To the Man Who Said My Brother's Autism Would Wreck My Family

Autism is not an alien. It’s not a disease. It’s not life ending. Autism has its ups and downs. Autism affects everyone differently. But it does not wreck families. It does not wreck my family.

Dian was diagnosed at a time when people hadn’t really heard of autism. Well, I hadn’t heard of it anyway when I was 11 and found out my little brother had autism. I didn’t know what this word meant for him. What was going to happen? Little did I realize it was a blessing in disguise.

The last seven years since his diagnosis have been a rollercoaster. We’ve had to fight to get him the services he needs. We’ve protected him from people who’ve put him down because of a label he’s been given. We’ve celebrated milestones that seemed impossible.

This hasn’t wrecked us; it’s made us.

I’ve grown up quicker than I thought I would. I’ve matured and stepped up in ways I didn’t think I would for a very long time. Dian’s diagnosis has helped shape me to be a better person. It’s taught me to not judge, to love and that family comes first. For someone to turn around and tell me autism wrecks families clearly shows how uneducated they are and how they’ve never had the pleasure to get to know someone with autism.

My family is a little army. You put one of us down or treat us negatively, you will have the whole family to answer to. Don’t disrespect us. If you’re not a part of an autism family, then don’t be making statements you know nothing about. I wouldn’t change my family for the world.

To the man who told me autism wrecks family, I hope some day you realize just how much you’re missing out on.

Read more at All About Autism.