Marta Schmidt-Mendez Ma

My Sister Is Special My Sister Has Autism Marta Schmidt-Mendez Ma

My Sister is Special, My Sister has Autism is the story of a young boy who realizes his sister is different from other children. Through his eyes, other family members come to understand that the younger child in the home is changing and is no longer as verbal and as interactive as she once was. The story follows the family as they receive the diagnosis of autism. It depicts the little boy's ability to understand and accept his sister, demonstrating that love and acceptance are more important than any diagnosis. A diagnosis of autism impacts all family members. Raising a child with this diagnosis places extraordinary demands on parents, both as individuals and as a couple. This becomes even more stressful for single parents. Sometimes the siblings in the home receive less attention and are impacted in ways that they do not fully comprehend. It is important for siblings to understand what autism is. It is essential to address the topic at the developmental age of the child. The information may need to be repeated frequently and does not need to be a long and drawn out explanation. A simple, "loud noises scare your sister," is sometimes enough. This book was written for the children impacted by someone in their family with a diagnosis of autism. It is the hope of the author that this book assists parents, teachers and caregivers in helping young children cope in these situations.