anybody with relatives with Autism?

Question

My brother is autistic and I was just wondering what some of your best experiences were?

My brother is 21 this year, and I'm 16 this year. The best part of my day is when he smiles. He grins as though he is having the best day of his life and as though he has never ever been hurt. He always spoils my bad moods

Answer 1

My son, Connor, is moderately Autistic. People often comment to me that it must be "a lot of extra work" and frankly, yes, there are days that his desire to persist in stomping on, and slamming the doors to, anything and everything in my home renders me drained of all patience.

HOWEVER! There has NEVER been a day that I wondered 'what Connor would be like if he weren't Autistic'. All of the behavioral modification, speech and physical therapy....all of them, I do for HIM so that he can get along in this world as best as he possibly can. I don't do any of it for me. He is a gift more precious than my words could ever describe. I learn things from him every day. And to look at him....he has the face of an angel.

His eyes, these giant pools of blue nestled in thick, black, lusterous lashes, reflect an innocence and purity of spirit that's scarcely to be found in this day and age. His gleeful outbursts of giggles and fits of laughter from seemingly nowhere are so infectious even the Grinch wouldn't be able to refrain from chuckling. Then there's his oblivion to social nuances that, for me, is just so endearing and downright hysterical at times that I can't help but pick him up and bear hug him.....in spite of the obvious look on his face of 'gee, mom, you are so WEIRD'!

When Connor speaks, his tonal inflection is typically very different. He has this cute sing-song manner of speaking that he'll pepper with rather loud exclamations here and there that I can't help but smile. One of my favorite phrase he uses is "hey beach" Connor, an avid fan of the beach, will yell out from nowhere, "Heyyy, BEACH!". When he first did this, I laughed until it hurt, it struck me so funny. He sounded like a white Rick James yellin out to his b-----s. I'll never forget the day we went shopping at the mall.....it was relatively uncrowded, so voices echoed quite a bit. We were walking towards the food court and, as we neared a very large red-faced angry looking woman stomping along, she glanced our way just in time for Connor to belt out HEYYY, BEACH! She shot me a dirty look, to which I replied, "He's Rick James!"

I guess you had to be there. =)

Anyway, my point to all of my rambling is How grateful I am for my son and the joy he brings into the tedium day-to-day living can sometimes be. He is completely unspoiled by the corruption around him....unaffected by the opinions of others. He is so awesome!

I hope you smiled as much reading this as I did while writing it. I could have went on forever! =)

Please don't hesitate to send me a message if you ever want to talk. It's obvious you really love your brother and if I can be of help in any way, it would be my pleasure.

Kelly

Answer 2

My 10 year old son has Aspergers, which is basically high functioning Autism. He amazes me every day! He has taught us to all slow down and appreciate the beauty of simple things. And the things that he says....he's so creative and funny! I always wonder "where did he come up with that?!".....like one day, the kids were doing chores, but he wasn't helping. I told him to go get busy and stop playing around. He looked me straight in the eye, and said "oh...but this isn't really me....it's just a hologram....I'm really over there, cleaning." Then he ran across the room and said "ah....but this isn't really me either...it's another hologram" He continued to move around the house claiming he was a hologram....and as usual....very creatively avoiding the task at hand!
Everyone should be blessed with the opportunity to experience an autistic mind........they are SOOOO incredible!

Answer 3

My brother had 4 kids, two with autism. The family moved into town two & a half years ago. My mother & I were going to autism conventions & converting her back room for working with the children.

My nephew, Dominic, would go from a serious expression (Our Little Man) to an absolutely radient smile (Mr. Sunshine) He hardly had any words, & I'm not sure what he understood, either. He loved twirling things. I'd give him martigras beads so he could see them shine as he twirled them incessently. He would rock side to side doing what his father called the "Frankenstein Dance" (from "Young Frankenstein") He would hug you so tight, then go on his way, absorbed in the smells & textures of things around the room. We always thought it was amazing how fast those little legs could take him. He would lick strange things. He snuck into the kitchen twice one night to lick the raw chicken we wear cooking. How he didn't get terribly ill is a great mystery to us all. He loved chewing on electrical cords. Were were all afraid he'd take a good bite one night without unplugging an item first. But his love of climbing & running, ans facination with water is what cost him his life. He got out of the backyard one afternoon & found the creek before we found him.
Here's a link to a little story I wrote about that day. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=At6X.aMDRPqEPLU1jhxvEezsy6IX?qid=20060909173847AAkcuiB

We turned our grief into redoubling our efforts to work with Arianna. She has become an absolute joy in my life. She has only once ever said "I love you." to me, but many times I have walked into the room & she immediatly goes into her "happy tune." It's like she was saying "I'm so happy you are here!" Every little improvement she makes fills my life with joy. I made "word books" with a talking photo album from Radio Shack. She punches buttons, hears my voice saying the words, & tries to say them herself. Every time I hear her learn a new word (or improve her pronounciation) I feel great pride! I love her so dearly! I talk about her all the time. People get tired of how much I talk about her.

Answer 4

my cousin's son is autistic and he smiles all the time he's 10 and he can't speak so he does sign language I remember when I was pregnant with my second child I would go to my grandma's house where he lived I was sick all the time and I wanted babied by my granny and I would lay down on the couch and he would try to lay down beside me it was hard for him because my belly size so I'd hold him he was like 4 or 5 and there are times when he just grabs your face and I just think that is so funny I love him to peices.

Answer 5

What you might do is have any person support you discover an autism aid organization to your the city. Then you name them up and say what you desire to do an interview for, and notice if they might permit you to come to the assembly.

Answer 6

We have an autistic foster daughter. She is always biting and kicking and she is easily frustrated. Here is a site or two on autism.
http://www.pediatricneurology.com/autism.htm
http://www.healing-arts.org/children/educational.htm#motivate
Patience is the key!

Answer 7

My uncle is autistic and he can play the harmonica like you wouldn't believe..........;-)

Answer 8

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