Spotlight Sibling March

Spotlight Sibling Interview

It's that time of the month again. A new month, and a new Spotlight Sibling. Meet our sibling of the month,  Rylan. Rylan is 8 years old and his older brother Devon has Autism. Rylan also has a little sister named Emma. Rylan loves sports and plays baseball, football and soccer. Mom says that "because they have to explain everything to Devon, it has improved Rylan's reading. He can read at a 4th grade level even though he himself is in the 2nd grade. He is an A, B student and on the honor roll". Mom also relates that "Rylan is the mother hen type. He loves helping and caring for his brother and sister and even his classmates in school." He love the outdoors and doing yard work and lawn mowing with his dad. "He has a huge heart and loves helping others!" Bottom line, Rylan is a wonderful young man!!!! So without further ado, here is Rylan's interview. Please take a moment and leave him some love in the comments.

Q: I read an article that stated that siblings of autistickiddos feel like “victims.” Do you feel like a victim of a brother/sister withAutism?

A: No!!! Not at all 

Q: In your eyes, what is the HARDEST part of being a sibling toan autistic brother/sister?

A: There's really nothing that's to hard except when Devon talks back to my dad.

Q: What is the BEST part?

A: When Devon plays with me.

Q: Do you resent Autism? If so, Why?

A: No!!!

Q: How has having a brother/sister with Autism changed yourlife?

A: Autism is all we know (devon is the oldest)

Q: Has Autism taught you anything?

A: yes, it's taught me how to nicer to people and to be patient and help others.

Q: Do you think educating other kids about Autism is important?If so, Why?

A: yes,  so that the kids won't be bullies to my brother and everybody with autism.

Q: If you were given the opportunity to speak to your school asa whole about Autism, what would you tell them?

A: Autism is just a word my brother is a person! 

Q: Kids with Autism are 4x more likely to be victims ofbullying. If you saw someone bullying a child with Autism, what would you do?

A: I'd tell them to stop and go get a adult.

Q: If you had to write an essay about Autism, tell me, in a fewwords what it might say?

A: Autism doesn't mean my brother can't do things it means he does them differently.

Q: Here is your chance. If I left anything out, and there issomething you want to add about Autism (it can be positive or negative) feelfree to write it here.

A: I feel sad sometimes because I want devon to teach me stuff instead of me teaching him...

So there you have it. Another month, another AuSome sibling! Please take a moment and leave Rylan some love in the comments.

<3<3<3<3

February Spotlight Sibling

 I am proud to introduce this month's Spotlight Sibling.....

Meet Noah.

Noah is 8 and enjoys ball hockey, Lego Star Wars, swimming, camping and video games. Noah is very creative and has a vivid imagination, he loves to play Wizards, Karate guys and Star Wars, He makes his own games and often makes his own costumes! Noah has two brothers with Autism, Owen is 7 and David is 4.

I sent Noah's mom the same set of questions that I had B answer last month, and here are his responses.

Q: I read an article that stated that siblings of autistic kiddos feel like “victims.” Do you feel like a victim of a brother/sister with Autism?

A:Only when Owen and Dave get angry and hit me.


Q: In your eyes, what is the HARDEST part of being a sibling to an autistic brother/sister?

A: They don't understand waiting and turn taking and they always take things from me.
It's hard to play with them sometimes especially video games.

Q: What is the BEST part?

A:They are really good at figuring out my video games_and when we went to Disney we got a special pass and we didn't have to wait in lines


Q: Do you resent Autism? If so, Why?

A:No but if they didn't get so angry and hit me we could get along better.


Q: How has having a brother/sister with Autism changed your life?

A:I have to help Mom and Dad more and watch the boys. They don't listen good so I usually get asked to help.


Q: Has Autism taught you anything?

A:Owen and Dave get sick more than I do and take more of Mom and Dad's time. Autistic kids are really smart and funny. Owen likes his routine and Dave is bossy!


Q: Do you think educating other kids about Autism is important? If so, Why?

A:Other kids don't understand that Owen and |Dave say what they think and they should try not to be upset at some of the things they say. They sometimes find it hard to go to sleep and are grumpy in the morning. They sometimes like to play alone. If they are making noises or jumping around it's because they need to to calm down.

Q: If you were given the opportunity to speak to your school as a whole about Autism, what would you tell them?

A:_Be a friend to kids with Autism, they find it hard to sit still and sometimes make noises so they can calm down. If they hug you or hit you they may not want to but they can't always tell us what's wrong and it makes them upset.


Q: Kids with Autism are 4x more likely to be victims of bullying. If you saw someone bullying a child with Autism, what would you do?

A:Tell the bully that he has a disability and can't play like we do and I would tell the teacher.

Q: If you had to write an essay about Autism, tell me, in a few words what it might say?

A:Autism kids like routines, they have great memories and are very smart. They want to play with us but sometimes they like to play alone because things bother them.


Q: Here is your chance. If I left anything out, and there is something you want to add about Autism (it can be positive or negative) feel free to write it here. 

A.It's hard not having more time with Mom and Dad but I love my brothers!



There you have it. Another wonderful interview with another AMAZING sibling. The honesty of children is like no other, and it's so refreshing to see Autism through their eyes. If all children felt the same, our world would be in great hands!!!

Please take a moment and leave Noah a comment to make his day.....Stay tuned next month for another Spotlight Sibling
                                               <3 <3 <3 <3

Spotlight Sibling for January

  So I decided to start something new. I read an article claiming that "siblings of autistic children feel like victims," and this angered me so!!!! To read more of that article, CLICK HERE.
  I thought about this a lot, and then it came to me. Why not spotlight a sibling each month, and ask them the same questions, and see how they feel. Good or bad. I wanted to know if this is true. I wanted to hear it from the mouths of siblings.
  I came up with some questions, and reached out to my step son. Now, he doesn't live here full time, so his answers may vary from a sibling who lives full time with their autistic sibling. His answers matter just the same, and I was so proud of what he had to say.
            So, without further ado, I present to you, Branden, age 16 and January's Spotlight Sibling.

Q: I read an article that stated that sibling of autistic kiddos feel like “victims.” Do you feel like a victim of a brother with Autism?

A: "At times I do. Sometimes it's hard because I don't know what to say or do with him."

Q: In your eyes, what is the HARDEST part of being a sibling to an autistic brother?

A: "I'd have to say the hardest part is watching what and how I say things. He is very sensitive."

Q: What is the BEST part?

A: "He is special, one of a kind and I love him."

Q: Do you resent Autism? If so, Why?

A: "No, because I feel it makes people more special and gives them more personality."

Q: How has having a brother with Autism changed your life?

A:" It makes it so I can't play certain video games or watch certain movies or shows because it either scared him or makes him think bad." (Liam ruminates a lot when something upsets him.)

Q: Has Autism taught you anything?

A: "Autism has taught me to stand up for others when they are being teased for being different."

Q: Do you think educating other kids about Autism is important? If so, Why?

A: "Yes. Some people just think someone with Autism is "stupid" or "bad" and they aren't."

Q: If you were given the opportunity to speak to your school as a whole about Autism, what would you tell them?

A: "That kid's with Autism are cool. Most of them are smarter than us. Lots of them are also very good at video games."

Q: Kids with Autism are 4x more likely to be victims of bullying. If you saw someone bullying a child with Autism, what would you do?

A: "I would tell the bully that it's not right to tease someone because they are different. My brother has Autism too and it's NOT right."

Q: If you had to write an essay about Autism, tell me, in a few words what it might say?

A: "Autism is a neurological disorder, and 1 in 88 people have Autism. Autistic people are special."

Q: Here is your chance. If I left anything out, and there is something you want to add about Autism (it can be positive or negative) feel free to write it here.

A: "When you're in a store and a kid is acting "bad," you shouldn't judge them. That kid may have Autism like my brother."

There you have it. From the mouth of an Autistic sibling. I have to say I am very proud of his answers, and I think I am doing a pretty good job of teaching him about Autism. (yep, tooting my own horn a bit, beep beep beep!) :)

Meet "B" 

This is his "Breakthrough the Stigma" pic I took of him. This is the one thing he chose to say to others :)

Stay tuned, next Spotlight Sibling will be in February.

<3<3<3<3