literature

Autism: A Bigger Awareness

Deviation Actions

courtneyyamisgirl's avatar
Published:
1.3K Views

Literature Text

Autism – it's just as important as breast cancer, HIV/AIDS, and even diabetes, but some people are not aware of autism and how much of the population actually has it. In fact, 1 in 150 children are diagnosed with autism. I live with victims of this disorder and I'm here to share mine experience and their experience about their life with autism and how it affects them.

I have a fourteen year old sister and an eight year old brother diagnosed with autism. As their big sister, I am always there to give them support and to help them out the best they can. We found out that my sister, Cailyn, had autism when she was three months old. Even though I was only a child myself, I will never forget the look on my parent's face when they found out. It was almost heart crushing. The doctors believed that it was all the vaccines they were giving her when she was born. She went from a normal, happy girl playing with her big sister to lying on the couch all day and screaming and having tantrums of everything that happened. I started to feel lonely because I knew there was something wrong. I was almost scared to be around my own sister because I was afraid I might get it (even though it's not contagious but hell I knew that at four years old… not) and what people might say to me and the rest of the family. We broke up with my dad's side of the family because they didn't like the "new her", but hell… they weren't going to appreciate her for who she was so who wants to be with a bunch of losers, and yup… we haven't talked and seen any them sense. My grandma and my grandpa (that died the night of my third grade open house) are/were always there for her. My grandma today is still giving her a lot of support as well as the rest of my mom's side of the family. We tried to get her help through therapy at age nine (… or maybe ten, I can't remember right now ) but it was helpless. My mom said we should have done it sooner and that it's almost too late to do anything about it. We just have to keep her happy and healthy. She is currently going to a public middle school in a special ed class with an aid at her side at all time. She seems to have friends that care and understand her disorder, but she really is alone. She doesn't know much about the outside world and still lives in the life of a five year old, but she's getting better at it as we speak.

As far as my brother Holden goes, I don't remember when we found out but I was crushed to hear that my one and only brother was diagnosed with autism. My parents decided to do what they should have done with my sister when they found out – before he was even one, my parents got him therapy help from a company known as BEST. They no longer work with him, but ever since they did, we are able to see a huge difference in his behaviors than my sister had/has now. He is highly functioned, talks all the time, and is almost perfectly normal; however, he can have his own tantrums and issues but ever since we have been giving him help we believe he might have moved away from autism to Asperger's. He is currently in the top of his second grade class, already knowing how to extreme math problems, read higher level books, and know insane facts about all 50 states. He always wants to learn new things especially when it comes to math. He's so smart I can't help but feel a little jealous (I'm HORRIBLE at math!!!), but I'm happy that he's able to do what he can! He is currently going to a public elementary school where he has an aid with him at all times as well.

I was happy when it was announced that April was going to become Autism Awareness Month and this year, April 2009, was its first official month, but I feel as if it's not recognized. I want to raise as much awareness as possible. Pass on this story to your friends. Who knows, one reader is better than no one reading at all.
Since I'm a contributor to the group :iconitdoesnothaveme:, I thought this was appropriate.

I love my sister and brother with all my heart and do a lot throughout my free time to raise money and promote awareness to Autism. I hope you read my article and reflect on it. Autism is not something to be taken lightly and it just seems like a lot of people do...

Thank you for your time!

I plan on writing more of these soon, so stay tuned!
Comments24
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In
FanArtArtist1993's avatar
Autistic people are not victims of Autism. I have Asperger's Syndrome and saying Autistic people are victims of Autism is kinda offensive. The doctor is ableist for saying that vaccines cause Autism people that say that hate Autistic people. I hate when people say that.