The New York Times Well blogs had a piece on a report done by National Public Radio on Marissa Skillings, a 15 year old whose 11 year old brother, Andrew, has Asperger’s syndrome.
It is great to see stories like this one that bring out the struggle Marissa (and many others) experience as siblings yet clearly show that she loves her brother as he is. It is not easy to live with his noise and meltdowns but as she says if he was different he wouldn’t be the Andrew she knows and loves.
Since so many people with disabilities were housed in big institutions for decades society really doesn’t have much understanding about what life is like for the person or her family. As we share with the media or just friends what we experience, including the joy, it so enhances awareness and acceptance by the community.
Until next time,
Peggy Lou Morgan
Author of Parenting Your Complex Child (AMACOM Books 2006) and
Parenting an Adult with Disabilities or Special Needs (AMACOM Books January 2009)www.peggyloumorgan.com (for a complete list of websites and blogs)
Everything Upside Down!
13 years ago
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1 comment:
There's a great book out written by the sister of a special needs child (so to speak). What a great, and personal, memoir. It's called "That Went Well," and I think the wry title sort of says it all. The author is an advocate for people with mental disabilites and frequently speaks to siblings of people with disabilities -- so she has walked the walk.
This book is very heartwarming. You'll need the Kleenex for your tears, from both sadness and then laughter.
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