What an awesome memory

My name is Ashleigh. I am thirteen years old and my five-year-old sister has autism. I have learned a lot of things from her like what things she needs extra help with. I help her with things like communicating and getting dressed. I do it in a way that seems like a game so that she is having fun but also learning.

A lot of things make her feel uncomfortable. I try to make her feel more comfortable whether that is playing a game with her or taking her outside. She can get upset very easily and I give her comfort toys that she likes to help calm her.

I am still learning to help my sister. I still get frustrated with her sometimes but I am getting to understand her more and more each day. Watching her work hard on her therapy homework encourages me to try harder at things that are hard for me to do.

I think that having a sibling with autism is an experience that teaches you so much. I have realized how talented people with autism are. My sister has an incredible memory. She is good at helping me find things when I don’t know where I left them. I love my sister.

Other stories

To help others

Hi. My name is James and I am a young carer. I care for my older brother, who has autism spectrum disorder. My duties usually involve staying around the house with him to keep him entertained and give him company as he has no friends outside of home. I also have to take care of […]
Read full story

What has it taught me?

Hi, my name is Katrine and I provide care for my my youngest sister and my mum. I have been a young carer for 10 years, my sister has a severe intellectual disability and severe autism; my mum has fibromyalgia. I provide care because I love my family and I don’t want to see them […]
Read full story

New day

Hello friends. My name is Mohammad and I’ve been a carer since my grandmother and grandfather lived with us. They both had terminal illness with my nan having Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and died in 2013 and my pop had bowel cancer and died in 2010. I was only 10 then. By the time they both passed, […]
Read full story