The Autism Awareness Bracelet

So my brother's name is Ryan. He is 20 years old. He was diagnosed with Autism when he was 3 years old. When we were little it was always fun having him around and he acted my age when I was little and we made up games all the time and it was just so much fun.

 I always knew my brother was different but I didn't know he had a disability. When I learned about my brother's disability i was around 12 or 13 years old. Ryan had spilled something and told me it was my job to clean it up. We argued and I yelled at him and angrily asked him "what hell is wrong with you?" after I said that I felt so bad. When my dad came home and heard what I said to my brother he brought me upstairs and told me all about Ryan's disability and how he was so disappointed in me for saying what I said. I haven't said something like that to my brother again.

When my brother got older and was in high school, he got very depressed. He was bullied all the time and I was suffering watching him go through it when I was a freshman and he was a senior. When people called him retarded I honestly wanted to punch them in the face.

When my brother graduated high school, he got very suicidal. he told my dad what his plan was because he trusts my dad the most. Then my dad told me because my dad tells me everything. I was so devastated. Luckily my dad talked him out of it and he hid all of his guns.

Eventually Ryan got better he joined a group home and got more counseling. He is doing very well now. He works at Vance's tropical fish and aquarium. I love my brother so much. That's why I my autism awareness bracelet.