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Description
I joined Inside to spread awareness of a particular disorder called autism.

Autism is a neurological disorder that affects a child's mind, senses, body (sometimes), and especially social skills. Autism can range from a low functioning Autistic disorder to a high functioning Asperger's syndrome. Autism is a life-long disorder and has no cure. You can develop the child with intensive therapy, but it will not cure the child's autism. I have family members who range from high functioning autism (my brother) to low functioning Asperger's (my cousin, Connor). I also work with kids who have special needs at my church, my brother's baseball team and at my own school.

One thing I've learned from this is: Autism =/= retarded. I've had someone say to me before, "Your brother is retarded because he has autism", needless to say I beat him up and had to be dragged away from him. Autism is a social disorder, mental retardation is just as serious as autism but it is a different disorder. Sometimes people use mental retardation as a substitute for calling someone something derogatory. This is just as bad as calling an autistic child retarded.

It is no doubt that I love my brother, but I must stress that I am a sister to every child with any special need. I want to be an art therapist for children with special needs when I pursue my career. It is my job to say, AUTISM DOES NOT MEAN PEOPLE SUFFER! Kids who have autism are intelligent, beautiful, sweet people. I don't suffer from my brother's autism, he doesn't suffer from his autism, we all accept it. Autism shouldn't be cured, just accepted.

To all who are affected in some way by autism or any other special need, my heart is with you.

Description
I joined Inside to spread awareness of a particular disorder called autism.

Autism is a neurological disorder that affects a child's mind, senses, body (sometimes), and especially social skills. Autism can range from a low functioning Autistic disorder to a high functioning Asperger's syndrome. Autism is a life-long disorder and has no cure. You can develop the child with intensive therapy, but it will not cure the child's autism. I have family members who range from high functioning autism (my brother) to low functioning Asperger's (my cousin, Connor). I also work with kids who have special needs at my church, my brother's baseball team and at my own school.

One thing I've learned from this is: Autism =/= retarded. I've had someone say to me before, "Your brother is retarded because he has autism", needless to say I beat him up and had to be dragged away from him. Autism is a social disorder, mental retardation is just as serious as autism but it is a different disorder. Sometimes people use mental retardation as a substitute for calling someone something derogatory. This is just as bad as calling an autistic child retarded.

It is no doubt that I love my brother, but I must stress that I am a sister to every child with any special need. I want to be an art therapist for children with special needs when I pursue my career. It is my job to say, AUTISM DOES NOT MEAN PEOPLE SUFFER! Kids who have autism are intelligent, beautiful, sweet people. I don't suffer from my brother's autism, he doesn't suffer from his autism, we all accept it. Autism shouldn't be cured, just accepted.

To all who are affected in some way by autism or any other special need, my heart is with you.