The Boy Inside

What if you were locked inside your own mind and constantly struggle to be understood? Or, what if you had to watch a loved one every day without the ability to navigate the real world? Imagine watching that loved one act inappropriately and abnormally because of a neurological developmental disability. My autistic brother, Scott, is a beautiful soul with an amazing ability to love without judgment. However, Scott's actions have not always been easy to deal with for his sisters, Julie and me, nor for his parents who fought to give him a chance to live his best life all during his tumultuous days. In the 1970s and 1980s, autism wasn't largely known or understood, and Information was hard to find for those who had to deal with this disability. In this story of my brother, both positive and negative aspects are presented as my family attended to Scott who continues to struggle with the ability to live a successful, normal life.