| Siblings of those with autism are anything but | | | | best thing about Asperger's?" he doesn't skip a |
| typical. They have wisdom beyond their years. | | | | beat. He doesn't have to remember things |
| They have a true understanding of what it means | | | | because he knows his brother will. We agree that |
| to be different. They have learned to | | | | must be pretty convenient. When asked "What's |
| compromise, negotiate and are the future social | | | | something frustrating about Asperger's |
| workers and great psychologists of our time. | | | | syndrome?" he lets us know that his brother |
| We interviewed a nine year old boy about what | | | | loves the computer, and it's hard to get him away |
| it's like to have a brother with Asperger's | | | | from it when Adam wants to have fun instead. |
| syndrome. His answers were profound and his | | | | Ask an adult to describe Aspergers and you're |
| clarity of the situation impressed us. Many parents | | | | likely to get a detailed explanation, or perhaps a |
| with children on the autism spectrum are | | | | technical one. But Adam Aviram, with his 9 years |
| concerned with the impact the disorder has on | | | | of wisdom simply tells it like it is. "Aspergers is a |
| siblings. Adam Aviram, a young child put it all into | | | | type of autism and it's hard for people to have a |
| perspective. He eloquently lets us know what it's | | | | good conversation with other people." We |
| like having a ten year old brother with Asperger's | | | | certainly can't argue with that! |
| syndrome. | | | | When asked if he thinks his friends notice |
| Typical to Asperger's, his brother Dean Aviram | | | | something different about his brother, he says |
| (10 years old) has a passion. He loves history. He | | | | "Yes." But it doesn't bother him and they don't |
| probably knows more than most adults and | | | | ask for details. They are however curious about |
| enjoys in depth conversations about world leaders | | | | why Adam likes to hang out with children on the |
| and past events. Adam, on the other hand enjoys | | | | autism spectrum during school lunch. That's when |
| soccer and playing the Wii in his spare time. When | | | | he explains that he's helping people, and that he's |
| it comes to playing with his brother, he tells us | | | | interested because his brother has Asperger's |
| they enjoy sharing information. He proudly | | | | syndrome. Like many children with siblings on the |
| announced that he and his brother are working on | | | | autism spectrum, Adam goes above and beyond. |
| building a time machine. This might not be typical | | | | He proves that not only is he an excellent |
| kids play, but it doesn't faze Adam. In fact, when | | | | brother, but an advocate to those with autism, |
| asked how he thinks the pair would play | | | | and perhaps a pioneer of our times. |
| differently if his brother did not have Asperger's, | | | | Parents are concerned about the family dynamic |
| he figures that it would be so different, he | | | | and the responsibility a child must bear when their |
| couldn't possibly imagine it. | | | | sibling has autism. However, they can take |
| Adam says that he and his brother are really | | | | comfort that siblings are resilient, open minded |
| good friends. When asked "What's one of the | | | | and accepting of the situation just the way it is. |