands-on experience with my cousin exemplifies her knowledge of his disorder and ability to care for him. Her strength and aptitude accompanied by my cousin’s optimism inspired me to learn more about the human mind and how it works. Along with my involvement in “Best Buddies” in high school, I frequently was exposed to other types of mentally challenged students that had autism, Fragile X syndrome (FXS), cerebral palsy and ADD/ADHD. Best Buddies is an international organization that creates one-to-one friendships between individuals with or without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD); that offers social mentoring and provides an improvement in the quality of life to the special needs population (Best Buddies International, 2017). Our organization would sponsor activities such as dances, after school activities, and provide tutoring.

    Read More

  • Reflection Of Neurotypical

    1191 Words  | 3 Pages

    ASD individuals may find it hard to communicate and socialize with others around them. However, because each child is unique, they have their own unique abilities and ways of responding to new experiences. Other issues children with ASD have include; anxiety, sleeping problems, and learning disabilities. Those who are diagnosed with ASD or any other disability are usually judged and bullied. In the documentary Violet’s mother says she is afraid of her child being labeled and underestimated because she is diagnosed with autism. A child’s disability can also affect their family members. Family members may have a difficult time understanding and getting to know the autistic child in order to provide for them. They struggle to find interventions such as treatment and therapy for them, the right medical care, and trying learn to cope with all this. At times parents and caregivers can also feel stressed or irritated knowing they have to fulfill all of the child’s needs. Siblings on the other hand, may find it unfair that the autistic child gets the most attention and

    Read More

  • My Education In Laura Cichoracki's The Elephant In The Playroom

    801 Words  | 2 Pages

    Unfortunately, a lot of parents may have a difficult time accepting their child, and coping with their needs and the responsibilities. From the book “The Elephant in the Playroom,” some families dealt with depression and physical and mental deterioration of their health. These struggles were shown in the story by Laura Cichoracki. Laura’s son’s name was Patrick. Patrick was a 6-years-old boy with autism. “I wasn’t eating right, I wasn’t showering regularly, I wasn’t sleeping well” (Brodey, p. 64). I also read the story told by Susan Marrash-Minnerly, which highlighted emotions that parents face. Susan also shed light on how wonderful children with special needs can be to a family, such as her ten-year-old third grader who had autism. Susan talked about how it was normal to feel angry at times, especially with the ups and downs a child’s disability may come with. “When I look back, I want to tell other parents that a child’s future is worth grieving over – but it’s not the end of the world” (Brodey, p. 75). After reading these stories, it became apparent to me that families who are raising kids with special needs, need support, kindness, and available resources. “I was fortunate to be surrounded by other moms who understood my pain…who could be supportive and emphatic.” (Brodey, p. 67). Overall, educators can use this kind of information that was shared in “The Elephant in the Playroom” about family systems and risk/resiliency by creating lines of open communication between families. This is to connect parents together that share similar struggles. By creating open communication is can allows for the teacher and parents to be on the same page when it comes to the issues affecting special needs students and

    Read More

  • Mask Film Analysis

    700 Words  | 2 Pages

    The people with disabilities are portrayed as hardworking. They have people surrounding them that are accepting and encourage them to do their best. The support helps them build up courage to overcome their disability. It can take years, but the effort will not be

    Read More

  • Family and Autism

    941 Words  | 2 Pages

    Is there anybody in your family with autism? Almost every book or article is about how autism affects the person with the disorder but never the family around them. Being a parent or a child who has autism can be extremely difficult and change your whole life. Some parents view having a child with autism is a bad thing and would take away their autism if they could. Other parents think having their child be different is a good thing and would not take it away. I think that talking about the effects on the family is very important and should be discussed.

    Read More

  • Imprtance of Special Olympics

    1588 Words  | 4 Pages

    “Every year around 4.2 million special needs participants attend Special Olympics events around the world.” (Special Olympics). Special Olympics gives individuals with disabilities an opportunity to enjoy participating in sports in the same ways as any other athlete. Special Olympics shows the accomplishments, skill and the bravery of the athletes. Athletics, through Special Olympics, make a positive impact on the lives of those with special needs allowing them to lead active lives.

    Read More

  • Crime And Crime

    1132 Words  | 3 Pages

    ... education alone. The stark reality leaves much desired, success determined through unfavorable components, which my cousin never had, where you live, money, and education. Limits stop individuals from growth and career aspirations which contributed to my cousin becoming an at risk youth. Throughout my experiences, I learned that second chances could bring individuals thought lost back to the fold and be successful. My hope is that law school will contribute in my drive towards social activism. Law school will help me in my continued efforts for children’s success. Furthermore, my guidance, of course extends to people who face similar circumstances such as my cousin. Society stigmatized the indigent, cycles formed, and members of the family remains entrenched with their future remaining uncertain. I want to serve communities in overcoming the limits set by society.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Disabilities: A Giant Step By Henry Louis Gates Jr.

    727 Words  | 2 Pages

    In countries with life expectancies over 70 years of age, people spend on average about eight years, or 11.5 percent of their life span, living with disabilities. The passage "A Giant Step” by Henry Louis Gates Jr is a memoir about how he came to injure his foot, and all the complications that went along with the permanent injury. Similarly “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” is a story about a teen named Junior who has hydrocephalic, we learn the many complications that come along with this disability. There are similarities and differences in how both people live their lives. Both people with their disabilities find it within themselves not to give up and still overcome challenges. On the other hand both mothers aren't the same, their motives for their children are completely different. Junior was also able to live a little more normal life, have freedom meanwhile Gates was held back a little more from

    Read More

  • Autism: Educational and Social Effects

    880 Words  | 2 Pages

    As a student living with no impairing physical or mental disability, it is difficult to imagine life any other way. On the other hand, when taking the time to contemplate what people with disabilities, such as Autism have to cope with, I realize just how much I take for granted in every day life; such as options to any class, learning at a normal pace, and peer interactions, to name a few. Autism not only affects people physically, but socially as well, ensuing subordinate self esteem, meager social skills, and poor peer relationships, aspects of maturing which are crucial to proper development.

    Read More

  • Case Study of a Child with Autism

    1292 Words  | 3 Pages

    tried giving him a drink or some food in the hope that she had guessed

    Read More

  • Teaching Children with Autism

    1481 Words  | 3 Pages

    There has been an increase in the number of children diagnosed with autism or other autism spectrum disorders. It is likely as an educator that you will have at least one child with this diagnosis in your classroom. This paper explores some of the methods used to teach autistic children.

    Read More

  • Why I Am Interested In This Educational Opportunity?

    593 Words  | 2 Pages

    Why am I interested in this educational opportunity? The bullies tried to tear me down, they failed. My whole life I've been a victim to bullies, which resulted in me becoming an introvert. However, I applaued the bullies.

    Read More

  • Autism Case Study

    1100 Words  | 3 Pages

    Brothers and sisters of a child with autism can react in two different ways. They either accept the disorder and the relationship between them grows or they do not accept it and tear apart a sibling bond. In a situation where they both benefit from the relationship they may become closer and the siblings may be very protective of their brother or sister (Raising Children Network). When the relationship is built up and made stronger usually the autistic child is the youngest. This is because older siblings are able to understand the situation more than young children would (Raising Children Network). Siblings that are negatively impacted may experience the situation in two ways: emotionally or physically. Emotionally their stress level, thoughts and views of sibling, and personal feelings may change. Children can experience many different levels of stress, these can be caused by tensions between other members of the family, amounts of therapy, or many other ways (Paltrow). Also they may have negative thoughts of the sibling with autism (Glasberg), since they may act differently. Finally children may feel as if they are left behind especially if both parents focus lots on the autistic child (Glasberg). Since they are impacted emotionally, their actions may also change. Siblings of a child with autism are more destructive, play less with their siblings, and tend to have fewer friends (Glasberg). This may cause tensions in the household and may not be understood by the

    Read More

  • Importance of My Home Environment

    511 Words  | 2 Pages

    Growing up with two older brothers taught me to be unselfish, patient, and respectful.  Being the youngest of three, I learned I would not always get what I wanted.  I would have to be patient and wait my turn for a lot of things, such as the telephone and bathroom.  I was glad that I was able to grow up with siblings to teach me these lifelong lessons. All three of us had to be respectful of each other or we would risk getting in trouble with my parents.

    Read More

More about Living and Learning with Autism: A Sibling's Perspective

Open Document