For as long as I can remember I've always felt extremely protective of my brother Scott. There is eighteen months between us, me being the older one out of us two. There are days even now when I feel protective over him even though he's way past six ft, too tall for me to even touch the top of his head without standing on a chair!
I don't really remember the early days when I was a little two year old and he was a small baby. Neither do I remember when he was diagnosed with Autism to then find out he has Global Delay. Global Development Delay or GDD is where children or adults may have not developed their milestones fully. Such as their Physical, Communication and Language or Personal, Social and Emotional Development. For more information click here. I know I'll always remember silly little things such as teaching him words out of a board book 'carrot' or 'potato' for him then to say them repeatedly. I would do this constantly for several evenings and falling asleep and curled on his bed together still in my bright blue first school jumper and skirt. And the excitement he'd have on his face when he woke to find that I still had the book in my hand and was asleep.
Other times were we would go shopping to the supermarket he'd get so excited. People would stare at him and wonder why he was still in a pushchair at four years of age or sat in a specialized trolley. As a child I would watch as people would stare at him and then at me and it hurt. I could read people's facial expressions and hurtful comments like 'he's a big baby' made me more protective of him growing up. Another thing he loves is buses and we would take him into Worthing town so he could watch the buses come and leave. People would stare at him because he'd get so excited he'd wave his hands in the air and call out 'Bus' People would snigger or make stupid remarks and it hurt. I look back now and I know I'll treasure those memories. He's one of the most friendliest people I've ever known and I will ever know. He loves people and will say hello to you even though you don't know him.
When I learnt to play the keyboard and cello at middle school he would always come and listen to me practicing. 'Kayleigh che che' he would say. 'che che meaning cello' and still to this day now I play the guitar he'll come and sit next to me and listen to me play. He'll ask every evening when I come in from work 'Kayleigh tar' (guitar) and sometimes I sit and I play for him. He likes it when I do silly parodys to popular songs or Abba! He finds it amusing and for some reason enjoys my singing! (I'm not to sure why)
He welcomes me from work or if I come in the house. And often asks for a cup of tea! -You can tell he's my brother! Sometimes he'll just sit beside me and keep me company.
Special needs is something important and people and children should never be judged over having a disability. I've been there, I've experienced it first hand and I'll tell you this it hurts and words and phrases are never forgotten. I still remember words from a woman who Scott took her tomatoes from her trolley. Because he took them she didn't want them. It hurts and I know I'll never forget the look upon her face. He was only a pre-school aged child and didn't know what he was doing. I hate it when I see
people in the streets staring at someone with Down Syndrome or moaning because the child in the wheelchair is taking up toouch room. Remember we were all children once. Don't they deserve to live too? Beauty doesn't always exist in the outside but on the inside too. Sometime the people that look beautiful on the outside sometimes aren't beautiful inside. Just don't judge a book by it's cover because I know from experience each child with a disability is special and a gift. A smile from them is a reward and just by spending time with them can make their day.
Xx
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