plumpearpeaches
07-15-2008, 09:34 AM
Hi all,
My name is Amy and I'm 18 years old and Sophie, my 20 year old sister has ASD, coupled with severe special needs. As I am the younger sibling, I suppose in a way I have never questioned Sophie's autism as I have not known any different growing up. It's always been apart of family life.
Recently however, since Sophie has left school, moving on to college and a day services unit for adults with special needs, this has made me realise the long-term impact Sophie will always have on my life. I don't want to sound resentful of this relationship or portray Sophie as a burden of any kind, I love my sister a great deal, I am however anxious of what the future lies ahead for her. I am anxious that I will inevitably become the primary carer of my sister, as well as two elderly parents who, understandably, are unable to fulfil Sophie's needs as they get older.
These feelings have led me in a search for anyone else out there, perhaps themselves a similar age to mine, who are going through the same emotions. When I was little for several years Sophie and I both went to a summer scheme for special needs children and their siblings. I think it is only now that I realise how much I truly appreciated being able to simply relax in an environment around children that understood what I was going through, not having to worry about Sophie being stared, pointed, or laughed at simply because of her differences. This support stopped however when I hit my teens, and although I didn't think much about it at the time, I unfortunately did not stay in contact with many of the fellow "sibling-friends" I had made during my time there, and it is only now I realise that a crucial safety net for me had been removed.
If you'd like to share your similar experiences, or would simply like to chat about growing up with an autistic sibling please get in touch, I would love to hear from you. My email address is amy.lingham@hotmail.com
Thankyou.
My name is Amy and I'm 18 years old and Sophie, my 20 year old sister has ASD, coupled with severe special needs. As I am the younger sibling, I suppose in a way I have never questioned Sophie's autism as I have not known any different growing up. It's always been apart of family life.
Recently however, since Sophie has left school, moving on to college and a day services unit for adults with special needs, this has made me realise the long-term impact Sophie will always have on my life. I don't want to sound resentful of this relationship or portray Sophie as a burden of any kind, I love my sister a great deal, I am however anxious of what the future lies ahead for her. I am anxious that I will inevitably become the primary carer of my sister, as well as two elderly parents who, understandably, are unable to fulfil Sophie's needs as they get older.
These feelings have led me in a search for anyone else out there, perhaps themselves a similar age to mine, who are going through the same emotions. When I was little for several years Sophie and I both went to a summer scheme for special needs children and their siblings. I think it is only now that I realise how much I truly appreciated being able to simply relax in an environment around children that understood what I was going through, not having to worry about Sophie being stared, pointed, or laughed at simply because of her differences. This support stopped however when I hit my teens, and although I didn't think much about it at the time, I unfortunately did not stay in contact with many of the fellow "sibling-friends" I had made during my time there, and it is only now I realise that a crucial safety net for me had been removed.
If you'd like to share your similar experiences, or would simply like to chat about growing up with an autistic sibling please get in touch, I would love to hear from you. My email address is amy.lingham@hotmail.com
Thankyou.