Whenever I get the chance I love to share the story about my brothers Anthony and Joey and our experience with Autism. Anthony is the oldest of us four kids, and he was diagnosed with Autism before the age of 2. Not only did they diagnose him with Autism, but they also told my parents that he was deaf, which only made the disorder more difficult to handle. He is on the severe level of the spectrum and due to his behaviors my mom had to make the difficult decision to put him in a home with 24 hour care. He may be difficult to handle, but we have always had a special bond regardless of his disability and his inability to hear, and I would definitely consider him to be the best big brother in the world. Joey, who is the middle child, is on the more mild level of the spectrum, where he still has behaviors and outbursts but he is much more independent than Anthony is. The doctors diagnosed Joey with Autism at a very young age, along with other complications; but he never let any of that hold him back. He is not only smart, but he is probably one of the funniest people that I know. I admire the fact that he is never afraid to say what is on his mind, even if he is speaking to a stranger. To me, Autism is a blessing in disguise, and not something that should always be talked about in a negative context. They are able to teach us so many things about the world because they take the time to pay attention to those things that we often forget about. I know that Anthony and Joey have taught me to pay more attention to the little things in life and to always appreciate what I have. They truly are an inspiration to me, and I don't know where I would be without them.

Stephanie Kurtz
Warren, MI