My Experience with Autism

• This presentation focuses on my experience with my brother David who is Autistic. I want to share what it is like to live with someone with Autism to people who are unaware of what it is as well as sympathizing with the people who are living with it themselves.

DavidDavid is a twenty one year old man who enjoys activities such as listening to music, swimming at the beach, and playing with his collection of beads. However, due to David’s Autism, David has difficulty doing tasks for himself that most people find simple to do. For those of you who do not know what Autism is, it is a health crisis that people suffer with which causes them to have difficulty learning and speaking. Keeping this in mind, one can imagine how challenging it can be for someone to perform straightforward tasks such as brushing your teeth or taking a bath.

Furthermore, Autism is an illness that affects children at an early age. Families learn to live a life that devotes a lot of their time catering to their family member who suffers with the illness. These children grow up to be unique individuals just like anyone else would but it is due to the extensive help by their family members and friends around them that get them to be in the state they are in today.By showcasing my experiences growing up David and his illness, I hope to create awareness about Autism. I can relate with others who know or have a family member who is Autistic. I can share in the good experiences such as witnessing my brother trying new food or saying a new word. There are also bad experiences where David has his tantrums and certain steps have to be taken to make sure that David does not harm himself or the people around him.On a regular basis, I get David ready for bed which requires me to brush him teeth, wash his face and help him dress into his pajamas. When it comes to meals, David is unable to cook for himself so our father and I prepare him meals and help him clean up after himself once he has finished. Together as a family we get things done for David and we make sure that he is well taken care of and happy as can be.

David- An amazing brother anyone could ever wish for.

Our dad painted this picture for David. In the picture, David is looking away as if he is ignoring the viewer. When David was a child, our parents thought he was deaf because he hardly responded to his own name. A child not responding to their own name is a sign that a child may have Autism.

I have matured a great deal having to take care of David. Even though David is two years older than me, I feel like I am the older sibling in the family who is guiding and raising her little brother to be a bright and independent young man.

I often wonder what kind of person I would be today if I grew up with a sibling who was ‘normal’. I am proud of who I am and I believe that my character has grown greatly because David is my brother and I am grateful for that.

References• "Autism Awareness Items." Families for Effective Autism Treatment.

F.E.A.T of Southern Nevada. 10 Oct 2008 <http://www.featsonv.org/FEATstore.htm>.

• "Autism Fact Sheet." Child Development Institute: Keeping Parents Informed. Child Development Institute. Child Development Institute. 10 Oct 2008 <http://www.childdevelopmentinfo.com/disorders/autism_fact_sheet.shtml>.

• "Autism Statistics." Autism Diagnosis: Your Online Source for Information on Autism. 2007. Autism Diagnosis. 12 Oct 2008 <http://www.autism-diagnosis.com/autism_statistics/autism_statistics.html>.