big ach seems like a cool guy, he really takes everything in stride around here
what's it like having an autistic brother? what's his life like?
E
Thanks for the nice words Earl and Flinstones!
Whats it like to like having an autistic brother? Well, you gotta understand that I don't know what its like to NOT have an autistic brother, I don't have any other siblings, so this is all I know really.
He's a great guy. I guess the best way to describe it is; imagine a 23 year old with the mentality of an 8 year old. He doesn't comprehend things the same way we do! Although, from what I've read (and seen from his class-mates at school), most autistic kids tend to keep to themselves and are quite shy. He's not like that though, he's EXTREMELY outgoing! Thinks everyone is his best friend and wants to go up and hug them and laugh with them! He is genuinely a happy guy, but when he was younger I think he went through a tough time and dealing with some frustrations because I think he knows that he is different from other people, and he would get frustrated because he couldn't communicate his thoughts with us the way he'd like to.
He's lucky though, because my parents were able to invest in his education, therapists, etc (as mentioned earlier), he went to one of the best schools in the East Coast for special needs children (Thats actually the main reason my family came to the US in the first place). And the school did WONDERS with him, he really progressed during the 10 years he was there!
My heart goes out to parents who don't have the means to give their special needs children certain therapists or a special type of education, I can only imagine how hard it is. I've personally donated and raised money for charities which help autism research, because its really another world.
I mean there are so many tasks that we all take for granted which are major hurdles for kids like him. I'll use this as an example... the first time I ever saw him open a soda can by himself I started crying (no homo).... because it was such a milestone for him, in the past he could not just get the coordination to do it, and he would ask for help or would get soooo frustrated attempting to do it and fumbling with it, so when he finally got to the point of being able to do it - it was was a huuuge accomplishment... I mean, its something sooo simple that we take for granted, but a huge ordeal for kids like him.
I dunno though, I feel like he will always need supervision at all times. My mom has big dreams for him that he could one day have a very simple job like folding clothes at a laundromat or something like that, but who knows... as I stated my father started an outreach program at our factory for kids like him, and they come do basic things like wrap some of products, or work on tasks like putting a rubber lining on a pulley, and I watched him doing it and he actually was getting the hang of it - so he surprises me a lot, I think he's smarter than a lot of people give him credit for (even I have underestimated him many times).
One issue though is he tends to get lazy, and would not even try something because its just easier for someone to do it for him, and we have to push him to try it himself, once he gets the motivation he ends up starting to be a LITTLE - Just a LITTLE independent! Like any kid he just wants to stay home and play Video games, but we are trying to teach him some responsibility, so he feels like he has some sort of purpose in life.
Whats funny though, he just discovered Skype so he calls me and my wife all the time on it, (him and my wife get along really well which is cool!) I'm talking like 10 calls in the course of 15 minutes!
If anyone's ever seen the movie Rain man - I think Dustin Hoffman hit the nail on the head playing a special-needs person (Although his character was much more advanced mentally than someone like my brother), and Tom Cruise playing the brother learning to deal with a special needs person was also really good acting!
As I said though! I don't have any other siblings, so I have no way to compare it, having an autistic brother is all I know! Growing up with him did teach me to be a VERY VERY patient person, think you have to be if you're in that situation, but I personally think he's the coolest member of our family because of how outgoing and friendly he is!
He's OBSESSED with Motorcycles, so my dad got him this 3-wheeled scooter and regulated the speed to only reach 15 mph lol And here's a picture of us at my wedding!
