pskank

I'm not as worried about life as I was 5 minutes ago.

My little brother (9 yo) is probably the best thing to ever happen to me.

When he was born, my father had just remarried in a civil ceremony (because Gabriel was on his way) and living with my mother, older brother and grandparents, life was tough.

Obviously, a newborn is just that, a new-born. It wasn't like I could go play ball, play video games, listen to music, or any of that stuff. He was a baby, and I was a teenager.

As he grew, we noticed something about him. He didn't talk. He had trouble responding to people calling his name. With more time passing, we finally took him to the doctor and over the next few months we learned that he had Asperger's syndrome.

I took this pretty hard, seeing as how now (well, sometimes) I am in school studying psychology. His first IQ test registered him at a 69, legally retarded in PA.

But as I have learned more about this "disease" I grew less fearful, and more hopefull.

Someone once stated to my step mother that Gabriel showed promise and could one day work somewhere such as Home Depot. To which she replied, "Yeah, as the manager."

My little man is wonderful. Yes, he has his issues with obedience, attention and emotion, but medication, work with his TSS and in and out of school tutoring, he is doing great. He loves being in Cub Scouts, all of the girls at school love him, all of the guys are cool with him and are extremely excited for his yearly birthday party.

He is great at art and design. It may not be anything special, but he knows what he is doing and enjoys it. He also likes to shoot the basketball.

My father and step mother bought him a hoop and a brand new ball, and you can take it to the bank that as soon as I get my car back, and the weather is nice, I will be there as much as possible after work.

We need to work on some things, with his motor skill problems, he has trouble passing and dribbling, but he is only 9 and that is something that I will work with him on.

So, sitting here typing away, I cannot help by sob.

First, take a read of this article and tell me that this doesn't make you hopefull for people who enter this world with some sort of disability. Is is even a disability or does the cliche, "special" really describe the situation?

Asperger's Syndrome

It wasn't the article that made me choke up, and shed tears this afternoon. It was a video piece which aired on ESPN's Sportscenter recently.

I actually heard about this a few weeks ago at work.

I don't need to write anymore, but you HAVE to watch this. If you watch any piece of internet video today, please make it this one. I feel better than I did 20 minutes ago, and I not only am hopeful for the future, but rather excited.

J-Mac's Meaningful Message For Autism

(It may require you to download ESPN Motion. If you have to, do it just for this.)

- Joshua