Day 5

For my final post, I wanted to talk about my overall experience so far with having a special needs sister.  I feel that because Madison has special needs it has completely shaped the person I am today. I used to get angry and frustrated when I found out someone was making fun of someone with special needs and now I know that most of the time it is because of ignorance. Not everyone understands special needs and they usually have the wrong ideas about them. Instead of getting angry now, I just try to explain to them about special needs and I tell them that my sister is autistic. I don't think I would be as accepting of people if it wasn't for having a special needs sister and I feel that is a gift. Not everyone can be in a career that has to do with working with special needs and I feel that when a person can, they should. I feel as if being able to work with special needs is a talent and I am so happy to have been blessed with that.
I grew up knowing that I wanted to spend the rest of my life working with special needs children but I didn't know what. Every Sunday at my church, I help out in the special needs class and I look forward to it all week. I have talked to many of the kid's parents and they said that besides an occupational therapist, a speech therapist works with their children the most. The day I heard that, I went home and researched all about a speech therapy and realized that is what I wanted to do. And now I am on my way and so excited about it.
I could not be more blessed to have the family that I do. Even though it is hard sometimes, I couldn't imagine my life any different and I feel that I am so lucky. I have learned so much and become a better person because my sister is autistic and I love her more than anything. She truly has taught me that it's the little things in life that matter.